Update on Biological Sciences

15th Dec - Professorial and Reader Job Descriptions have now been circulated to members in the facilty by UCU President Malcolm Povey.

2nd Dec - Senate passed the Phase Two Academic Plan for the Faculty of Biological Sciences by a large majority.The paper did not contain the detailed methodology upon which decisions were made regarding sustainable areas. It excluded the impact on Student Staff Ratio (SSR) and the appendices which describe the new staffing structure.It insinuated an attempt to get Senate to approve the methodology for job matching on Activity rather than on the method previously agreed with the trade unions. It was pointed out that this was not part of an academic plan but part of a procedure and therefore subject to negotiation. Worryingly, this was clearly not an academic matter and therefore out with Senate's purview; it is therefore highly regrettable to see management abuse process in this manner.There were people who spoke up vigorously in defence of jobs. Whilst the the vote may have been lost, UCU has not given up on staff in the faculty and will be pursuing legal and industrial avenues. Matters in FBS are developing with members of UCU staff in FBS being informed that "There is no place for them in the new structure". This is in breach of the current agreement between the university and the UCU and we will remain in dispute with the university until such statements are withdrawn. However clearly it also gives the lie to statements that there is no list of those who management want to see lost out of the Faculty. It is shocking to us that management have so little confidence in the fairness of the current University procedures. Despite months of manoeuvring to manipulate processes they would rather bully staff than trust fair processes to to produce the best qualified person for each job.

Comments From UCU on Stage 1 of the FBS Review 2009 can be downloaded here.