People before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin has denounced the announcement of up to 450 redundancies at Ulster University (UU).
Councillor Harkin said,"This is a shocking announcement. Our thoughts are very much with workers at Magee and right across UU, and their families. University expansion should mean investment in staff, not hundreds of redundancies amid a spiralling cost of living crisis.
"It's an abject cowardice of senior leadership at the University to announce such large scale redundancies over a Teams call rather than facing staff in person. This says everything we need to know about overpaid University managers.
"The most recent accounts published on the UU website do not indicate the kind of deficit that might lead to such large-scale redundancies. What, then, has caused this situation? Has UU’s management purchased too much property in Belfast to augment the shiny new £350 million buildings in York St that are too small to fit the number of students it has?"
Cllr Harkin said “staff at every level at UU already face overwhelming workloads and the proposed redundancies will see the mental and physical health of workers there further damaged.
“We offer our solidarity to all workers at UU at this time and look forward to joining you on the picket line if and when you decide to fight these job cuts.”
Up to 450 redundancies UU - Harkin: "Abject cowardice of senior leadership"
“We offer our solidarity to all workers at UU at this time and look forward to joining you on the picket line if and when you decide to fight these job cuts.”
