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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.

Remove threat of “Withholding of salary” for Professors at Queen's.

Remove threat of “Withholding of salary” for Professors at Queen's.

Closed — 31 supporters Verified

Final supporters

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Jean d.
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Simone K.
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cahal m.
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Stephen B.
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Sean O.
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Rhiannon T.
+21 more
UA
Started by UCU at Queen's 11 years, 1 month ago

The triennial Professorial salary review at Queen’s University Belfast was recently announced for 2015. A determination by management to link this to the capability procedure alongside the threat of "Withholding of salary" has been included without warning. In reality this means that any subsequent cost of living awards may be withheld and this sets a serious precedent. The introduction of new so called “Academic Standards” at the same time has set crude income targets for staff at all levels including Professors. These standards are being introduced in retrospect and have received considerable criticism*.

This means that entirely new expectations of performance since the last Professorial salary review have been introduced at the last minute. This demand is obviously unreasonable and “opens the door” for similar treatment of all staff in the coming year. UCU has not agreed with the management proposals.

Recently it was reported that about 80% of UCU members in Birmingham University would take industrial action over similar expectations on external income demands being proposed there (see: https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/birmin...

We therefore ask all Professors to support the petition:

"We ask management to rethink the Professorial salary review, withdraw the clause “Withholding of salary” and enter into a meaningful consultation with staff on the Academic Standards being imposed."

*See: Times Higher Education at: https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/growin...

*and: UCU at Queen’s Blog at: http://ucuatqub.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/times-highe...

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6 Comments

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Phil Scraton
11 years ago Featured

Innovative, collaborative research of significance cannot be reduced to FEC retrieval and inappropriate 'performance' criteria/ formulae. Open, intelligent, inclusive and reflective consultation is required across the University.

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Noel Hyndman
11 years ago Featured

This is a obvious case of 'muscular management' that is likely to result in considerable unintended and dysfunctional consequences. Would any decent professor want to work in an institution whose management operates in such a manner - even if it does not affect him/her personally? Echoes of: "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist...."

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Anthony Wickstead
11 years ago Featured

In my own research area the income targets set are completely unrealistic and have been set without input from the subject area.

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Prof Robert Miler
11 years ago

Typical QUB style. Management by fiat.

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ROGER PENN
11 years ago

I agree with this totally.

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Anonymous
11 years ago

We need to rethink this management imposition before confidence in the University is too badly damaged