ACADEMICS at the University of Roehampton were left shocked after they were invited by senior management to take voluntary redundancies, their union revealed today.

The University and College Union (UCU) said that Roehampton was the first university in Britain to announce redundancies of permanent staff during the pandemic. 

Other universities, such as Bristol, Newcastle and Sussex, have dismissed staff on precarious contracts.

Posts at Roehampton will be slashed and professional staff facing unpaid leave following the decision, which the union said was taken without consultation and despite the government’s support packages.

The initial voluntary-redundancy scheme axes 70 academics, but staff are worried this will be followed by compulsory sackings if the university fails to meet its ‘savings’ target of £12.5 million. 

Roehampton UCU branch chairwoman Linda Cronin said: “When academics are working extremely hard to help students through this difficult time, redundancies will be the last thing that current and potential students will want to hear. 

“Making staff redundant during the lockdown shows an absolute lack of compassion and will put many of these staff into poverty.”

A university spokesperson told the Star that it needs to take decisive measures during the pandemic to secure its future, including voluntary severance and voluntary flexible-employment schemes, as well as an immediate salary reduction for the vice-chancellor and most senior staff.

The spokesperson said: “We realise that we are asking for additional efforts which will be difficult and challenging in many ways. 

“We will strive to support each other as much as possible and continue to provide the highest level of education for our students.”