University lecturers walk out today over job cuts

LECTURERS at an East End university campus will stage a walkout today as part of their ongoing fight against the threat of job cuts. Staff will be bringing London Metropolitan University to a standstill today and tomorrow in Aldgate and Whitechapel, alo

LECTURERS at an East End university campus will stage a walkout today as part of their ongoing fight against the threat of job cuts.

Staff will be bringing London Metropolitan University to a standstill today and tomorrow in Aldgate and Whitechapel, along with campuses at Moorgate in the City and at Holloway.

It is the third strike by members of the University and College Union (UCU) following the announcement earlier this year that 550 job posts could be axed.

The university, the largest in London with 34,000 students, says the cutbacks are necessary as it needs to repay more than �36m after auditors found drop-out rates were higher than stated and that it had been overpaid since 2005.

But the UCU is urging university bosses to agree to talks with union members and the employment relations service Acas.

General Secretary Sally Hunt said: "It is not acceptable for management to punish staff for their mistakes. I hope that this week's strike action acts as a wake-up call to management.