Staff will be aware of the news that the new VC Professor Roland Levinsky has tabled a series of proposals to make significant changes to the University over the next 5 years including closure of campus sites, relocation of departments and the development of seven re-organised faculties.  The plans also propose new buildings and facilities on the Plymouth site.

This news has come as a shock to many staff at all campuses but in particular Seale Hayne, Exeter and Exmouth who expect to feel the brunt of the restructuring as their sites are targeted for major changes.  Staff employment, terms and conditions will be affected and the University of Plymouth Branch of UNISON and our regional office expect to be engaged in a long period of discussion, consultation and negotiation in order to represent the interests of the membership that may be affected.

The University has published a web site about the changes at www.plymouth.ac.uk/restructuring

The piece that appeared in the Plymouth local paper can also be found at the following web site.

http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=99746&command=displayContent&sourceNode=98877&contentPK=3028123

A series of meetings at all sites have been announced by the Chancellery and UNISON members are encouraged to attend.

It has come to our notice that some departments earmarked for change have already been distributing questionnaires about staff preferences regarding possible future options open to staff.  Although we  may understand any constructive attempt to predict and pre-empt problems arising from the reorganisation of the campuses we cannot recommend that staff return such questionnaires.

Difficulties arise mainly from the fact that staff are unlikely to feel comfortable with the quantity or the nature of information they have been given concerning the reorganisation so far.  In this climate and devoid of many detailed facts they would be ill-equipped to commit even on an informal basis, especially when their responses could have a direct bearing on decisions which could impact back on their colleagues.

Please feed back any points, concerns or issues to the UoP Branch of UNISON at [email protected]

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