Just before the summer break Goldsmiths UCU, in conjunction with the Students union, launched the Fight Elitism campaign in response to a proposed restructure in STACS which will break apart a diverse team of staff with a proven track record in the highly successful BA in Applied Social Science, Community Development and Youth Work (BAASSCD&YW).
The campaign has had a fantastic response with professionals and former students writing to the warden supporting our calls for the proposals to be withdrawn. Goldsmiths UCU members also pledged to take industrial action at our last branch meeting.
Following a meeting between Goldsmiths management and UCU representatives in July – the following statement was made by SMT:
“Goldsmiths Management have agreed to review the proposals with STaCS DMT. This means the proposals will not move forward until Goldsmiths management and UCU representatives have met again to discuss the outcome of this review. The earliest this meeting will take place will be week commencing 4th September 2017”.
At the meeting, GUCU agreed to put a pause on progressing industrial action for now. However we will be pushing ahead with the campaign as we feel it is vital to amplify as clearly as possible widespread opposition to a restructure which threatens the only remaining full time community and youth work degree in London 2016-17. We believe also that it is vital to challenge an approach which departs from Goldsmiths’ organisational change policy (job matching, avoiding redundancy etc.) and therefore also risks setting a very bad precedent for all of us working and studying at this institution.
Please join us at the meeting on Weds 20, 11.30am, PSH 305, to discuss how to move the campaign forward.
In the meantime – we urge colleagues, students and members of the public to write to the Warden Patrick Loughrey – warden@gold.ac.uk expressing concern – Send a copy of messages of support to gucu-admin@gold.ac.uk