Some 80 jobs are at risk at the University of Leicester as part of cost-saving measures – even though its operating surplus grew from £3m to £6.9m over the past 12 months and the number of staff earning more than £100,000 grew by 10%.
The university’s latest financial statement reveals that the vice chancellor receives a £299,000 salary package that includes a £7,000 ‘benefit’ plus pension contributions totalling £40,000. It also shows that the vice chancellor’s accommodation is paid for by the university.
The university employs about 3,000 staff and says the the proposed cuts amount to 1.8% of total employee costs. All staff have been asked to consider voluntary redundancy. However, a spokesperson confirmed that, if necessary, compulsory redundancies would be sought.
Despite the university predicting a further operating surplus for 2013-14 and describing staff as its “most valuable asset”, those staff are feeling vulnerable and wondering why savings cannot be found in other ways.
The University of Leicester is the only university to have won a THE award for seven consecutive years, with staff from administration, fundraising and libraries amongst others contributing to that success.
But a recent UNISON freedom of information request showed that it pays around 400 staff less than the living wage.
UNISON East Midlands head of higher education Catherine Mellors said: “The university portrays itself as a success story – and then looks to cut jobs – losing staff who provide the services vital to students.
“There is a clear hypocrisy of asking lower paid staff, some paid below the living wage and who do not earn enough money to live on, to lose their jobs whilst the increase in those receiving over £100,000 takes place without challenge and the vice chancellor lives in accommodation paid for by the university.”
UNISON represents professional support staff at the university, working in roles such as security, catering and administration.
