Lecturers at Brunel University are to ballot for industrial action over plans by the university to axe up to 60 members of staff who are not considered 'research active'.
The university's branch of the Association of University Teachers has been campaigning against the redundancies, announced last September, which amount to almost one in eight of the academic staff. Last week, the association's national executive unanimously endorsed the ballot for further action.
The redundancies are part of the university's plans to bolster its research output ahead of an expected research assessment exercise (RAE) in 2008. The results of the RAE have a direct bearing on the amount of research money universities receive from the government.
When the redundancies were first announced, Brunel's vice-chancellor, Steven Schwartz, told EducationGuardian.co.uk that the university was looking for lecturers to take voluntary redundancy to make way for staff who would be more research-focused. However, the AUT claimed this week that 30 lecturers now faced compulsory redundancy, and have accused Professor Schwartz of failing to adequately consult staff on the matter.
The general secretary of the AUT, Sally Hunt, said the association would not tolerate university staff being treated in this "disgraceful way", adding that it would back members all the way.
"The individuals that are threatened by this cull have all provided a valuable contribution to university life and deserve better treatment than the distortion peddled that they are not research active," said Ms Hunt.
"The union's national executive gave unanimous approval to a ballot for industrial action at Brunel University and I can promise our members that we will do everything possible to remove the job cull threat."
She added: "The AUT calls on the university to step back from the threat of compulsory redundancy and enter into sensible talks with us. [Professor] Schwartz's refusal even to take this moderate step pushes the university ever closer to industrial chaos."
However, Brunel's pro-vice-chancellor for research, Chris Jenks, said that the university had been consulting widely with staff and the AUT on the redundancies since last September.
"Our goal at the beginning of the exercise was to work closely with those colleagues who may be affected by the consultation, and we have now met with all those individuals," he said.
"We have also liaised on a frequent basis with the AUT to ensure we have an open and constructive dialogue. At every stage, Brunel's council has been informed and has approved the process."
A university spokeswoman said the actual number of redundancies was not expected to be announced until mid-March.
Lecturers are planning to protest against the proposals at the university on Thursday to coincide with a visit by the broadcaster and chancellor of Leeds University, Lord Bragg, who is due to open Brunel's new library. The AUT has asked him to withdraw from the ceremony.
In a recent online poll, 94% of AUT members said they had no confidence in Brunel's senior management.
