The campus of University of Greenwich is abuzz with distress as a wave of job cuts has been revealed, leaving lecturers in a state of shock and devastation. The university, located in the Old Royal Naval College at Park Row, has declared its intention to slash its payroll by axing a total of 319 staff members. These cuts, disguised as “organisational changes” by the university, are a response to the significant financial challenges being faced, with consultations underway and no final decisions made yet, according to a spokeswoman.
Ruth Ballardie, a 70-year-old Senior Lecturer at University of Greenwich since 2018, expressed her surprise and lack of preparedness for the sudden announcement. Last year, the university reported a surplus of over £33 million, leading staff to believe their positions were secure with no hints of impending job losses. However, the vice chancellor’s salary has seen a significant increase from £299,000 to £374,000 since 2021, raising eyebrows among the faculty members.
The cuts are expected to impact the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences (FLAS), the Faculty of Engineering and Science (FES), and the Greenwich Business School (GBS). The University and College Union (UCU) revealed that all 151 hourly paid lecturers in FLAS and 45 in GBS are set to be let go, to be replaced by a pool of 50 part-time workers. This move is set to have a devastating impact on the affected staff, many of whom are highly skilled individuals with years of expertise in their respective fields.
