[MP’s Name]

[Constituency Office Address]

[City, Postcode]

Dear [MP’s Name],

Subject: Concerns Regarding Coventry University’s Proposed Redundancies and Fire and Rehire Practices

I am writing to express UCU’s deep concern about Coventry University’s recent proposal to implement a major restructure which will see at least 300 academic staff put at risk of redundancy with more than 100 likely to lose their jobs. And for those who remain, the University proposes to employ them through a subsidiary company on inferior terms and conditions without access to the sector standard pension scheme.

So far, academics in the School of Engineering, the School of Economics, Finance and Accounting, the School of Arts and Creative Industries and the School of Social Studies and Humanities have been notified of these proposals. Approximately 340 staff are affected, with over 120 redundancies so far proposed and staff will have to compete for the smaller number of jobs offered in the subsidiary. This proposal, announced in the run up to Christmas, has shocked and distressed the academic community at the University. No voluntary redundancy package is being offered and it is feared this is just the start of a major compulsory redundancy programme, alongside the mass transfer of academic teaching staff at Coventry University into the subsidiary.

Compared to the University the subsidiary company, PeoplesFuture Limited, (PFL) has

•  Longer working hours
•  An increased teaching load
•  Fewer days of annual leave
• A less favourable company sick pay scheme
•  An inferior pension scheme, which involves the removal of academic staff from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS).

Under the post-92 agreement, all academic staff in post-92 universities have guaranteed access to the TPS. This agreement was designed to protect staff welfare, support recruitment, and maintain employment standards across the sector. It is alarming to see Coventry University circumventing these principles.

This action sets a dangerous precedent that could have long-term consequences for education and social mobility and, if other universities follow Coventry’s lead, it will have far-reaching implications for the Treasury in terms of a reduction in Teacher Pension Scheme contributions.

This ‘fire and rehire’ of academic staff will undoubtedly adversely affect students. Coventry University serves a diverse cohort, including many disadvantaged and first-generation students. By undermining staff terms and conditions, the quality of education, student outcomes, and opportunities for social mobility will inevitably suffer. The uncertainty caused by this decision will disproportionately affect students from underprivileged backgrounds, for whom higher education can be a vital route out of poverty.

In contrast senior leaders at the University continue to receive substantial bonuses, which cannot but have a corrosive effect on public trust in the institution’s priorities. For example, John Latham, the VC, was awarded 312K salary + 80K bonus by the University according to the BBC in 2022/23, the year the University announced it had missed its financial targets by £100 million.  We also know that managers received 4 million in bonuses according to the latest University financial report.

We are asking you as a local MP to scrutinise the University’s proposals and raise the issue urgently both with the Secretary of State for Education, and in Parliament.

UCU would be happy to discuss the impact of these proposals with you and supply further information if you require.

We look forward to receiving your response.

Yours sincerely,