Liverpool Hope exam timetable at risk as university rejects union’s restructure proposals

FURTHER industrial action looks on the cards at Liverpool Hope University after the university rejected proposals from the University and College Union (UCU) for a more measured approach to significant funding changes.

UCU said that it was disappointed that the university had rejected the union’s proposals to stagger staffing changes in its Teacher Education provision and that industrial action that could disrupt students’ exams was being seriously considered by its members at Liverpool Hope University.

The union says that the institution is reacting too quickly to changes to how teacher training will be funded in the future. The changes to move a lot of teacher training from universities to schools will not take place until 2012/13 and the union had set out plans to stagger voluntary redundancy packages and staff leaving.

UCU says that although the university will lose some funding from the Training and Development Agency (TDA) this year, it should not rush ahead with widespread job cuts that could damage the reputation of the institution and quality of the teaching it offers. The university will only find out in June what level of tuition fee it can charge students for the 2012/2013 academic year.

UCU regional official, Martyn Moss, said:- “The union is not blind to the difficulties faced by Liverpool Hope. Liverpool Hope is not the only university facing these challenges, but it is the only one moving at this pace to try and sack staff. We put forward sensible counter proposals that would allow the university to properly manage changes that are not due until the 2012/13 academic year.  We want to see a sensible resolution to this dispute, but we simply do not accept that the university has to move at this pace, or that it is in the interests of staff, students or the university’s reputation. That is why UCU members at Liverpool Hope are prepared to take further industrial action if the university refuses to reconsider.”

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Princes Dock Creates a Splash!

PEEL'S Princes Dock in Liverpool is the latest venue to announce it will be holding open water swimming sessions this year.  Organised by Uswim Openwater, the weekly open water season started on 16 April 2011 with the first session at Princes Dock taking place on Tuesday, 19 April 2011. The season will run until mid-September and is open to the public.

Liza Marco said:- “Over the past few months we have seen an increase in activity at Princes Dock which includes the completion of lettings to office occupiers, Holyrood children’s day nursery and in May the opening of Bean coffee shop and deli. From April to September we will see a total of 15 cruise liners dock at Princes Dock, in addition to the visits from Royal Naval vessels. The open water swimming is just another activity that emphasises the leisure element at Princes Dock and we are sure it will be a success”.

Dave Quartermain, Uswim Openwater founder of Uswim said:- “Princes Dock is a great, safe venue for open water swimming and we look forward to welcoming novices, Great Swimmers and triathletes alike to receive tuition from professional Swim Coaches. We offer wetsuit hire, safety cover and accurately measured swim courses.  Everything an open water swimmers needs!”

For more information on the open water swimming at Princes Dock, please visit uswimopenwater.com.  

Princes Dock is a hub of business activity set in 14.5 hectares, situated in the proposed £6 billion redevelopment scheme of Liverpool waterfront; Liverpool Waters.   It is located adjacent the iconic Liver Building alongside the new cruise liner facility. The new Leeds - Liverpool canal link extension also passes through the development.

There are over 2,500 people employed within Princes Dock with occupiers including Coutts Bank, PricewaterhouseCoopers and KMPG. All occupiers benefit from on site car parking, 24 hour security services, dedicated on-site maintenance team, on site member health and leisure club, a cafe, bars, restaurants and a new day nursery.  In addition to 3 Grade A office buildings Princes Dock is home to 2 high quality hotels; the Crowne Plaza and Malmaison, 3 luxury apartment towers and a 760 space multi storey car park.