Queen's staff vent fury at planned job cuts

More than 150 academics have spoken out in opposition to radical restructuring at Queen's University, Belfast, initiated by the new vice-chancellor, George Bain.

Fifty-three academics from Queen's have signed a protest letter at the changes, adding their voices to the 103 signatories to an earlier open letter criticising the plans.

Queen's also faces challenges to the legality of its actions. The Association of University Teachers has already threatened a judicial review and has written to the university's visitor. It has also been suggested that the university may fall foul of employment law.

Professor Bain said that the restructuring plan, which will involve the loss of about 100 staff, had been checked by lawyers.

"We are confident that we are operating within the spirit and the letter of the law," he said. "At the moment, all we have done is invited people to consider early retirement on what, in our view, is one of the most generous packages in the sector. No one has been declared redundant."

Professor Bain said that so far 25 people had volunteered for retirement, and that the majority of his 1,000 academic staff supported the moves.

He added that the restructure "is not an option", but appeared to soften his line on the retirement targeting.

Staff who received letters inviting them to retire, he said, will be given the opportunity to have their position reviewed.