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Armidale hit by up to 100 UNE job cuts

General staff jobs are being cut at an alarming rate at the University of New England with up to 100 jobs on the chopping block, says the Community and Public Sector Union.

Rumours have been circulating at the university for some time about threatened cuts to general staff – now those rumours are becoming reality, said CPSU State Secretary John Cahill.

“General staff positions are being cut through a series of restructures at the University,” said Mr Cahill.

“In addition to 36 job cuts already announced, we are expecting up to 60 more in the months ahead as the relentless restructuring of departments plays out.

“The loss of these jobs will not only hit services to students and the efficient functioning of the university – but also the local Armidale economy, where UNE is the biggest employer.”

Job cuts have already been announced in human resources, the printery and financial services.

The State MP for the Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay, who is also UNE’s Chancellor, must be held to account for the loss of jobs at his university, which will have a devastating impact on his electorate, said Mr Cahill.

CPSU UNE Branch President Ross Bennetts said morale was low at the university with UNE general staff anxious about their future amidst the wave of job-cutting and the effects would be widely felt.

“These job cuts mean existing staff will have to take on bigger work loads or services simply won’t be offered, affecting the whole university community. Armidale will suffer too,” said Mr Bennetts.

“University staff are active members of the community, if people are forced out of the community the impact will be felt across the entire Armidale community.”

Contact: Ross Bennetts, CPSU UNE Branch President, 0412 421 478 or  Rowan Salomon, CPSU Organiser,  0408 470 547