Redundancy looms at Goldsmiths

Goldsmiths College is asking for voluntary staff redundancy to prepare for the next academic year, when the Higher Education Funding Council safety net which has protected it is withdrawn.

Earlier this year the college attempted to sack 11 academics in French, German and education, the majority of whom have since been reinstated on part-time teaching contracts. The college said this week that the strategy reflected its wish to avoid further compulsory redundancies in l994/95.

The Association of University Teachers at Goldsmiths is concerned about the case of Cyril Edwards, the German Medievalist, who was the only "subject redundancy" made out of the 11 selected. Dr Edwards has so far been offered only a very few hours of teaching.

The AUT has decided to suspend the implementation of its academic boycott in view of these developments, although it may restart it if negotiations break down.