Friday, July 24, 2015

Statement of Purpose: An Inquiry into the ‘Business Improvement Plan’ Melbourne People’s Tribunal, April 2015




On 5 December 2013 University of Melbourne Vice Chancellor Glyn Davis informed staff at a ‘Town Hall Meeting’ that an ‘innovative program to revamp service and support activities and strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive tertiary environment’ would be introduced over an 18-month period.
Professor Davis also informed staff that ‘international management consultants’ Booz & Co would design and implement the program in coordination with teams of University of Melbourne staff. The official University of Melbourne press release reporting Professor Davis’ announcement contained no indications that there would be job losses, or sustained insecurity of tenure for professional staff. Instead the emphasis was on the improvement of systems and processes with the resulting savings of $70m per annum reinvested in teaching, research and engagement. Nevertheless, BIP ultimately abolished 540 jobs, with all remaining professional staff positions declared vacant and all staff required to apply for a diminished pool of jobs.