Posted: 6.24pm Tuesday 10 February 2009
News & Reports
Cambridge University Press workers challenge redundancies
by CUP worker
This year is the 800th anniversary of Cambridge University and the 425th anniversary of Cambridge University Press (CUP).
But last month CUP announced around 170 redundancies from its publishing and printing divisions.
It says the printing market is too competitive and that printing that could be undertaken by CUP is often done cheaper elsewhere.
Many workers fear CUP will wind up its printing operation altogether within three years.
But CUP is not making a loss – it made £2 million profit in the last financial year. The printing and publishing divisions have separate union branches, although both are part of the Unite union.
Union members have launched a campaign to save the jobs at CUP. It is backed by Unite and Cambridge trades council. The campaign has called a public rally in the centre of Cambridge for Saturday of this week.
Although there is a desire to fight the job cuts at CUP, a ballot for industrial action has yet to be called.
The question remains as to whether the unions will take a lead and organise a fight against the redundancies.
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