An anthropology professor has been reinstated at the University of Aberdeen after he was dismissed for gross misconduct back in August.
Professor David Anderson is the vice-chair for the Aberdeen University Union and College Union (UCU) branch. He has been at the university for 27 years.
He told The Gaudie that he felt the university “targeted” him for “standing up for the people in my school.”
The university reportedly fired him for sharing university restructuring documents.
A petition for the university to overturn their decision grew support from over 1000 signatories from over 10 countries.
His appeal campaign gained support from Scottish Greens’ MSP Maggie Chapman.
At a UCU rally last month, he said that his sacking was a “shame on the university.”
Now after the u-turn, David Anderson told The Gaudie: “it is deeply concerning that the university’s policies are only fair if subject to external review.”
This comes as members of the Aberdeen University UCU are balloting for more strikes after 14 days of industrial action so far this year.
A university spokesperson has said:
“The University followed its established procedures throughout this matter. We have implemented the outcome of the appeal in accordance with our procedures.”
“As this relates to an individual employee, we will not comment any further.”
Anderson hits out against the university
Prof. Anderson has been vocal in his criticisms of the university.
Last month he took part in a UCU rally on the campus. In this rally he said that he lost access to his office, emails and access to his students shortly following a phone call from the chair of the disciplinary committee telling him that he had been sacked.
Anderson added that he continued to advise his PhD students even after his dismissal.
His thoughts have not changed following him being reinstated.
He told The Gaudie: “I was reinstated back to my post on 22 October following an appeal hearing chaired by an external solicitor.
“Although I am relieved to be reinstated it is deeply concerning that the university’s policies are only fair if subject to external review.
“For the seven weeks when I had been dismissed a lot of damage was done to my family, to my students, and to the university itself.
“It will take months to repair this damage.”
He also added that he is particularly sad for the post-graduate students who are “preparing to come to Aberdeen to start their careers who had their paths effectively sabotaged.”
A UCU representative commented:
“While we are pleased that David has been reinstated we remain in dispute with the Senior Management Team around TU victimisation, a lack of meaningful engagement, and the failure to rule out compulsory redundancies.”
Compulsory redundancies looking likely
Staff members have previously said that the morale is “on the floor” following the announcement that 111 full-time equivalent jobs will be cut back in May.
There have been a total of 14 strike days so far this year. Members of the UCU are now balloting for more strikes in the new year.
The strikes are a direct response to the universities proposals for a £10 million savings plan.
The proposals include implementing student:staff ratios, going from 12 schools to four faculties, and cutting smaller courses.
Voluntary severance and early retirement schemes were re-introduced following the announcement, however the university said they would look to compulsory redundancies if this figure was not met by Autumn.
The Gaudie can reveal that as of September 10th, no one had taken part in the early retirement scheme. Less than five staff members took up the early severance scheme as of September 10th.
Now six months on from the initial announcement, the university is yet to reveal if compulsory redundancies will be taking place.
