Massey University. Photo: RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham
The Tertiary Education Union (TEU) says Massey University unveiled plans for more job cuts on Monday, this time targeting its College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The union said the proposal would cut 40 full-time equivalent jobs from the current 130.
The plan followed a proposal earlier this month to cut more than 100 jobs from the College of Science.
The union said if the latest cuts went ahead, it would halve the number of staff in fields including defence and security Studies, development studies, english and writing, history and politics.
Massey University vice-chancellor Jan Thomas. Photo: Supplied
Massey confirmed in a statement to RNZ there was a consultation underway for two departments - the School of Humanities, Media and Creative Communication and the School of People, Environment and Planning - which "could mean a reduction of academic staff in a number of disciplines".
It said there would be "no qualification closures".
"Despite efforts to reduce costs within the college, there remains a significant gap between what the college spends and earns. For the College to achieve a position of financial stability, further reductions are needed to the current operating expenses," Prof Cynthia White, Te Kura Pūkenga Tangata College of Humanities and Social Sciences pro vice-chancellor, said.
A final decision was due in December.
"No decisions will be made until the proposal has been carefully and thoroughly considered by the college, its staff and students, and the wider university community."
TEU Massey organiser Ben Schmidt said the proposals were short-sighted and damaging.
"The Massey University council and vice-chancellor should immediately halt all staffing cuts and engage with the incoming government about the future of tertiary education. They need to understand the new government's priorities before making such drastic decisions."
Massey University is facing a deficit of about $50 million due to falling domestic enrolments and rising costs.
Schmidt told RNZ the union's members were devastated by the proposal.
"They have spent years, decades often, working and leading in their fields," he said. "It's a complete slap in the face to see this proposal come out which has no real recognition of the contributions that all academic staff make to the country and they are furious."
Schmidt said if the university wanted to grow and become more sustainable, it should keep its skilled staff.
"So this proposal is completely short-sighted and will not fix the university's challenges."
Schmidt said the university called earlier this year for about 200 voluntary redundancies.
