The husband of a general staff member said his wife knew her position would be disestablished, but she would not find out if she had a new role until May 2018. Photo / Getty Images
The husband of a general staff member said his wife knew her position would be disestablished, but she would not find out if she had a new role until May 2018. Photo / Getty Images
By Margot Taylor
Anxiety is building among University of Otago general staff but 600 staff and students have spoken out about plans to cut 182 fulltime equivalent (FTE) general staff jobs at the institution.
In July Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne announced plans to cut back the number of general staffto change the way they operated and ensure the university maintained its "environment of excellence".
Tertiary Education Union organiser Shaun Scott said the large number of submissions on the Support Services Review business case reflected the level of emotion staff at the university felt about the proposal.
"Anxiety at the moment would probably be the best way to describe it.
"It is now a waiting game for people to see what the final outcomes will be in terms of what is being considered through the submission process, and what changes, if any are made."
The husband of a general staff member who did not want to be named said his wife knew her position would be disestablished, but she would not find out if she had a new role until May 2018.
She had worked for the university for the past 17 years, he said.