QUB Students Step Up Referendum Campaign
In a recent development, a group of QUB students who have called for referendum on the planned outsourcing QUBSU security jobs have issued a press release. The press release calls for students at Queen's to vote 'Yes' in answer to the referendum question.
“History made as an unprecedented number of QUB students call for a referendum to save student jobs.
In 2008, a decision was made in Queen’s University Belfast Students’ Union to outsource some of the security staff positions to G4S. Currently, the students’ union employs students and graduates. The door supervisors are employed by G4S.
Earlier this month, our security staff were told that their contracts will be terminated at the end of the month. They have two choices- take a job offered with G4S (on a zero-hour contract, without the support and protection that comes with being an employee of the university/union), or lose
their job.
In a single day, almost 1200 students signed a petition calling for a referendum on the issue. To put this in context, QUBSU President Elect was elected with 1842 votes cast over three days of polling. As a result of the petition, a referendum will be held on QOL on Thursday 9 May.
The referendum calls for QUBSU Management Board to reverse this decision and stop outsourcing Students’ Union jobs and reaffirm their support for protecting and enhancing job opportunities for students at the University.
Tweet support (@QUBSU, #savestudentjobs) in the form of videos, posters and statements, and show that we will stand united in the face of attacks on our Students’ Unions.”
If you would like to have your say on the matter, please email editor@thegown.net.
