NEW COLLEGE GLASGOW
Comments on any governance, management or stai ng issues arising out of the prosped merger including suggestions on the name
of the new College (Sections 9 and 10):
Answer Options Response Count
47
answered question 47
skipped question 14
Number Response Date Response Text
1 Nov 23, 2009 02:00 PM I was fascinated to note the timeline for harmonisation of conditions and I am sure that all staf would
welcome this. It does however appear to be overly ambitious and will most likely take a lot longer to
achieve than anticipated.
It is unfortunate that the new board has taken so long in appointing the remainder of the board and
it would have been much better if they had been appointed quicker. Having independant board
members will give all three colleges a feeling of fairness and transparency and might help to move the
process on quicker.
I believe that the name of the new College should be Glasgow Metropolitan College as it has developed
an excellent brand name in Glasgow, its surrounding areas and beyond. Both the College of Building
and Printing and Glasgow College of Food Studies gave up their old names to create a new name after
examining all of the alternatives proposed in 1994. In my view not to use such a well developed brand
name would be a great pity and would most likely lead to the adoption of an inferior name. The idea of
calling the new college New College Glasgow, would be a great pity. After a few years and possibly other
mergers in the City would the college have to rename itself at great expence and risk.
2 Nov 26, 2009 12:06 PM If you are really going to be honest and open in your dealings with staf , come clean and start of ering
voluntary redundancy packages cf Glasgow City Council. As the stress of "Knowing" that I am a duplicate
and my job has already been carved up between others desperate to keep theirs does not make for a
conducive work environment. In fact the whole scenario is making me ill and I am sure I am not alone.
3 Dec 3, 2009 09:30 PM Large organisations generally have more dii culty in establishing and maintaining two way
communication. In general the Glasgow Metropolitan made major improvements over the College of
Building and Printing of 20 years ago, however good communication up, down and across the structure
needs work to maintain. A common set of conditions and salary scale for staf will not be easy to
achieve but is a well worthwhile target.
4 Dec 10, 2009 9:21 AM Glasgow College sounds like a good name.
We have been partnering with GCNS since 1993 and over the years have built up this brand name and
goodwill for GCNS in this country, as the most preferred destination for maritime studies in the UK.
5 Dec 15, 2009 11:18 AM I would like a guarantee that my current pay and conditions, as a minimum, will be protected and that,
before any merger takes place, there should be positive progress towards the harmonisation of pay and
conditions between staf of the three colleges. Working, as I do at the moment, in Metropolitan College,
I i nd it wrong that lecturers in the same educational establishment have, sometimes vastly, dif ering
terms of contract. This cannot be right.
6 I am a lecturer who has not benei ted from the previous merger between Glasgow College of Food
Technology and College of Building & Printing; I am therefore somewhat concerned about the new
merger with 2 other colleges. At present, I receive 5 days LESS holidays than colleagues, I work half a
day more each week(I get no DISCRETIONARY TIME) and my salary commenced at Point ONE, though
I have many years' experience, 4 Post Grad qualii cations and a good degree. This was the basis I was
employed, though I am paid as if I had no experience or postgrad qualii cations. My colleagues whose
contracts are under the old Food Tech college conditions are better paid than me, though, with no
disrespect to my colleagues, several are not as well-qualifed or experienced.
If "harmonisation" is to happen, it should be that ALL staf benei t from the BEST overall conditions,
and do not experience disbenei ts from the merger. If they do, this can lead to resentment and the
usual "US and THEM" attitude. Clearly all establishments wish to cut costs, but even the most naive
student of staf motivation knows that poor pay and conditions do not lead to motivated staf , and it is
obvious that to retain high standards and good staf , pay and conditions should be the best that can be
obtained. "Buy cheap, buy dear" is a maxim that should be borne in mind.
140
Appendix 10: Consultation Results