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Threat to jobs at Kew
Maggi Young:
--- Quote from: Maggi Young on March 29, 2014, 08:51:34 PM ---........ I've been reading that up to 125 jobs may be under threat at Kew ( where there are 750 "roles" it seems) because of the money shortfall for the costs there, so anything might happen, I suppose. :-X
--- End quote ---
More on that : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-26821046
BBC website 31 March 2014
"Kew Gardens jobs to be axed in £5m shortfall
Kew Gardens The Royal Botanic Gardens is facing a shortfall of £5m in 2014-15
About 125 jobs could be cut as the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, west London, faces a £5m shortfall in revenue in the coming financial year.
Kew Gardens said it had been facing "significant financial challenges" over the last few years and it was working on strategies to boost income.
But trying to fill the shortfall by a third will mean "changes in staffing" for the 750 people working there.
Compulsory redundancies would be a "last resort", a spokesman said.
Visitor at Kew Gardens Also known as Kew Gardens, the site is on the World Heritage List
The news of job cuts comes as the site saw a 29% rise in visitors last year.
In a statement, the Royal Botanic Gardens said: "We aim to fill roughly a third of the shortfall next financial year through income growth.
"We will be working with staff to explore all options including schemes for voluntary exits, reduced working hours and unpaid leave, before moving on to consideration of redeployment, voluntary redundancies or, as a last resort, compulsory redundancies." "
Maggi Young:
There is now a petition online to protest about the threat to the Kew jobs :
Petitioning Rt Hon Mr Owen Paterson MP
Urgently reverse existing, proposed, and further cuts to RBG Kew’s annual operating grant in aid
click here
Maggi Young:
--- Quote from: Maggi Young on March 31, 2014, 08:03:02 PM ---From BBC website 31 March 2014
"Kew Gardens jobs to be axed in £5m shortfall
Kew Gardens The Royal Botanic Gardens is facing a shortfall of £5m in 2014-15
About 125 jobs could be cut as the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, west London, faces a £5m shortfall in revenue in the coming financial year.
Kew Gardens said it had been facing "significant financial challenges" over the last few years and it was working on strategies to boost income.
But trying to fill the shortfall by a third will mean "changes in staffing" for the 750 people working there.
Compulsory redundancies would be a "last resort", a spokesman said.
Visitor at Kew Gardens Also known as Kew Gardens, the site is on the World Heritage List
The news of job cuts comes as the site saw a 29% rise in visitors last year.
In a statement, the Royal Botanic Gardens said: "We aim to fill roughly a third of the shortfall next financial year through income growth.
"We will be working with staff to explore all options including schemes for voluntary exits, reduced working hours and unpaid leave, before moving on to consideration of redeployment, voluntary redundancies or, as a last resort, compulsory redundancies." "
--- End quote ---
There's an online petition about this if you want to protest against this threat to Kew :
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/globally-important-conservation-and-science-under-threat-at-royal-botanic-gardens-kew-due-to-uk-government-cuts-5m-deficit-will-lead-to-loss-of-over-120-posts?recruiter=88977540&utm_campaign=mailto_link&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition
Maggi Young:
Stephen Blackmore the former Director of RBGE has recommended this as an "Excellent, well balanced article on importance of supporting science at Kew by Alice Bell"
"Scientists, unions and greens unite in concern over Kew Gardens cuts
Cuts to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew risk the loss of 125 jobs, many in science and public engagement" :
http://www.theguardian.com/science/political-science/2014/apr/11/scientists-unions-greens-kew-gardens?CMP=twt_gu
a comment from the paper :
" The campaign moved up a step this week, as MPs issued an Early Day Motion, calling for a full public debate on the implications of such cuts. Prospect have also launched a petition calling on Environment Secretary Owen Patterson to urgently reverse cuts to Kew’s operating grant in aid."
requoting Sir David Attenborough : Sir David and the others have already explained this well.
As Sir David Attenborough told local Richmond press: “The important thing to remember is that it is the premiere botanical gardens in the world scientifically. People who think it is just a place to go to look at pretty flowers and flower beds are mistaking the importance of Kew Gardens”
Praising Kew's Millennium Seed Bank, he added: “The seed bank is of world importance and it should be supported by the Government like a proper institution or university and the continuing idea that Kew Gardens is merely a playground and that you just put up the prices to look after it is a misguided assessment of the value of Kew.”
Also comment from Prof. Jeff Ollerton, Professor of Biodiversity at the University of Northampton in his blog :
http://jeffollerton.wordpress.com/2014/04/09/budget-cuts-to-kew-are-cultural-vandalism/
Neil:
Can I just add that there is a petition on the direct gov website regarding this subject http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/63531
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