Massey University “cynically” cut 54 humanities and social sciences staff

Despite Massey University’s plans to sell $150 million worth of property this year, it has cut 54 staff — many over email.  

“What we really need is an employer that puts staff before buildings,” Tertiary Education Union (TEU) organiser, Ben Schmidt said.  

On the 15th of February, the university released its final decision to cut staff from the College of Humanities and Social Science (CoHSS). 

The decision was announced to staff over a “deeply impersonal and inappropriate” webinar.  

After the short notice meeting, emails were sent to staff being let go.  

Massive understands some staff were let go, while others took a voluntary cessation option.  

“The process has been absolutely appalling and impersonal,” Schmidt said.  

According to the student association, since 2023 Massey has cut 280 staff — the single largest layoff in New Zealand university history. 

The cuts are due to the university's financial strain, with vice-chancellor Jan Thomas predicting a deficit of about $41 million for 2023. This included $19 million in redundancy costs.  

Students protested against Engineering cuts last year, many of which went through. Photo / Niklas Polzer

The college’s budget had a shortfall of $6.14 million as of September last year, the biggest expense being staff related costs.  

The TEU proposed that Massey could reduce space costs, reduce annual leave liability and focus on increasing enrolment, saying this would be more than enough to cover CoHSS budget shortfall.  

However, Massey felt this plan would fail.  

Enrolment numbers in CoHSS had dropped over 2,500 over the past 11 years, according to the final decision document.  

Cynthia White, CoHSS pro vice-chancellor said staff who had been let go were given the chance to compete for available positions or be redeployed.  

She said there was a three-month notice period for all staff whose positions had been disestablished.  

While the size of the layoffs meant many internal students’ courses would be forced to move online, White said no qualifications or disciplines would close.   

Student association president, Hennessey Wilson said the entire process had been done “cynically”.  

He felt Massey purposely made cuts during the summer break to keep students quiet and reduce backlash.  

He said staff who will be rehired will have “twice as much work just for the honour of not being fired”. 

151 submissions were received in response to the preliminary decision and proposal for change.  

The submissions showed that many staff and students thought no changes should be made to the disciplines or were not at all supportive.  

Both the TEU and student association felt the university did not fully engage with the options put forward.  

The first proposal in October projected up to 40 staff losses, however, this was increased to 54 after lower-than-expected enrolments over summer.