LUT and LAB launch talks that could cut 160 jobs

Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT) and LAB University of Applied Sciences are starting restructuring talks that could lead to up to 160 job cuts, Yle reports.

The talks cover 573 LUT employees and 722 LAB employees, or nearly 1,300 staff members in total. LUT’s research and teaching staff are not included in its talks.

LUT estimates that its plans could result in up to 90 redundancies and up to 30 employees moving to part-time work. LAB estimates that up to 70 employees could be made redundant: 30 in teaching and 40 in specialist and support roles.

The talks are due to begin on October 7. LUT says the cost of higher education services has risen in relation to the group’s revenue. LAB says income from tuition fees has not met its targets.

The two institutions, which belong to the same group, have a combined savings requirement of 10.5 million euros.