Staff at Sussex University have voted to go on strike as they try to find ways to save the jobs of hundreds of staff threatened with redundancy.
The University and College Union (UCU) said today (Friday 14 August) that more than four in five staff who voted in a strike ballot backed a walk-out.
The union said: “In a ballot that closed yesterday 81 per cent of UCU members voted in favour of strike action on a turnout of 70 per cent.
“The vote is over management’s threat to cut 200 jobs in plans to save £35 million a year.
“Sussex UCU has put forward proposals to protect jobs and student provision, including allowing staff to volunteer to move part-time and working to bring down the pay of senior management, alongside campaigning to lobby policymakers to invest in the future of higher education.
“Management is now considering the union’s feedback but has already agreed to extend timelines and to consult with staff over voluntarily moving to part time.”
Sussex UCU branch president Jo Pawlik said: “This strong support for strike action shows Sussex staff will fight to protect our jobs and our student provision.
“We hope management now carefully considers the alternative options our members have put forward before pushing ahead with unpopular cuts that would force us on to the picket line.
“UCU members are the university, now more than ever we need to stand together as a union.”
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “The threatened cuts would cause lasting harm to Sussex’s academic standing and reputation.
“They must be halted. Our members have the full backing of the national union in resisting them.”
What standing and reputation ?
What little it had went long ago.
Only 200 staff? I’m sure there are plenty of other non jobs that could be gotten rid off, and no one would even notice
Half the staff got hired through mates
Ah, the good old strike because of job reductions, I’m trying to remember a time when that actually worked,,,, coal mines, no,,,, car plants, no,,, trains and buses, no,,,, I’m sure the Unions have a couple of success stories somewhere. This being the usual problem of Government sub managed systems, too many people in there you don’t actually need.
Sheffield, Dundee and Newcastle Universities all have positive outcomes following strike action, to be fair.
Not Dundee, nothing decided as yet and more strikes in Sept, over 600 staff gone voluntarily and they still have to cut150 more. I was back there 2 months ago. They managed to “lose” about £40M somewhere and need £20M more. Government intervention on the way I think.
I bet it’ll be the people that make the place work gor the chop, the 800k lefties won’t get touched.
Meaningless drivel