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University staff begin 14 days of strike action

BBC Jo Grady stands in front of a group of picketers. She is wearing a pink hat that reads: "UCU". Behind her, a placard reads: "Don't cross pickets".BBC
University College Union (UCU) general secretary Jo Grady said UK higher education was "on its knees"

Staff at a city centre university have begun 14 days of strike action amid job losses.

A £35m shortfall has led to Newcastle University approving a £20m reduction in its salary bill - the equivalent of about 300 jobs.

The University College Union (UCU) general secretary Jo Grady said "thousands of jobs are set to disappear" across the sector which, she said, would be "hugely damaging to students".

Newcastle University said it was "extremely disappointed by the start of the industrial action", but recognises it is "not a decision that colleagues take lightly".

UCU Members at Durham University are also being balloted for strike action, after the university announced it was planning to make £10m cuts during the current academic year and a further £10m during 2025-26.

Dozens of picketers stand on the street holding up various placards. One says "Newcastle student staff solidarity", another reads "Strike against job cuts".
Staff at Newcastle University have begun 14 days of strike action

Kyra Helberg, 27, who is a PHD student and lecturer of Medical History said she was "seriously concerned".

"The job cuts make me question if I have a future in this industry," she said.

Senior lecturer in Linguistics Geoff Poole, 55, said: "It's a scary and frustrating time, we're talking about the end of people's careers."

'Fighting to protect jobs'

Newcastle University said structural underfunding, rising costs and shifts in international student markets had led to the current economic challenges.

It wanted to work "constructively" with unions to "build a more sustainable future", while also supporting "colleagues throughout this challenging time", it said.

A spokesperson said: "The challenges we are facing are being felt by universities across the UK."

Ms Grady said UK higher education was "on its knees, with thousands of jobs set to disappear from across the sector" and some courses being cut.

"This will be hugely damaging to students," she said.

The UCU was "fighting to protect jobs and course provision for current students, and future generations", she added.

The union said strikes would take place on:

  • 4 and 6 March
  • 10-12 March
  • 17- 20 March
  • 24- 28 March

Staff will also take continuous action short of strike from 4 March.

The university said measures to "maintain academic standards" and minimise the impact of the industrial action are in place.

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