University staff to strike over job cut threat

Teaching staff at Sheffield Hallam University have voted to go on strike in response to proposed job cuts announced last year.

The University and College Union (UCU) accused Sheffield Hallam of going ahead with major building projects at the expense of jobs.

Dates for walkouts would be announced "in due course", the UCU said.

A university spokesperson said external pressures had led to "tough decisions".

It comes as Sheffield Hallam announced it would cut 400 non-academic roles as part of cost-saving measures.

The university, which employs about 4,500 people, said an anticipated drop in international student recruitment would require cutting back staff costs to maintain a "healthy financial position".

However, the UCU has accused the university of launching "a wholesale attack" on staff and students and has labelled the proposed cuts of academic roles as "outrageous".

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: "It is disgraceful to see that rather than reviewing its spending on new buildings and a satellite campus halfway across the country, management would rather slash jobs, jeopardise academic standards, and tear up our hard-won terms and conditions.

"If university management do not stop these attacks on staff, they will face unprecedented disruption."

According to the UCU, 87% of members who voted supported industrial action, with a turnout of 53%.

The university said it would do "everything possible" to avoid any compulsory redundancies and would continue to engage with trade union representatives.

A spokesperson added: "We are disappointed UCU has voted to take action.

"Our priority during any industrial action will be to do everything possible to minimise the impact on our students and wider community."

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