University staff strike over "savage" job cuts

Staff at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) have begun 18 days of strike action over proposed job cuts, work conditions and changes to pension contributions.

More than 50 members of the University and College Union (UCU) joined the picket line on Arundel Gate earlier, demanding university bosses reconsider their "savage attacks" on jobs.

UCU claimed more than 130 jobs could go as part of attempts to save almost £27m, potentially leading to a higher workload for staff.

A spokesperson for SHU said its priority was to minimise the impact on students and the wider university community, and that tough decisions had to be made due to financial challenges being faced across the higher education sector.

The strikes, which will take place at regular intervals into June, were supported "overwhelmingly" by 88% of members, according to UCU.

It said it wanted bosses to promise that there would be no compulsory redundancies and that teaching staff would not be "forced" into new contracts with a subsidiary company, denying new starters access to the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

It also rejected proposals to increase maximum teaching hours, and "tear up" national agreements on pay progression.

Vice chair of UCU's Hallam branch, Annaliese Connolly, said she was "devastated" about the proposed changes and that moral among staff was "really low" as they were "worried about their jobs".

She said: "We would invite University Executive Board and the Vice Chancellor to enter into meaningful negotiations with the branch.

"The sector as a whole is in trouble, so academic jobs are going to be difficult to come by."

Branch secretary Ben Abell said there could be compulsory redundancies, which would be "really damaging" for students' education.

He said morale had been "very poor for quite a while" due to a number of previous cuts which had increased workloads.

"I think the quality of teaching has just about been sustained, but if there's more cuts at the moment this could cause serious problems.

"We're also concerned that they're replacing senior staff with less qualified and less well-paid staff, so that will inevitably have an impact on the quality of education," he added.

The union will hold a public meeting from at 18:00 BST on Thursday 11 June at Channing Hall.

A spokesperson for SHU said: "Like all universities, we are having to make some tough decisions due to the financial challenges being faced across higher education.

"With the overall financial picture for universities likely to be challenging for some time, it is clear that failing to take action would undermine the university's long-term financial sustainability.

"We are focused on securing a stable future for Sheffield Hallam, while continuing to support our students, staff and wider community."

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