University academics in action

University and College Union members across the country continue their fight for jobs. This is taking place separately in each institution, as part of a united campaign.

Members at Glasgow Caledonian University are balloting over industrial action against job cuts. The employer wants to lose up to 100 posts through a targeted voluntary redundancy scheme. This is supposedly in response to a predicted deficit of £10 million, although the university is not currently in deficit.

Jobs axe

University of Edinburgh UCU members have voted for strike action against the employer’s proposals to make over £140 million of cuts and axe up to 1,800 jobs. This could include working to contract, not covering for absent colleagues, and a marking and assessment boycott. NUS Scotland has issued a statement of support for university staff across Scotland.

UCU members at London Metropolitan University continue their fight against job cuts and redundancies. Action short of a strike started on 6 April, with six days of strikes planned for later that month.

Spending freely

Academics working at Goldsmiths, University of London face similar issues – cuts and mass redundancies while spending freely on consultants and senior management pay. UCU members voted overwhelmingly for action in a ballot that closed on 10 April. This is likely to take the form of a marking and assessment boycott.

Sheffield Hallam University UCU is holding a ballot for strike action in defence of pensions. The employer claims it needs to attack jobs, terms, pensions, and learning and working conditions, in order to make at £26 million of cuts next year.