University staff back strike over planned job cuts

University of Sussex staff have voted to go on strike in a dispute over plans to cut about 200 jobs.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) backed industrial action by 81%, with a turnout of 70% in a ballot that closed on Thursday.

The union said the result showed staff were prepared to fight to protect jobs and student provision.

The university said the proposed cuts were needed to save £35 million a year, with vice-chancellor Prof Sasha Roseneil calling the situation "regrettable" but adding "very difficult decisions" were needed.

Jo Pawlik, president of the Sussex UCU branch, said: "This strong support for strike action shows Sussex staff will fight to protect our jobs and our student provision."

"UCU members are the university, now more than ever we need to stand together as a union," she added.

A UCU spokesperson said alternative proposals had been put to the university, including bringing down the pay of senior management and allowing staff to volunteer to work part-time.

It said the university had agreed to consult on the part-time proposal and to extend the timeline for the cuts.

Two voluntary redundancy schemes at the university saw 528 staff leave in the past year prior to the proposed cuts.

Roseneil blamed the decision on the "long-term underfunding of teaching and research, ongoing inflationary pressures and a steep fall in international students driven by government policy changes".

She said the university had already "significantly reduced expenditure through non-pay savings, vacancy management and cutting our capital programme".

"Despite this, we still need to make further savings to ensure our long‑term financial sustainability," she added.

The university was approached for comment about the strike ballot.

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