Cardiff University could face strike action over proposed job and course cuts

Cardiff University could face strike action over proposed job and subject cuts.

This comes as Professor Wendy Larner announced 400 jobs could be slashed from the university, which equates to around seven per cent of the work force.

All of these jobs are supposedly academic but the cutting of some non-academic positions has not been ruled out.

The University College Union (UCU) has said it will ballot members for strike action, and called the cuts “brutal and unnecessary”.

Dr Andy Williams, a Cardiff UCU representative and lecturer in JOMEC, said: “Everyone is shell-shocked at the scale of these cuts. These cuts will damage the university, the city, and Wales as well as our members.”

As well as jobs being cut, a number of courses are expected to close. These are: Nursing, modern foreign languages, music, ancient history, and religion and theology. As well as the closures, some subjects will also be merging.

The Welsh Government has also spoken out about its disappointment that nursing is one of the courses to be cut, with a spokesperson telling Wales Online: “We understand the serious concern Cardiff University’s announcement will cause for people affected. Universities across the UK are facing a challenging financial period due to a range of factors and we expect all institutions to work with trade unions, staff and students on any proposals.

“Universities are independent institutions, but we are very disappointed that nursing courses form part of these proposals and we are working urgently with HEIW to ensure we train the same number of nurses in Wales.”

Other universities are also facing industrial action ballots with Sheffield University, Sheffield Hallam and Strathclyde University seeing members vote on whether to take part in strikes.

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In a statement, Professor Wendy Larner, Cardiff University’s vice-chancellor, said: “It is no longer an option for us to continue as we are,” adding the university had to make “difficult decisions” because of “declining international student applications and increasing cost pressures, and the need to adapt to survive”.

She further explained that she understands the “proposals impact some staff more than others and they will cause a great deal of uncertainty and anxiety for those potentially impacted”.

However, in her statement, Professor Larner wanted to stress that “these are proposals and our final plans will be shaped by our community – both internal and external – through formal consultation. The scale of the challenge will remain, but the way that we address it will certainly be refined and developed over the next 90 days.”

She also also added that the “final plans for approval are expected to be considered by University Council in June 2025”.