University of Liverpool exam season likely to be majorly disrupted by staff union strikes

Students at the University of Liverpool are likely to face major disruption during their key exam season due to staff unions balloting in favour of industrial action this semester.

Over 340 professional staff members part of the Unite The Union group have been balloted after they were told they must have a minimum of 60 per cent attendance working on-site from 1 April 2025.

Since the end of the COVID-19 lockdown, hybrid working staff have been asked to work from campus for a minimum of two days a week, but union members claim university management have have “unilaterally” mandated them to increase their time spent working on site, without adequate negotiation with the workers.

The university’s changes made to hybrid working conditions has been met with backlash from staff across the institution, and industrial action could begin during the end of year exam season.

The Unite ballot closes on April 9th, meaning staff union strikes could begin later that month.

This response could also potentially continue through the period when university places become available for clearing, and into September when students begin their studies.

The Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The University of Liverpool is guilty of making heavy handed management diktats without any thought to the effect it will have on its dedicated workforce. The demand to return to the workplace is not fit for purpose and needs to be shelved.

“Our members at Liverpool University have the absolute support of Unite in their dispute.”

The industrial action has been planned following concerns about the negative impact the proposed working conditions may have on university staff, as well as flexibility and personal wellbeing worries.

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Unite regional officer Sam Marshall said: “The vice chancellor has just decided that everybody should come back on campus to work, but there has been a complete failure to consult with our members.

“This change has been introduced without prior negotiation with Unite, despite the impact on the working conditions, health and safety,  and personal circumstances of affected workers.

“Strike action will inevitably cause severe disruption including during exam periods but this dispute is entirely of the university’s management’s own making.”

This response also occurs in the wake of members of the University and College Union (UCU) calling out the University of Liverpool for its lack of “clarity” following proposed job cuts and a voluntary severance scheme in February.

A spokesperson from the University of Liverpool told the Liverpool ECHO that “should the trade unions achieve a mandate, we will have the necessary mitigations in place to seek to ensure students will not be adversely impacted”.

They continued to say: “We offer progressive employment practices and a wide range of options which provide colleagues with flexibility and choice and support work-life balance.

“Many staff already spend all or most of their working time on campus and the change to at least 60% for those who work part of their time from home is intended to strike the right balance as a face-to-face higher education provider.

“It will both enhance the experience of campus for our students and improve the impact colleagues have in their roles by spending more time together, whilst retaining the benefits and positives which staff value about working remotely.

“Colleagues who have personal circumstances, such as caring responsibilities or disabilities, which may make it challenging for them to move to the proposed new arrangements, have been encouraged to speak to their managers in order that individual adjustments can be made where necessary”.

It is unclear what format the union strikes will take, and the extent of the impact they will cause on students, but it is likely that the industrial action will coincide directly with students’ end of year exams.

The University and College Union (UCU) which also represents workers at the university is currently balloting its members over the same issue.