Here we go again, staff at three Russell Group unis are striking right now

Staff at three different Russell Group unis are striking right now. Lots of UK unis are struggling with money right now, and have proposed huge job cuts. Here’s a look at who is striking, and why.

University of Edinburgh

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The University of Edinburgh has planned for a huge £140 million of budget cuts The union reckons this will include about 1,800 job losses. Management haven’t ruled out compulsory redundancies. Union members believe management could make cuts in other places, since the university recently set aside £400,000 for a media consultants, and Sir Peter Mathieson is one of the highest-paid university bosses in the UK.

Staff are striking on the uni’s open day on Friday 20th June, and then for five days in September during the university’s “welcome week”.

A University of Edinburgh spokesperson said: “Open Day is a hugely important event in our calendar, and we are delighted to be welcoming thousands of potential students to our campus. Visitors will get a taste of what classes might be like, see accommodation options as well as experiencing the city itself.

“While we respect colleagues’ right to take part in industrial action, we are doing our utmost to keep any disruption to a minimum and have endeavoured to keep those planning to attend well informed.”

University of Liverpool

At the moment, staff with a hybrid working option have to be on site for a minimum of 40 percent of the times. Management plan to increase this to 60 per cent of the time. Staff are not pleased about this.

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The Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Management at Liverpool University have tried to ride roughshod over its staff’s work, well-being and personal lives. Rather than issuing diktats it should treat workers fairly and decently.”

Staff are striking on 19th June and 20th June, while open days are happening on the campus.

A spokesperson for the uni said: “Many staff already spend all or most of their working time on campus and the change to at least 60 per cent 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.”

Apparently, staff with certain personal circumstances, such as caring responsibilities, might not have to be on site 60 per cent of the time.

Newcastle University

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Management at Newcastle University plan to save money by cutting 300 jobs, cancelling promotions and restricting travel. Staff at Newcastle are not impressed that the uni is also spending £274 million on new accommodation and looking into opening a campus in India.

Staff at Newcastle have already been protesting for a month. They plan to strike on all weekdays from Tuesday 4th 6th June to Thursday 17th July, and also on Saturday the 28th June.

A representative for the uni said they were “extremely disappointed” that staff were striking. “Compulsory redundancies will always be a last resort, and we are committed to working constructively with our unions to explore all possible alternatives. Our priority is to support our colleagues through this challenging period while working towards a more sustainable future for our university.”

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