New strike ballot at the University of Sheffield over ‘risk of redundancy’ to staff

A new strike action ballot has been launched over a “risk of redundancy” to some University of Sheffield staff.

The Sheffield University and College Union (UCU) opened the ballot to its members yesterday in light of the university placing the academic staffing of five departments under review and the “continued risk of redundancy” to professional services staff due to restructures.

The university notified staff in May that a new voluntary severance scheme will open in September for academics in the following departments:

• Chemistry
• Materials engineering
• Civil and structural engineering
• The Management School
• East Asian studies

This follows on from the previous voluntary severance scheme launched in November 2024.

Jo Grady, general secretary of the UCU, said: “We will not accept threats to the jobs of our members, and neither will we accept the slow degradation of our members’ working conditions through stress and ever-increasing workload pressures that management’s current approach represents.

“If the employer does not listen it can expect to see disruption across campus in the coming months.”

According to the union, the university plans to cut at least £5m by “slashing staff” and has “made clear it is also willing to pursue more cuts by changing departments’ size and shape”.

The current university review of structures and staff levels in select areas aims to look at their sustainability with regards to existing and forecast student numbers.

Plans for 10 days of strike action in early May were called off after members accepted an offer guaranteeing no compulsory redundancies in 2025, a commitment the university stands by.

However, the branch is concerned future compulsory redundancies could be required if voluntary applications don’t meet cost cutting targets, as well as whether the plans could be a precursor to restructuring in the targeted departments.

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Their demands for the dispute are for the university to further commit to measures for no compulsory redundancies, reduce planned cuts, and negotiate on terms such as workloads, job security, and other means of making financial savings.

Sheffield UCU cites the university’s 2023/24 £6m operational surplus as why they believe it “could afford a more measured approach to its current financial situation”.

Branch president David Hayes added: ‘The University of Sheffield continues to pursue a campaign of disruptive and damaging changes in the name of fiscal prudence.

“The result will be spiralling workloads for staff who remain in post, demoralisation, and worsening workloads across the board. Staff have already had to endure seven years of relentless top-down change from management. It’s time for a rethink.”

The strike action ballot will close to members on 30th September.

A spokesperson for the University of Sheffield said: “The University has been informed of the UCU’s ballot for industrial action. Following the negotiations held with UCU earlier this year, we stand by our commitment to make no compulsory redundancies in this calendar year. We are also continuing to work with the UCU and other trade unions to avoid them wherever possible in the future.

“We continue to take a considered and strategic approach to the current challenges facing the higher education sector, including a reduction in income from international students, in order to safeguard our world-class teaching and research.”

Should the ballot result in strike action, the university is expecting the majority of staff and students to be unaffected.

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