Er, so staff at four UK unis are striking during Freshers’ Week 2025 over huge job cuts

Lots of UK unis are making big budget cuts this year, and your lecturers aren’t pleased about this. Industrial action is planned across the UK this autumn. Staff at four UK unis are going on strike during Freshers’ Week in 2025. Here’s a rundown of where this is happening, and why.

University of Edinburgh

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Union members at Edi have planned their strike days around the uni’s annual Welcome Week, which will run from Monday 8th to Friday 12th September. Staff are rallying on 8th September, then setting up picket lines in front of university buildings.

Staff already went on strike in June this year, and over the summer they have protested by not working overtime or covering for absent co-workers.

The University of Edinburgh’s management say they need to make £140 million of cuts. More than 350 staff already left the uni through a voluntary severance scheme. However, the uni has opened another scheme aimed at senior management, and hasn’t ruled out compulsory redundancies. The union fears 1,800 jobs could be at risk.

The vice-chancellor Peter Mathieson said: “We respect colleagues’ right to take part in industrial action and will do everything we can to minimise any disruption to our students and planned Welcome Week activities.”

Liverpool Hope University

Management initially announced they would dispose of 39 staff members in the creative arts and humanities, education and social sciences, and human and digital sciences departments. This would have been about 10 per cent of the teaching staff. After negotiating with the University College Union (UCU), management changed their plans, and now aim to only cut 11 roles. About 30 people’s jobs are at risk.

Staff will go on strike during this uni’s Freshers’ Week, from Monday 22nd to Friday 26th September. Further protests are planned from Monday 29th September to Friday 3rd October.

“We are in contact with at-risk colleagues,” a spokesperson from the uni said, “providing information about redeployment opportunities and continue to offer colleagues wellbeing support. We remain committed to mitigate against compulsory redundancies where possible.”

Robert Gordon University

130 staff left through a scheme last year, then in November the uni announced 135 jobs could still be cut. Staff at this uni in Aberdeen already went on strike in April and May.

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Management scaled back the initial plans, but up to 60 roles could still be cut. Staff are still striking on 11th September, during Fresher’s Week.

The vice-chancellor Steve Oliver told the BBC: “Against what continues to be an extremely challenging sector context, the actions that have been taken so far have been difficult but necessary. The university will continue to make every effort to mitigate compulsory redundancies which will always remain a last resort.”

University of the West of Scotland (UWS)

The management at UWS have announced plans to axe 75 roles for academic staff in order to save £6.2 million. Staff want the uni to guarantee there won’t be compulsory redundancies. Over 94 per cent of members who voted in a ballot chose to strike.

Staff at the uni’s different campuses across Scotland will walkout on Thursday 11th September, during the induction week for new students. Further strikes are planned for the 16th, 22nd and 23rd of September, then on the 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 8th, 20th and 21st of October.

A spokesperson for UWS told the BBC the uni was dealing with “a very challenging financial environment” and “is committed to mitigating the impact on staff, with a focus on employment retention where possible.”

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Featured image of strikes by @edinburghucu