Weeks of strikes are set to take place at both Sheffield universities

Weeks of strike action have been announced by University and College Union (UCU) branches at the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University.

Hallam UCU announced yesterday that 12 days of strike action would take place in November and December, while Sheffield UCU has given notice of 16 days of strike action stretching across four weeks.

Members of both unions voted in favour of the action last month over potential cuts to staff.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said in a statement that there was “no justification” for redundancies “when there are other options available”.

She added: “We will not accept threats to the jobs of our members, and neither will we accept staff working conditions being degraded through stress and ever-increasing workload pressures.

“Striking is a last resort for our members, but this action shows they have had enough and are prepared to fight back. If the employers do not see sense and reverse the job cuts, they can expect to see disruption across the city in November and December.”

Universities across the UK are facing financial pressures, particularly after a 14 per cent decline in international students in 2024 alone.

At the University of Sheffield, strike dates include:

• 17th, 18th, 19th, and 21st November

• 24th to 27th November

• 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th December

• 9th to 12th December

Sheffield UCU will also take action short of strike from the 17th November, meaning union members will not cover for absent colleagues, not reschedule or share materials from teaching cancelled by strike action, and not undertake voluntary activities.

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At the centre of the dispute is a “risk of redundancy” to some staff and a new voluntary severance scheme that opened in September for 10 academic departments.

Voluntary severance was opened to some academic staff – including those in the School of Medicine and School of English

Alongside a reaffirmed commitment to no compulsory redundancies, the union is also demanding reduced cuts and other means of making savings.

In May, the University of Sheffield committed to making no compulsory redundancies in 2025, and had offered to extend this to the end of April 2026 as part of the ongoing negotiations with the union.

Sheffield UCU rejected this offer as they believe the university “didn’t intend to make the vast majority of compulsory redundancies” before this time and therefore could not “seriously consider” it.

A spokesperson for the University of Sheffield said: “While UCU has chosen not to put this offer to its members and has announced plans for industrial action, we remain hopeful that this can be avoided through continuing our constructive dialogue.”

A further dispute resolution meeting with UCU is set to take place in early November.

Sheffield UCU has described negotiations so far as “productive” and has said it is dedicated to “negotiating a satisfactory resolution to the dispute”.

During this time, the university has told Sheffield UCU that it needs time to review to outcomes of the voluntary severance scheme before considering its longer-term commitments. The union has, however, declined to pause the industrial action.

A spokesperson for the UCU told The Sheffield Tab: “It is encouraging that the university is considering a longer-term commitment and UCU looks forward to exploring this commitment further with the employer, prior to the commencement of industrial action on Monday 17th November.”

If planned strike action does go ahead, the university said its focus will be on “doing everything we can to minimise any impact on our students and staff”.

Meanwhile, strike action at Sheffield Hallam University is set to take place between:

• 11th – 13th November
• 17th – 20th November
• 1st – 5th December

On a turnout of 54 per cent, 79 per cent of participating staff supported strike action and 88 per cent were in favour of action short of strike in last month’s ballot.

It isn’t the first Hallam UCU strike action this year

A spokesperson for Sheffield Hallam University said: “We are disappointed that UCU Hallam has announced dates for industrial action. However, we will do everything possible to minimise the impact on our students and wider university community. The University, including our libraries, study spaces, and facilities, will all remain open as normal.

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