Durham University staff to begin industrial action over increased workloads and job cuts

In the wake of Durham University’s decision to axe 200 jobs in 2025, staff have begun industrial action protesting their “unbearably high workloads”.

Last Friday (27th February) , Trades Union Congress’ (TUC) launched “work your proper hours day”, meaning university staff will begin working to rule.

To “work to rule” is to strictly adhere to mandated working hours, to refuse any voluntary or cover work for absent colleagues, and to withdraw goodwill as a means of passive-aggressive opposition.

According to the UCU, staff may continue to work to rule for up to six months unless “management begins meaningful negotiations over unfair workloads”.

Durham University said it meets “regularly with all four of our campus trade unions and work closely with them on matters such as workload” and has published a statement drawing attention to “work being done in this area”.

via Unsplash

The university also stressed it has “made no compulsory redundancies”, but “as part of measures to secure the financial sustainability of the university, [it] reduced our overall staff headcount through a voluntary severance scheme.”

Jo Grady, UCU’s general secretary declared: “University management cannot expect staff to continue to pick up the work of colleagues whose jobs they have axed. Hundreds of jobs have been lost and the university is relying on the free labour of those who stay.”

UCU Durham president Sara L. Uckelman added: “By working to rule, we are demonstrating that without our goodwill the university does not run. Management must now finally begin listening to its exhausted staff body and work with us to reduce workloads and stress.”.

However, the university argued the rule to work is “without justification.”

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“We work closely with all four of our campus trade unions on issues including workload”, the university’s official statement read,  “We have no voluntary severance scheme currently open and no plans for compulsory redundancies”.

To dispute claims about a lack of engagement with its staff, the university published a letter sent to the UCU in November.

“We value the relationship with our four campus trade unions”, the letter asserts, however, “reducing expenditure remains a priority.”

“We have no current plans for potential job losses.”, the letter assured the UCU, concluding, “We welcome a reset of relationships to be more open and constructive in finding areas where we can work together.”.

Finally, Durham University’s official statement reassured students they “will be appropriately supported, including minimising any impact on those who are affected by this action”.

A Durham University spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that some members of Durham UCU have voted for action short of a strike which is without justification.

“We respect the right of staff to take action short of a strike, but note that many of those who voted in the ballot voted for no action.  We work closely with all four of our campus trade unions on issues including workload.

“We responded fully to UCU’s claims in November 2025 and published our response. We have repeatedly encouraged our campus trade unions to raise specific concerns with us regarding workload pressures, with due consideration for confidentiality. If concerns are raised, these are investigated and addressed with the relevant area.

“We continue to ensure that colleagues have a manageable workload through careful management of priorities and resource. We have no plans for and have made no compulsory redundancies. We continue to engage regularly and transparently with our whole staff body on matters of importance to them.

“All students will be appropriately supported, including minimising any impact on those who are affected by this action.”

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