University staff announce more strike action

Durham University said there were "no current plans for redundancies"

Staff at Durham University have voted to take further industrial action in an ongoing row over job cuts.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) have announced plans for three additional walkouts in June.

The UCU said it followed what it described as management's rejection of its recent offer to pause strike action if "no compulsory redundancies could be guaranteed until the end of the calendar year".

Durham University called the move "unnecessary", insisting there were "no current plans for redundancies".

The strikes will take place on 13, 14 and 19 June.

'Needless hostility'

Earlier this year, UCU members at Durham overwhelmingly backed industrial action in opposition to the university's plans to slash millions of pounds from its budget, putting 200 jobs at risk.

The union said the cuts were targeting professional services and support staff who provide the backbone infrastructure that allowed the facility to run smoothly.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady accused the university of "needless hostility" over its refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies.

She said staff had already made "huge sacrifices to deliver the vast majority of savings through voluntary means".

"All that remains is a small gap that could easily be managed without threatening jobs, but instead of offering reassurance management has chosen provocation.

"Our members will not stand by while livelihoods hang in the balance and the ball is now in the university's court."

A Durham University spokesperson said the action was "unnecessary".

"We have tried strenuously to ensure financial savings can be made through voluntary means," they said.

"Durham UCU know there are no current plans for redundancies and we will continue to work constructively with our four trade unions to ensure the university's financial sustainability."

They added any examinations would not be affected by the proposed strike dates and students would be kept updated on any important developments.