University staff back strikes amid job cut plans

UCU members have been protesting against the proposed cost-cutting measures since they were announced in January

Staff at a university which plans to cut 400 full-time jobs amid financial pressures have backed industrial action.

More than 64% of members of Cardiff's University and College Union (UCU) branch voted in a ballot, with 83% supporting strikes and 86% backing action short of a strike, up to and including an assessment boycott.

It comes after Cardiff University confirmed the cost-cutting proposals, which could also see course closures and department mergers in subjects including nursing, modern languages, religion and theology, music, and ancient history.

The UCU said staff were "furious" and summer graduations could be impacted, while Cardiff University said it was "disappointed" by the outcome.

The UCU said university staff's fight has also been backed by musician and campaigner Dafydd Iwan, who said: "As a fellow of three Welsh universities, I am very worried about the tremendous squeeze on their funding these days. The future of Wales depends to a large extent on having viable and progressive universities to serve them."

He added he offered a "message of support to everyone who is campaigning to protect Cardiff University's jobs and courses and standards".

The ballot result means members could stop working, unless management agrees to rule out compulsory redundancies.

Staff will meet this week to decide on the next steps, including the options of strike action and action short of a strike.

After meeting, they must give the University two weeks' notice before beginning any action, which they say would begin in the next 28 days.

'Cruel and unnecessary'

Andy Williams, of Cardiff UCU, said: "The anger and frustration among staff, coupled with management intransigence, now sadly makes disruptive industrial action incredibly likely."

The UCU said its independent analysis of Cardiff University's finances showed the institution could draw on £188m in available cash to protect jobs.

Cardiff University UCU branch president, Dr Joey Whitfield, said the ballot result showed staff were "utterly opposed to the cruel and unnecessary cuts".

"It's time for Cardiff University leaders to listen to staff, and the huge amount of public, political, cultural, and community support we have built, before they further damage the University's tattered reputation," he said.

Cardiff University said industrial action would "inevitably cause disruption for some of our students", adding it would "do everything we can to minimise its impact".

"It is important to stress that this action will not impact the whole university. The university will remain open and in many areas teaching, research and services will be unaffected."

It added its proposals remained subject to an ongoing 90-day consultation.