University of East Anglia: Staff strike over redundancy threat

The University and College Union said further industrial action could be staged at the start of the next academic year

Staff at a debt-ridden university have been on strike over the ongoing threat of redundancy.

The University and College Union (UCU) said about 200 staff took to picket lines outside the University of East Anglia (UEA) campus on Wednesday morning, which was double the expected number of protesters.

The UEA revealed a deficit earlier this year that could rise to £45m.

The university said it was "working hard to support those impacted".

The UCU said its members could receive redundancy notices as early as next month and that further industrial action could be staged at the start of the next academic year.

The union's regional official Lydia Richards said redundancies could affect student induction in September and added: "Our members are on strike because they refuse to pay the price for a financial mess that management has created."

Prof David Maguire said in May there was "absolutely no reason" why the UEA could not compete on the world stage as a centre of excellence, despite the financial crisis

The UEA said in May it needed to reduce staff numbers by 113 people but said because of voluntary redundancy and redeployment schemes, the figure now stood at 48 people.

Compulsory redundancies have not been ruled out.

A spokesperson said an additional 100 staff had accepted offers of voluntary severance and that 179 vacant job posts had been removed.

"This is a difficult time for our staff and we are working hard to support those impacted," added the spokesperson.

Prof David Maguire, who became vice-chancellor in May, said earlier that month that the institution "finds itself in a difficult but far from impossible situation."

The UEA faces a £30m deficit for 2023-2024, which is expected to grow to £45m in three years.