Sheffield Hallam University staff to strike over job cut threat – BBC News

Staff at Sheffield Hallam University will go on strike after it was announced that up to 400 roles could be cut.

The job losses would affect non-academic staff, with a voluntary redundancy scheme due to launch this month.

The University and College Union (UCU) has accused Sheffield Hallam of going ahead with major building projects at the expense of jobs.

A university spokesperson said external pressures had led to “tough decisions”.

Sheffield Hallam, which employs about 4,500 people, said an anticipated drop in international student recruitment would require cutting back staff costs to maintain a “healthy financial position”.

However, the UCU accused the university of launching “a wholesale attack” on staff and students.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady labelled the proposed cuts as “outrageous”.

She said: “It is disgraceful to see that rather than reviewing its spending on new buildings and a satellite campus halfway across the country, management would rather slash jobs, jeopardise academic standards, and tear up our hard-won terms and conditions.

“If university management do not stop these attacks on staff, they will face unprecedented disruption.”

According to the UCU, 87% of members who voted supported industrial action, with a turnout of 53%.

Dates for walkouts would be announced “in due course”, the union said.

The university said it would do “everything possible” to avoid any compulsory redundancies and would continue to engage with trade union representatives.

A spokesperson added: “We are disappointed UCU has voted to take action.

“Our priority during any industrial action will be to do everything possible to minimise the impact on our students and wider community.”