Staff at Sheffield Hallam University to strike over threat of job cuts

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

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

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

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

Sheffield Hallam, which employs around 4,500 people, said an anticipated drop in international student recruitment would require it to cut staffing costs to maintain a “healthy financial position”.

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

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

She said: “It is disgraceful to see that instead of revising their spending on new buildings and a satellite campus halfway across the country, management would rather cut jobs, jeopardize academic standards and destroy terms and hard won conditions.

“If university management does 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 the walkouts will 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 union representatives.

A spokesman added: “We are disappointed that the UCU has voted to take action.

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