More English universities have announced cost-cutting drives including redundancy schemes as the sector’s financial crisis takes hold.
The universities of Winchester and Surrey and Queen Mary University of London are the latest to plan restructures, with a strike ballot announced at Northumbria University over its planned cuts to staff numbers.
Sheffield Hallam University has also been accused by the University and College Union (UCU) of breaching the national agreement between the union and employers, reached in 2004, by seeking to get rid of its principal lecturers – paid at grade 9 of the national pay scale – and recruit more academic tutors – paid at grade 6 – as well as hand line-management responsibilities to grade 8 lecturers for the first time.
“Risk of redundancy” letters have been issued by Hallam to 120 staff members at grade 9 or above, with those affected being given until 18 March to either apply for voluntary redundancy or new roles.
