Staff at Cardiff University have decided to take drastic action in response to the university’s proposed job cuts. The University and College Union (UCU) announced that members have voted in favor of an all-out strike and a marking and assessment boycott scheduled to take place during the upcoming summer term. The initial proposal to cut 400 staff positions and eliminate certain departments, such as nursing, has been revised to 286 roles.
A spokesperson for Cardiff University expressed disappointment at the news of the impending industrial action, highlighting the inevitable disruption it will cause to students. Despite the university’s announcement that plans to close the nursing department have been put on hold and fewer job cuts are expected, union members have made their stance clear through the overwhelming support for strike action and other forms of protest.
Dr. Joey Whitfield, the president of Cardiff University’s UCU branch, emphasized that members are reluctant to engage in industrial action but feel compelled to do so due to the university’s perceived lack of alternatives. The union’s extensive financial analysis suggests that compulsory redundancies are avoidable, and they have presented a detailed set of proposals to address the university’s financial challenges without resorting to extensive job cuts.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Larner, defended the decision to reduce staff numbers, citing declining international student applications and increased cost pressures as contributing factors. The university is committed to minimizing the impact of the proposed changes and stated that compulsory redundancies will be a last resort. Cardiff University remains open to collaboration with the UCU to explore alternative solutions and avoid further disruptions stemming from the impending industrial action
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