Bethan Lewis, BBC Wales’ Education and family correspondent, reported that planned strike action at Cardiff University has been halted following an assurance that there will be no mandatory job losses for the current year. A deal was agreed upon by University and College Union (UCU) members after a special meeting between the unions and university management. While there is no guarantee against job losses after 2025, discussions on proposed cuts in specific departments will persist, with finalization slated for June. This compromise emerged after warnings of a potential “summer of chaos” if the university proceeded with its intended staff and course reductions.
Initially, eight strike days and an indefinite marking and assessment boycott were scheduled to commence on 6 May, but the planned industrial action was put on hold following negotiations between the university and the unions. Previous disruption caused by UK-wide disputes in 2023 resulted in delays for numerous students in graduating as a consequence of the widespread industrial action. The temporary suspension of obligatory redundancies for the year was attributed to the influx of voluntary redundancy applications received by the university. The proposed closure of the nursing department might be replaced by a revised plan to continue training student nurses, although discussions about shutting down other academic programs remain ongoing.
Dr. Andy Williams from Cardiff UCU expressed the relief at the agreement being reached, considering it a “bittersweet victory” achieved through substantial campaigning efforts. While no industrial action is currently planned until September, members have opted to renew their mandate. Despite the apparent resolution, concerns linger over ongoing and pervasive cuts at the university affecting both staff and students. Cardiff University student, Cara, highlighted the relief felt by students with the strikes being called off while emphasizing the importance of staff securing an agreeable deal. Amelia, a politics and journalism student, and Fflur Evans, an ancient history student, acknowledged the challenges faced by at-risk departments and stressed the significance of students showing solidarity with their lecturers.
The consultation period for finalizing plans concludes on 6 May, with the University Council set to approve the decisions on 17 June. Unions have urged for transparency regarding the implications of the deal for the over 1,200 staff members currently under consideration for redundancy. Elin Alexander contributed additional reporting to this article
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