Lincoln staff vote for strike action over further job cuts

Union members at the University of Lincoln have voted for strike action as the institution plans redundancies that could affect up to 285 employees. 

According to the University and College Union (UCU), the university announced a fresh round of redundancies after previously telling staff there were no plans for large-scale cuts. 

Last year, 220 employees left the university through voluntary severance and redundancies. 

In a ballot of UCU branch members, 86 per cent voted in favour of strike action, with a turnout of 61 per cent.

In a statement, the union accused the university of “poorly” handling the financial crisis gripping the sector, saying leaders had made “imprudent spending decisions”. 

“Far from safeguarding jobs, vice chancellor Neal Juster has announced plans to threaten nearly 300 staff with redundancy ahead of further ‘restructuring’ in the next academic year, and possibly beyond,” said UCU general secretary Jo Grady. 

“Yearly cuts have damaged staff morale and management must look at this vote for strike action and begin listening to our concerns.”

Lincoln UCU members had already passed a vote of no confidence in the university’s senior leadership team last month. 

“If the vice-chancellor continues to refuse to change direction and rule out compulsory redundancies then we will be forced to strike,” Grady continued. 

A university spokesperson said, “The University of Lincoln's priority will always be to put students first. We have plans in place to minimise any disruption to teaching or the student experience if industrial action goes ahead.

"We remain committed to meaningful dialogue with trade unions as we reshape the university, in line with our refreshed strategy, to meet the needs of the students, communities and businesses we serve.” 

They added that the university expects "to achieve a breakeven position due to careful management of finances over the past two years".

“The changes we are making now - which include growing areas in response to student demand and areas that have the potential to generate income for the University - are key to adapt to the new higher education landscape and realise the bright future ahead,” they said. 

Lincoln is the latest in a line of struggling universities that could be affected by strike action, with union members at Sheffield, Bradford and Keele voting for industrial action in recent weeks. 

In May, the UCU threatened to call a national strike against the government over higher education funding as university finances continue to worsen across the country, with 10,000 jobs anticipated to be lost from the sector this year. Legal experts have warned that such a strike could be challenged in court.

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com