University of Essex (UCU) Strike Calendar
Strike Type: Education
Latest University of Essex Industrial Action Updates (3)
Staff at the university plan to commence strike action starting Thursday, February 12th, continuing until Thursday, February 19th.
Action short of a strike (ASOS) is also scheduled to begin on Thursday, February 12th, involving working strictly to contract, boycotting specific university activities, and refusing voluntary tasks.
This decision followed a ballot where 85% of participating staff supported strike action, with a 66% turnout.
The core issue is the university's plan to eliminate 200 academic and 200 professional services positions, leading to over one in ten staff members losing their jobs.
The university intends to issue redundancy notices by May and has announced plans to close the Southend campus over the summer.
Promotional materials, including a film, have been released to highlight the negative impacts of these proposed cuts on staff and the local community.
Rallies are organized in collaboration with other unions to protest the job cuts and the closure of the Southend campus.
The planned job reductions are described as severely damaging to the university's teaching and research capacity.
A significant majority of staff supported industrial action following a vote with a 66% turnout.
The disagreement stems from a university plan to eliminate 200 academic and 200 professional services roles.
This proposed reduction would result in more than ten percent of the total workforce losing their employment.
University leadership communicated this plan just before the holiday season.
Management intends to issue formal redundancy notifications by May.
Furthermore, plans have been announced to shut down the Southend campus during the summer months.
Industrial action is being undertaken as a final measure by members in an attempt to preserve their positions.
The scale of the proposed reduction is described as harmful to students and detrimental to the university's capacity for teaching and research.
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) are commencing a ballot today that will run until January 19th, potentially leading to strike action in February.
The university informed its 2,974 staff members that they were at risk of redundancy just before the Christmas break.
Management plans to eliminate 200 academic staff positions and 200 professional services staff positions.
This proposed reduction impacts more than one-tenth of the total workforce.
Redundancy notices are scheduled to be issued by May, with plans to close the Southend campus over the summer.
Concerns were raised regarding the timing of the redundancy announcements and the significant negative impact on the university's teaching and research capabilities.
The potential closure of the Southend campus is noted as detrimental to its students, the local community, and economic growth.
If the university does not reconsider its plans, staff members indicate they will resort to striking to protect their employment, students, and the local area.
University of Essex Strike Calendar
0 Strike Date 8 Planned