University of Essex (UCU) Strike Calendar
Strike Type: Education
Latest University of Essex Industrial Action Updates (5)
Staff voted to strike as early as next month if management declines to enter serious negotiations to resolve the ongoing dispute, following communication errors regarding job security.
This vote also enables potential coordinated strike action with professional services staff from other unions after their ballots conclude, and a possible marking and assessment boycott if the issue persists until exam season.
Staff recently resumed picket lines as part of 16 days of action scheduled throughout February and March.
Initially, the university stated intentions to eliminate 200 academic and 200 professional positions and close the Southend campus before the upcoming academic year.
Management has since reported achieving over £10 million in savings, exceeding half of its goal, due to staff efforts to cut hours and voluntary redundancies.
One union is demanding confirmation on the actual number of staff at risk, as initial figures provided on staffing management vary significantly.
Strike action is scheduled for specific days across three weeks in March, following previous days of industrial action and action short of a strike that began in mid-February.
Actions short of a strike involve working strictly to contract, boycotting exam boards and open days, and refusing to cover for absent colleagues.
A rally is planned to save the Southend campus, with staff, students, and community members intending to march.
Other union members are also set to ballot for strike action over proposed cuts at the university.
The union called for the university to collaborate on job protection, with management confirming over £10 million in savings achieved through staff reductions in hours and voluntary redundancies.
The university's initial plans included axing 200 academic and 200 professional staff, and closing the Southend campus before September 2026, which would have resulted in over one in ten staff losing their jobs.
The institution also intends to cease its Pathways programme and significantly reduce its staff numbers.
Union representatives emphasized that staff actions aim to prevent job losses and maintain educational provision, urging management to consider pay cuts for themselves and rule out compulsory redundancies.
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
17 Strike Dates 0 Planned