University of Bradford staff back strike action over 300 job cull

An overwhelming 69% of staff who voted in the consultative ballot backed strike action, with the turnout surpassing the 50% anti-trade union threshold.   If the result is repeated in a statutory ballot then the university faces the possibility of strikes on campus.

The dispute is over the huge cuts programme university management is attempting to force through. At an all-staff meeting last month, vice-chancellor Shirley Condon stated that 200 jobs would go as part of £13m worth of cuts. However, at the same meeting, the chief financial officer said the university wants to reduce the staffing to an equivalent level as in 2019. This equates to around 300 full-time equivalent jobs, but well over 300 staff once those in part-time roles are included.

Management is blaming the cuts on sectoral challenges including a reduction in the number of international students. It has refused to rule out compulsory redundancies but has also rejected over half of staff who asked to leave under voluntary redundancy schemes that have been open throughout the academic year.

UCU slammed the university's decision to shut down its film & TV and chemistry courses. Bradford is UNESCO's first city of film and the UK's city of culture 2025. Chemistry, and its successful apprenticeship programme, are crucial to training skilled workers for the regional economy and the uptake for chemistry degree apprenticeships is increasing.  

The vice-chancellor has been in post for five years and has a total pay packet worth over a quarter of a million pounds (£293,000).  

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'Our members are prepared to strike because they refuse to bear the brunt of years of mismanagement. The proposed cuts are fundamentally flawed and would see important courses axed. We have appealed to the vice-chancellor to work with us to defend as many jobs as possible and secure the future of our university. But no such assurances have been forthcoming.

'At every step, our members have demonstrated a willingness to engage with management to secure the future of the university, but management has repeatedly refused to listen to our concerns. Now UCU has shown we are willing to strike to protect jobs we hope management will begin to negotiate meaningfully and in good faith.

'The cuts being threatened would also have a devastating impact on businesses that rely on trade with university staff and students. The academic vandalism Bradford's management is embarking upon not only affects the university, but all the people of Bradford, and we call upon constituency MPs, council leaders and councillors to stand with our members to protect jobs and our communities.'