University of Kent staff to strike this week over increasing workload and threats to jobs

Staff at the University of Kent are striking every day this week over management failure to rule out compulsory job cuts, announced the University and College Union (UCU) today (Monday 24 March). 

Staff be on strike from today (Monday) until Friday 28 March and will be on picket lines from 8am-10am on:  

• Wednesday 26 March - outside Templeman library 

• Friday 28 March - outside Registry 

Staff are taking action after the employer refused to rule out compulsory redundances or provide guarantees that staff will not suffer detriment to their workload or working conditions. 

The university has found itself in a regular cycle of cuts to staff, courses and restructures, all of which impact the livelihoods and workloads of staff who work tirelessly to support students, conduct outstanding research and scholarship, and keep the university going. 

In negotiations this year, management extended a promise of no compulsory redundancies to academic teaching staff until December 2025. However, they could not guarantee the same for professional services staff (such as student support, marketing, and library services), some of whom are also UCU members.   

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'Our members are on strike today because the University of Kent has refused to rule out compulsory redundancies or protect staff workloads. Management now needs to work with us to protect jobs and student provision. Professional services staff are vital to the functioning of the university and to the educational experience we want all our students to receive. Until management rules out compulsory job cuts, our members have our full backing in taking this action.'