Keele University staff vote to strike over brutal cuts programme

An overwhelming 75% of UCU members who voted said yes to strike action in a ballot with a turnout of 55%. While 89% also backed taking action short of strike, which could include working to rule.

Strike action is now set to take place on Monday 28 April, Tuesday 29 April, Thursday 1 May, Tuesday 6 May and Thursday 8 May. 

The dispute is over Keele University's plans to merge the school of humanities and school of social sciences and reduce academic staffing in the newly merged school by £1.85m, equivalent to around 24 full time equivalent jobs. Savings of 400k to academic staffing costs have already been made in Keele business school, through voluntary redundancies. 

Management's rationale for making the cuts is that it has not met its own arbitrary goal for student recruitment since 2023/24, but accepts that prior to this it had strong growth, including a 24% increase in market share for domestic students. Meanwhile, the latest accounts show unrestricted reserves of over £218m.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'With this vote for strike action our members at Keele have resoundingly rejected management's proposals to slash jobs and cut student provision. We hope management now begins meaningful negotiations to protect jobs, courses and the future of Keele University'.