University of Sussex to be hit by second round of strikes
23 April 2010
UCU today warned the University of Sussex that it will face a second round of strike action on Wednesday 5 May if it pushes ahead with controversial plans for over 100 compulsory redundancies.
Last month staff at Sussex went out on strike and the university was also hit by high-profile student protests.
At an emergency general meeting earlier this week UCU members voted overwhelming to prepare for industrial action if talks between the union and management do not progress in good faith. The news of the strike date comes ahead of talks between the union and university management scheduled for Thursday 29 April.
The union said it had little option but to move towards strike action as an urgent settlement was needed with up to 107 staff due to receive redundancy notices in the next few weeks. UCU said that although some progress had been made in discussions with management the university had failed to properly address the underlying reasons behind the dispute.
UCU Sussex representative, Paul Cecil, said: 'I am pleased there has been some movement from management as a result of pressure from staff and students. However, unless a negotiated settlement is reached soon around 100 staff will be receiving redundancy notices. This is not something we are willing to accept and our members are resolute in calling for further strike action if the university goes down this route.'
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Industrial action is always a last resort but the bottom line is that serious job losses will impact massively across the University of Sussex and result in a far worse experience for students. It is essential that management properly addresses the concerns of staff and students and that talks progress in good faith.'
At an emergency general meeting earlier this week UCU members voted overwhelming to prepare for industrial action if talks between the union and management do not progress in good faith. The news of the strike date comes ahead of talks between the union and university management scheduled for Thursday 29 April.
The union said it had little option but to move towards strike action as an urgent settlement was needed with up to 107 staff due to receive redundancy notices in the next few weeks. UCU said that although some progress had been made in discussions with management the university had failed to properly address the underlying reasons behind the dispute.
UCU Sussex representative, Paul Cecil, said: 'I am pleased there has been some movement from management as a result of pressure from staff and students. However, unless a negotiated settlement is reached soon around 100 staff will be receiving redundancy notices. This is not something we are willing to accept and our members are resolute in calling for further strike action if the university goes down this route.'
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Industrial action is always a last resort but the bottom line is that serious job losses will impact massively across the University of Sussex and result in a far worse experience for students. It is essential that management properly addresses the concerns of staff and students and that talks progress in good faith.'
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