Strike ballot opens at University of Central Lancashire

The latest row, over plans to axe 75 posts, comes as UCU members are already engaged in an industrial dispute over a national pay offer of just 1%. They walked out last week (Thursday 23 January) in the first of three two-hour stoppages. The second two-hour walkout is tomorrow (Tuesday) from 2-4pm.

The ballot on job losses closes on Friday 14 February. UCU says the university needs to withdraw the threat of compulsory redundancies and scrap plans to alter job descriptions for academic staff. UCU says the changing of job descriptions goes against agreements already in place between the university and the union, and is an attempt to get teaching done on the cheap.

Getting rid of 75 posts will leave over 400 academic staff unsure of their future and at risk of the axe. The union said the university had failed to make the case for redundancies and, financially, is enjoying a healthy surplus.

The union said it had concerns that a round of major academic redundancies could result in senior academic staff being replaced by cheaper options, which UCU said would do nothing for UCLan's aspiration to be a world-class institution in teaching and research.

UCU regional official, Martyn Moss, said: 'Staff at UCLan are having a very difficult time of it at the moment. Their pay has been slashed in real terms and now more than 400 of them are at risk of losing their jobs as part of the university's latest reorganisation wheeze.

'UCLan has not made the case for any job losses and we have serious concerns that this is an exercise in getting rid of experienced senior academic staff and replacing them with cheaper options and casual contracts. UCU members at UCLan have made it clear they will fight any compulsory redundancies and will take further strike action to defend their jobs and conditions unless senior management see sense.'