Students warned of strike action over staff cuts

Students at a university have been warned of planned strike action by staff.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich are expected to walk out on 26 March.

It is in response to the university's plans to cut 170 full-time positions as part of efforts to save £11m.

"We hope UEA management begins listening to UCU and starts working with its staff body to protect jobs and student provision," said UCU general secretary Jo Grady.

The university said it was "disappointed" in the UCU's decision but assured students it would "make every effort to ensure their learning experience is protected and they are made fully aware of support services available to them".

In an email to students, seen by the BBC, Prof Emma Sutton-Pavli, the university's pro-vice chancellor of student experience and education, said she acknowledged it was a "very stressful" time for them.

"Colleagues across the University are working hard to put measures in place to mitigate the impact of any action and we will continue to keep you informed," Prof Sutton-Pavli said.

"Following this, a period of Action Short of a Strike (ASOS) will commence.

"This may mean some staff will not cover for absent colleagues or reschedule lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action."

UCU members at the university voted to go on strike last month.

The union said 82% of balloted members voted in favour of the action over what it described as "brutal cuts".

The vote saw a turnout of 67%, which was "the highest UEA's UCU has ever achieved," the union added.

University staff passed a motion of no confidence in the UEA's executive team in December over the same plans for redundancies.

A UEA spokesperson added: "The University continues to work with our colleagues to deliver the required savings to secure our long-term future."

Strike action over threats of redundancies was last held at the UEA in July 2023, with UCU claiming 400 staff left that year due to management's projected £40m deficit.

Nadine Zubair, who co-chairs the UCU at the university, said: "We will use our strike day to celebrate staff, to remind the employer that we are the university, that we matter, and that we have a clear and unified voice.

"There is a real power in coming together and acting as a collective in these moments of crisis, and we need to act together to support all our colleagues who are at risk of redundancy."

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