University students warned about more strike action

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

Nine days of walkouts are due to start this week by members of the University and College Union (UCU) at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich.

A strike was also held in March in response to the university's plans to cut 170 full-time positions as part of efforts to save £11m.

The UCU has been contacted for comment, with the UEA saying it was "disappointed" by the union's actions.

In a statement, the UEA said it was "continuing to have constructive dialogue with UCU with a view to mitigating any compulsory redundancies, which of course are always the last resort".

"While we regret that industrial action is going ahead, our priority remains ensuring the student learning experience is protected throughout the period of action," it said.

It added it was making every effort to keep up with its research work, to support students and work with staff to "deliver the necessary savings that will secure the university's long-term future".

The university said the UCU had declared its intention to strike on 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, 15 and 16 May.

It also said that following the planned walkouts, the union had indicated there would be a period of "action short of a strike".

This would mean some staff not covering for absent colleagues or carrying out rearranged lectures or voluntary work.

In February, 86% of balloted UCU members at the university voted to go on strike in March.

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

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

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.