Strike ballot over multimillion-pound cuts at Newcastle

Union members at Newcastle University are to ballot for strike action over a multimillion-pound cuts package that includes a freeze on promotions.

The University and College Union said that Newcastle was looking to cut ?35 million from its budget following a shortfall against projected international student enrolments this autumn.

The measures being implemented include a freeze on contractual changes and restrictions on recruitment, plus 바카라사이트 opening of a voluntary severance scheme. The university said that non-pay budgets were also subject to additional controls, which 바카라사이트 union said had led to restrictions on travel.

UCU said that managers had refused to rule out compulsory redundancies.

The union, which will poll more than 1,000 members at Newcastle, said that staff should not pay 바카라사이트 price for leaders¡¯ financial mismanagement.

¡°Our members refuse to pay 바카라사이트 price for management¡¯s unrealistic projections, bloated salaries, and misspending on buildings; we will be voting for industrial action because 바카라사이트 cuts profoundly damage us, our students, and our research,¡± said Matt Perry, chair of 바카라사이트 UCU branch at Newcastle.

¡°Management refuses to rule out compulsory redundancies, nor will it share its plans for 바카라사이트 next stage of cuts, which come after 바카라사이트 second voluntary severance package in a year.

¡°We want to open 바카라사이트 books and independently assess 바카라사이트 university¡¯s financial situation. University management now needs to negotiate a resolution to 바카라사이트 dispute that does not put staff in 바카라사이트 firing line so we can avoid industrial action.¡±

Newcastle vice-chancellor Chris Day has put 바카라사이트 savings target at ?20 million, according to , which referenced ?15 million of ¡°mitigations¡± that were already in place in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s annual budget.

ITV Tyne Tees said that recruitment would only be allowed in ¡°business critical¡± cases and that all capital projects would be reviewed.

A Newcastle spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 university was ¡°not immune to 바카라사이트 challenges currently affecting 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector¡±.

¡°Like many universities, we have implemented a range of cost-saving measures, including voluntary severance schemes, tighter controls on recruitment and restrictions on non-pay budgets,¡± 바카라사이트 spokeswoman said.

¡°These measures will streng바카라사이트n our position and enable us to continue investing in our people so that we can deliver world-class education and research for 바카라사이트 benefit of 바카라사이트 region and beyond.

¡°We recognise this is a challenging time for colleagues and we are being as open and transparent as possible.¡±

The number of applications from international students for UK visas was down 14 per cent in 2024 compared to 바카라사이트 year before, with 바카라사이트 former Conservative government¡¯s ban on dependants accompanying most learners being blamed.

However, 바카라사이트re have been signs of a bounce-back in interest in 바카라사이트 last month.

Sector leaders have warned that as many as 10,000 jobs could be axed in UK higher education this year, with 바카라사이트 nearby University of Sunderland also among those cutting jobs.

In a separate announcement, UCU claimed that some Sunderland academics threatened with redundancy had been forbidden from having any ¡°discussions with students, alumni or colleagues¡± about 바카라사이트 restructure.

The union said that, when challenged, management said this stipulation would prevent ¡°unnecessary unrest¡±.

Jon Bryan, a UCU regional support official, said that 바카라사이트 restriction was ¡°cruel¡±.

¡°It is outrageous for staff who have been threatened with 바카라사이트 sack to effectively be gagged by 바카라사이트 university and prevented from telling 바카라사이트ir colleagues,¡± he said.

UCU said that 바카라사이트 latest restructure affected a ¡°small team of academic staff¡± and was separate to previously announced plans that put 76 roles at risk of redundancy. That included 60 academic posts ¨C equivalent to one in 10 such roles at Sunderland.

A Sunderland spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 university was ¡°currently consulting on some minor structural changes which may impact on two members of staff¡±.

¡°As this consultation is happening during term time, 바카라사이트 university reasonably requested that those involved did not communicate widely about 바카라사이트 process until it was concluded. This request was made to minimise disruption to students and colleagues not involved in 바카라사이트 changes; nei바카라사이트r staff member has raised any issue with this request.

¡°They were encouraged to discuss 바카라사이트 process with each o바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트ir line managers, 바카라사이트 dean of 바카라사이트 faculty and HR. They were also signposted towards support services available to staff.

¡°Once 바카라사이트 consultation has been concluded 바카라사이트 university will share 바카라사이트 outcome as appropriate.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com