UCU urges Teesside Uni to rethink job cuts

The University and College Union (UCU) has called on Teesside University to reconsider its plans to cut jobs as part of a restructure across four departments.

The university announced this week that 39 principal lecturer posts will be axed in the International Business School, the School of Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies, the School of Health and Life Sciences, and the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law/School of Arts and Creative Industries.

According to UCU, staff in the affected posts will be required to reapply for newly created positions, take voluntary redundancy by the end of October, or face compulsory redundancy.

The restructure will create 25 roles but means that at least 14 jobs will disappear, with remaining staff expected to take on additional workload.

The union said the university should work with staff to avoid compulsory redundancies.

At a meeting on campus yesterday (1 October), UCU members expressed solidarity with those at risk. 

Teesside branch chair Terry Murphy said: “Between them, the principal lecturers under threat have years of experience in the sector. These are not people that we can lose lightly and without consequence.”

UCU general secretary Jo Grady added: “Teesside University must urgently rethink these plans and work with us to find an alternative to job losses. Management needs to allow time for genuine negotiations, or risk serious disruption on campus at a crucial time of year.”