Newcastle University staff to rally amid ongoing strike action
The demonstration coincides with the 37th day of strike action by university staff, who are opposing management’s intention to begin compulsory redundancies from 31 July
University and College Union (UCU) members are today (11 June) set to hold a strike rally to protest against plans to cut hundreds of jobs at Newcastle University.
The demonstration coincides with the 37th day of strike action by university staff, who are opposing management’s intention to begin compulsory redundancies from 31 July.
The rally is being held outside the Civic Centre and attendees will then march to Grey’s Monument for speeches by UCU general secretary Jo Grady, Trades Union Congress deputy general secretary Kate Bell and Fire Brigades Union regional secretary Karl Wager. Staff will also be on picket lines outside university buildings.
Staff are set to take more than 60 days of strike action in total, from 4 March to 17 July, if the dispute remains unresolved.
The dispute is over the university’s claim that it needs to axe over 300 jobs due to a fall in international student numbers. In light of this, management has frozen promotions, restricted travel and launched a voluntary severance scheme.
Meanwhile, the university is building new halls of residence costing £274m and looking to open a campus in India, with the vice-chancellor speaking at an event in Delhi earlier this year.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “Altogether, Newcastle University staff are set to walk out for over 60 days. They are only taking this unprecedented level of strike action because management’s cuts would cause unprecedented disruption.
“UCU members, students and trade unionists from across the UK will join them at our rally because they refuse to stand by while senior managers try to make their own staff the shock absorbers for their financial mismanagement.”
