University of Sheffield staff to strike over plans which could put 1,000 jobs at risk
The university is trying to slash staffing costs by £23m over the next two years
Last updated 1st Apr 2025
Staff at the University of Sheffield are to go on strike, over plans which a union claims place over 1,000 jobs at risk..
The university is planning to slash £23m from its staffing costs over the next two years, with £9m of that amount to come this year.
The number of academic departs would be cut from 45 to 21 as part of the move.
The UCU claims almost 800 staff are directly affected, on top of the 300 who've already left under a voluntary redundancy scheme launched in 2024.
74% of UCU members backed walkouts in a ballot, on a 57% turnout. They want university bosses to rule out compulsory redundancies.
UCU General Secretary Jo Grady said: “Staff at Sheffield have sent a clear message that they are willing to take industrial action to protect their jobs and the future of their university."
"These cuts are too deep, too fast, and put vital student support and academic provision at risk. Management must now step back from the brink, halt compulsory redundancies, and enter serious negotiations with us to find a better way forward.”
A spokesperson for the University of Sheffield said: “The University has been notified of UCU's vote for industrial action, following similar actions at other universities regarding difficult decisions institutions are making to address sector-wide challenges.
“We expect that the vast majority of our students and staff will be unaffected by any action. Where we do experience some disruption, we will do everything we can to support our students and to minimise the impact of the industrial action. We will continue to keep our students and staff updated.”