Staff and students at UEA hold rally against proposed job cuts
The UEA has launched a voluntary redundancy scheme - as it faces a £30m budget back hole
Staff and students at the University of East Anglia have gathered for a protest rally against proposed job cuts at the institution.
They've come together to hear speeches and raise awareness about the plans at the centre of the campus in Norwich.
It comes after the UEA launched a voluntary redundancy scheme, as it looks to reduce staff numbers by 113.
The institution is facing a £30m budget deficit this financial year.
Amanda Chenery-Howes, Unison branch secretary at the UEA, said: "A lot of Unison members have found out over the past few days that they are actually at risk of redundancy".
"(I'm) absolutely shocked, angry and devastating... 'angry' is the word being used by almost everyone at the moment.
"Part of the cuts at the UEA is to freeze the living wage... with 133 cleaners, this week, hearing that they're at risk of redundacy on top of the fact they're now on minimum wage is absolutely devastating.
"We know that there is no need at this stage to make anyone at risk of redundancy."
In a statement released last month, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Christine Bovis-Cnossen, said:
“We continue to recognise that this is a difficult time for our UEA community, but steps need to be taken to ensure that we are on a secure financial footing.
“Compulsory redundances still remain our last resort and the aim will be to achieve the proposed reduction of staff numbers through a targeted voluntary redundancy scheme and redeployment opportunities.”
Unions representing staff at the UEA have previously threatened strike action if jobs are cut.