University of Bradford staff announce fresh strikes disrupting start of academic year
Staff will walk out next Monday - until October 3
Staff at the University of Bradford are set to strike for a further 10 days in an ongoing dispute over potential job cuts.
Hundreds of roles are at risk and several courses are being closed, with the University and College Union (UCU) claiming as many as 450 people are facing redundancy.
It follows similar action over the summer, however this fresh action threatens to disrupt the start of the academic year.
Staff will walk out every weekend day Monday (September 22) until Friday October 3, with pickets each day on campus.
A rally will also be held next Monday.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: "UCU members will be on strike again for two weeks, as part of our ongoing fight against course closures and job cuts at the University of Bradford."
"Management needs to listen to the voices of its staff, rethink the cuts and rule out compulsory redundancies.
"It is now for the employer to decide if the university wants to avoid disruption to students at the beginning of the new academic year.'
In a statement, a spokesperson for the University of Bradford said: "We are reviewing all our operations in a bid to make savings in response to sector-wide financial challenges."
"We remain committed to working with unions and where possible will seek to avoid or minimise compulsory redundancies.
"We appreciate this is a difficult time for many at the university and we will continue to offer support to our staff.
"We will also endeavour to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum and protect the student experience."