University union threatens further strike action

The union representing staff at the University of Nottingham (UoN) has said the latest version of a restructuring plan does not do enough to rule out further strike action in 2027.

The University and College Union (UCU) is currently striking until 11 December over the plan to cut courses, staff numbers and some support - but now say that could continue in the new year.

The Future Nottingham blueprint was approved by the university's governing body on Thursday, and while the number of threatened jobs was reduced from 609 to 480, UCU said other cuts remained.

UoN said it was working hard "to support our staff through this difficult process".

The university describes the Future Nottingham plan as "probably one of the biggest changes this university has seen in its 145-year history".

Confirming the plan's approval, a spokesman said: "We are still not generating enough from our day-to-day activities to invest in our future, nor have the wider pressures facing higher education abated.

"Student recruitment remains highly competitive, and future financial pressures, such as inflation and rising costs, continue to rise."

The plan will also see the closure of the modern languages and music degrees, a streamlining of support services and the ending of traditional one-to-one personal tutoring.

UoN said financial pressures meant the institution's long-term prospects would otherwise be "unsustainable".

UCU said it had been told the number of posts being cut had been reduced to 480 - but even with voluntary redundancies, 142 posts were still under threat.

Prof Andreas Bieler, vice-president of the local UCU branch, said: "Our industrial action mandate is until April 2027, so there is still scope for additional action."

Bieler said it was "positive" the number of job cuts was lower in the proposal than in the draft, but was dismayed the proposed increase in staff-student ratio was maintained and the proposal for modern languages to retain degree program provision had been rejected.

He blames "significant financial mismanagement" at the university and said the savings in the union's financial counter-proposal, along with the number of redundancies already approved, would remove the financial justification for further cuts.

To the university, he said "the ball is in your court".

He wants management to "come to the table, negotiate meaningfully" as "there's lots of scope" for resolution before damage is caused by the sustained strike action under way and future plans.

Harry Dixon, a third-year history student at the university, said lecturers were "doing the best they can" to replace lost teaching hours.

The industrial action is affecting a module that is taught through debate and discussion, which he said cannot be replaced by lectures.

The 20-year-old said the strike action was affecting a third of the marks available to him for the year and he was "nervous" about his assessments.

"Assessments in themselves are really stressful, but this striking business is making it so much more stressful than it needs to be, especially in my third year as well, when it is the year that counts the most."

A spokesperson for the university said: "The underlying challenges facing the university have not changed, nor have the wider pressures facing higher education. The changes we are making will help us to become financially resilient so we can invest in our teaching, our research and our students.

"These changes have been shaped by our staff, students and alumni. Around a third of the alternative proposals received through our consultation processes have been incorporated - either in part or fully - into the final business case and will help our future university develop and thrive.

"We know that change of this scale is not easy, and we do not underestimate what it means for many of our colleagues and students. We are doing everything we can to support our staff through this difficult process."

Listen to BBC Radio Nottingham on Sounds and follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.