Strike action ballot at University of Surrey over job losses

The dispute centres on the university's plan to axe 100 staff. UCU says it wants to work with the institution to avoid such drastic cuts and any compulsory redundancies.
 
Last month the university announced that 75 academic posts and 25 other roles would be cut. UCU said staff are faced with the difficult choice of applying for redundancy or risking a far from certain future. The union said fear was no way to try and manage a modern university and urged Surrey to explore options that work for the institution and its staff and students.
 
Students at the university are backing their lecturers and have been campaigning against the cuts. The students' union is taking a motion opposing job losses to the university's executive board.
 
UCU regional official, Michael Moran, said: 'Any type of industrial action is always a last resort, especially for hard-working academics who care deeply about their students. Unfortunately, the university refuses to rule out making compulsory redundancies or working with us to manage this difficult situation.
 
'Staff and students are united in their opposition to the university's heavy-handed approach. We hope the university will now work with us to resolve the issue before any industrial action becomes necessary.'