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Staff under redundancy threat at Sunderland University 'gagged' by management

13 January 2025

Staff threatened with a restructure by Sunderland University management have been told they cannot tell colleagues they are at risk of losing their jobs.

Last week, upon returning from their Christmas break, a small team of academic staff were told they would be restructured and that at least one post would be deleted. However, university management forbade impacted staff from having any 'discussions with students, alumni or colleagues'.

When UCU challenged the university's decree, management said gagging impacted staff would prevent 'unnecessary unrest'.

This latest restructure comes just a few months after the university announced plans to seriously reduce its workforce.

UCU regional support official Jon Bryan said: 'It is outrageous for staff who have been threatened with the sack to effectively be gagged by the university and prevented from telling their colleagues. Wanting to manage the messaging of change with students is understandable, but the HR department wants to vet all requests from impacted staff to speak to other colleagues, which is a cruel way to deal with those who have been impacted.

'In November, the UCU Branch at Sunderland University passed a motion of no confidence in HR for its failure to follow its own processes. It seems no lessons have been learnt about the way to deal compassionately with the university workforce'.

A petition against the university's plan and calling for support for staff can be signed here

Last updated: 16 January 2025