University of East Anglia staff begin strike action today over threat of compulsory redundancies and lack of financial transparency

Further strike action is set to take place on:

• Friday 2 May
• Tuesday 6 May
• Wednesday 7 May
• Friday 9 May
• Tuesday 13 May
• Wednesday 14 May
• Thursday 15 May
• Friday 16 May

The University and College Union (UCU) said the walkouts come after months of negotiations in which UEA has refused to rule out compulsory redundancies, despite hundreds of staff already leaving through voluntary means, redeployment or resignation. Around 30 individuals remain at risk, a figure equivalent to fewer than 10 full-time roles, less than 0.25% of the university's overall budget.

UCU has engaged constructively with university management, proposing a range of alternative financial measures that would have saved more than three times the remaining staffing costs. However, these proposals were rejected, and UEA has not publicly committed to halting compulsory job losses or to improving governance and transparency.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'It is outrageous that UEA is pressing ahead with compulsory redundancies when so many staff have already left and alternatives have been offered. UEA staff have gone above and beyond to protect students and save the university money. It's time for management to do the right thing, drop the threats, engage meaningfully, and commit to real accountability'.

The union said it remains committed to resolving the dispute and has made clear that strike action is a last resort. It is calling on the university's executive team to remove the threat of compulsory redundancies and enter into meaningful dialogue over the future of the institution.