Newcastle University strike rally to be held amid fresh strike action

The rally comes as Newcastle staff begin their 37th day of strike action tomorrow morning over management's threat to start forcing staff out, beginning next month (Thursday 31 July).  

The rally will begin at 12.30pm outside the Civic Centre and attendees will then march to Grey's Monument for speeches by UCU general secretary Jo Grady, Trades Union Congress deputy general secretary Kate Bell and Fire Brigades Union regional secretary Karl Wager.

Staff will also be on picket lines outside university buildings from 8am Wednesday morning. They will be taking over 60 days altogether from Tuesday 4 March to Thursday 17 July if management persists with the huge cuts. The dispute is over the university's claim that it needs to axe over 300 jobs due to a shortfall in international student numbers. Management has already cancelled promotions, restricted travel and asked staff to quit the institution through a voluntary severance scheme. Meanwhile, the university is building new halls of residence costing £274m and looking to open a campus in India, with the vice-chancellor speaking at an event in Delhi earlier this year. 

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'Altogether, Newcastle University staff are set to walkout for over 60 days. They are only taking this unprecedented level of strike action because management's cuts would cause unprecedented disruption. UCU members, students and trade unionists from across the UK will join them at our rally because they refuse to stand by while senior managers try to make their own staff the shock absorbers for their financial mismanagement.'