UCU beats back sacking threat at Newcastle University after 44 strike days

In an announcement to staff today, Newcastle University management confirmed it will not be making any compulsory redundancies. The announcement came as Newcastle UCU members downed tools for their 44th day of strike action in their long running dispute.

Staff have been striking over management's threat to make around £35m of cuts and its refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'I want to congratulate every single UCU member who has stood firm on the picket line and demanded Newcastle University management rule out compulsory redundancies. After 44 long days of strike action, you have shown Newcastle University bosses, as well as vice-chancellors across the country, that whenever they try to make staff pay the price for a failed funding model and poor financial management, we will fight relentlessly to force them to change course.

'Every senior university manager from across the UK now needs to look at what our members have achieved in Newcastle and heed the warning: work with us to save jobs and protect student provision or you will face sustained disruption.'