Staff at Liverpool Hope University announce strike action over job cuts

Staff will walk out from Monday 22 September to Friday 26 September, and again from Monday 29 September to Friday 3 October. The action comes after 69% of UCU members voted in the recent ballot, with 85% backing strike action. 

The dispute centres on proposed cuts to academic posts across multiple departments, including Education and Social Sciences, Creative Arts and Humanities, and Human and Digital Sciences. UCU says these plans pose a serious threat to the university's academic mission and the quality of provision for students.  

Despite a partial retreat by university management, after union-negotiated alternative proposals reduced the number of roles at risk, 11 positions and over 30 staff remain under threat. Management has reopened its voluntary redundancy scheme yet refuses to rule out compulsory redundancies. 

UCU says there is no financial justification for these cuts, pointing to significant cash reserves and highlighting that the university's recent deficits stem not from staff costs but from rocketing non-staff expenditure, including major capital projects. Meanwhile, senior leaders at the university have continued to enjoy generous pay packages, with the vice-chancellor receiving a total of £313,000 in 2024. 

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'Liverpool Hope University is trying to slash vital academic jobs as part of a politically motivated plan to reshape the institution. These cuts are not driven by necessity they're the result of poor management choices and ballooning capital spending. 

'Our members are absolutely right to fight back. It is outrageous that hardworking staff are being made to pay the price while senior managers continue to reward themselves handsomely. We call on the university to halt these cuts, rule out compulsory redundancies, and work with us to find a constructive path forward.'