Mass strikes to hit University of Sheffield & Sheffield Hallam in November and December over job cuts

The dispute at the University of Sheffield centres on management's plans to put staff in five academic areas at risk of redundancy, as well as a continued risk of redundancy to professional services staff across the university. The full details and number of job losses have yet to be confirmed by the university but are expected in the next two weeks. 

The university previously announced reviews of academic staffing in chemistry; civil engineering; the management school; materials science and engineering; and the school of East Asian studies, with restructures expected. 

Sheffield plans to cut at least £5m by slashing staff and has made clear it is also willing to pursue more cuts by changing the size and shape of departments.  

At Sheffield Hallam, the dispute centres on management's refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies, despite already having slashed around 500 jobs in 2024 and a further 170 since May 2025. Even though 170 staff have left through a voluntary severance scheme, the university is refusing to rule out compulsory redundancies and wants to axe up to 80 more jobs. 

For staff who remain at both institutions, the job cuts will mean spiraling workload pressures and worse working conditions. 

The full UCU strike dates at each university are: 

University of Sheffield 

• Monday 17, Tuesday 18, Wednesday 19, and Friday 21 November  
• Monday 24 to Thursday 27 November  
• Monday 1, Tuesday 2, Wednesday 4 and Friday 5 December  
• Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 December 

Sheffield Hallam University 

• Tuesday 11, Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 November  
• Monday 17 to Thursday 20 November 
• Monday 1 to Friday 5 December 

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'There is no justification for compulsory redundancies at the University of Sheffield or Sheffield Hallam, especially when there are other options available. We will not accept threats to the jobs of our members, and neither will we accept staff working conditions being degraded through stress and ever-increasing workload pressures. Striking is a last resort for our members, but this action shows they have had enough and are prepared to fight back. If the employers do not see sense and reverse the job cuts, they can expect to see disruption across the city in November and December.'