Sheffield University censured by UK academic community as it continues attacking staff

Staff at Sheffield voted just weeks ago to strike in response to the institution's failure to rule out a new attempt at forcing through job cuts despite the University's healthy financial position. UCU members had already been forced to take action against compulsory redundancies late last year. Management responded punitively by putting in place a lock out - refusing to pay staff even after they had returned to work. 

The union says these aggressive and escalatory measures amount to 'double deductions', with staff pay docked not only for strike days but also once they were back carrying out normal duties. UCU's general secretary said Sheffield vice chancellor Koen Lamberts and his team were representing the very worst of the higher education sector.  

UCU is now warning that unless Sheffield urgently changes course, the censure could be escalated to a full international academic boycott. More than 500 staff have already lost their jobs at the University through 'voluntary severance' since this round of so-called restructuring began in November 2024.  

UCU's national higher education officers backed the decision to censure the university, which was communicated in a letter to the vice chancellor, and is a rare and serious step that signals the extent of alarm across the sector. The union says that to avoid escalation to a full boycott, the university must end the use of punitive 'double deductions. 

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: "Management at Sheffield University has left us with no choice but to censure the institution. They are driving through financially unnecessary job cuts while punishing staff - in a fashion reminiscent of the nastiest strike-breakers.  

"This behaviour from vice chancellor Koen Lamberts and his team represents the very worst of the higher education sector, which is increasingly led by people, including former academics like him, who seem determined to destroy it.  

"It's not too late for Sheffield management to change course and stop torching their own institution. I urge them to negotiate with us to protect jobs and cease punishing staff who are simply trying to protect the sector's future."