UCU announces strike dates at the University of Sussex

In addition, further targeted industrial action by both academic and academic-related staff, aimed at fundamentally disrupting the administration of examination boards, will be announced in the coming weeks.

The news comes at the same time as UCU members are balloted over whether to implement an academic boycott against the institution. The University of Sussex faces the possibility of becoming only the second university to be subjected to the ultimate sanction in a row over job cuts.

The result of the ballot is expected on Friday 25 June. If members vote for the boycott it will go to a national committee for approval.

The news of the latest disruptions at Sussex comes on the back of strikes in March and May. The university has also been hit by high-profile student protests in support of staff. The beleaguered institution is looking to axe over 100 staff but is refusing to speak to the trade union about a resolution of the dispute, even through the arbitration service ACAS.

If the boycott is approved and the issues at Sussex are not resolved, the union would implement the boycott from 1 September. An academic boycott of Sussex would involve UCU calling on the academic community to shun Sussex through a host of measures, which may include:

• non-attendance, speaking at or organising academic or other conferences at Sussex
• not applying for any advertised jobs at Sussex
• not giving lectures at Sussex
• not accepting positions as visiting professors or researchers at Sussex
• not writing for any academic journal which is edited at or produced by Sussex
• not taking up new contracts as external examiners for taught courses.

UCU Sussex representative, Paul Cecil, said: 'Industrial action is always a last resort but staff here have been left with little option. We are taking this action and asking the union to consider an academic boycott because of the prospect of compulsory redundancies being confirmed in the very near future. We are also seeking meaningful discussions with management about setting in place adequate safeguards for the future, especially with the worrying prospect of further cuts to come.

'We are still keen to get the matter resolved with minimum disruption and believe that a satisfactory solution is possible. We again call on our management to engage in discussion to resolve the dispute.'