Newcastle University is facing £30m in cuts, raising concerns of job losses as staff consider industrial action over financial pressures.
Newcastle: The university is in a tough spot. They just announced another £30 million in cuts. This comes as the threat of industrial action hangs over them.
After a recent council meeting, they approved a plan to balance their budget over the next two years. They’re looking to cut £20 million from salaries and another £10 million from other budgets.
Last year, they had to find £15 million in savings and make £20 million in adjustments. This led to freezes on promotions and travel, plus a review of their building plans.
The University and College Union (UCU) says this new salary cut could mean losing around 300 jobs. They had a voluntary severance scheme for academics, but now it’s open to all staff.
A spokesperson for the university said they’re not alone in facing challenges in the UK higher education sector. They’re trying to save costs to stay financially stable.
They’re reopening the voluntary severance scheme and can’t rule out compulsory redundancies, but they hope to avoid that. They’re also consulting with trade unions about the situation.
They want to support their staff during this tough time and be as transparent as possible. The goal is to keep delivering quality education and research.
These budget cuts come right after the UCU started a ballot for strike action. They’re urging staff to vote against the cuts, which they believe harm students and the local economy.
Professor Matt Perry from UCU said they saw this coming and are pushing back against the cuts. They think it’s crucial to protect higher education in the region.
The UCU has also called for a government overhaul of higher education funding, saying the current model isn’t working. Other universities in the area, like Sunderland, are also struggling financially.
