The redundancies of professorial and associate professional staff are currently going to appeal. But, before the initial process of redundancies is completed, the University has moved to restructure the colleges and announced a further swathe of redundancies.

This time the redundancies are likely to affect administrative and management staff. The union is now engaged in supporting these members to engage in the consultation process and save as many jobs as possible.

UCU Derby continues to oppose redundancies and to ask for the University to set out a clear business rationale for its current restructuring. We remain unconvinced that this kind of tinkering with the structure will deal with the issues that the University faces. Attacks on individual staff cannot solve the systemic problems that UK higher education faces. We continue to hope that the University will work with us to raise these systemic issues nationally.

In response to the latest round of cuts, we held a a very well-attended branch meeting last Thursday.

Members at the meeting gave a clear indication that it was time to step up our action. Consequently we have written today to the Vice-Chancellor asking her to provide guarantees that no further redundancies will be carried out at the University till at least the end of the 2025/2026 year.

If the University refuse to guarantee the safety of our colleagues’ jobs, we will officially enter into a trade dispute.

Now more than ever we need the support of the unions members. Please keep checking your emails to stay up to date with the latest news from the branch, and encourage colleagues who are not members to join. 

Any questions, please get in touch using the form at the bottom of the home page.