On the 15th and 16th of October, the University of Derby communicated its plan to make over 250 members of staff redundant, with over 550 members of staff involved in the process. The University has set out its case in the press and has now contacted staff and students.

Stop the cuts

UCU Derby strongly opposes this plan. We argue that it is not necessary and represents an inadequate response to the current funding crisis that is being faced by UK higher education.

We believe that it would be more effective for the University, and other higher education employers, to join with staff and unions in trying to get the government to address the crisis. The UCU’s Stop the Cuts campaign is providing some leadership in this, but we need employers to join with us rather than to start cutting jobs.

If the redundancies are carried out at the University of Derby, it will mean not only a dramatically high number of job losses, but also the end of the University of Derby as an economic and cultural hub in Derbyshire and the broader East Midlands region.

Taking action to defend jobs

Following a very well attended meeting on Friday the 17th of October, UCU Derby’s official ballot on strike and action short of strike will open on the 21st of October, as the branch prepares to fight back and defends its members’ jobs.  

If you are not yet a member of the UCU then please join.

If you support our action to defend jobs, but don’t work at the University of Derby, then donate to the UCU’s fighting fund.