University set to axe 198 jobs
PLAN ‘COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE’ – UNION
HUDDERSFIELD University is planning to cut almost 200 jobs due to serious financial pressures, according to a trade union.
Unison has criticised the plans as ‘completely unacceptable’ and said the scale of the job losses would be ‘deeply damaging’ to both staff and students.
It is understood that University vicechancellor Professor Bob Cryan made the jobs announcement to staff earlier this week. According to Unison, the University is planning to make 198 compulsory redundancies, around 12 per cent of the workforce.
Cuts on such a large scale will be highly damaging to the university, with a negative impact on both staff and students, Unison said. The union understands that if the redundancies go ahead, it would mean a number of staff leaving by the end of August.
Vikki Garratty, Unison’s Yorkshire regional organiser, said: “This announcement is completely unacceptable.
“The university is facing huge financial pressures, but leaping straight to compulsory redundancies is not the way to solve this. University managers must reconsider their options and work with Unison to find an alternative solution.”
Steve Howe, Unison’s branch secretary at the University, said: “This is an incredibly unsettling time for staff and will have consequences for students at the university too.
“The university needs to consider other options to address the pressures it faces without resorting to these drastic measures. Unison will be meeting with staff and will continue to support those affected throughout the coming weeks and months.”
In a statement, a Huddersfield University spokesman said: “Since 2012, UK undergraduate tuition fees have increased by only 2.8%, from £9,000 to £9,250, despite inflation surging by over 50%.
“This has precipitated a financial crisis in the university sector, affecting many institutions, including ours.
“We are now among the 40% of universities facing budget deficits in 2023/4, further exacerbated by a 44% sector-wide decline in international student enrolments in January 2024 due to changes in government immigration policy. Rising staff costs, particularly in pension contributions, further strain our budget.
“Despite these challenges, our University has demonstrated resilience, maintaining high standards with TEF Gold and Ofsted Outstanding awards and forging research partnerships with most of the top 100 universities globally.
“We contribute approximately £300 million annually to the local economy, underscoring our crucial economic role. We previously initiated restructuring and voluntary schemes to navigate ongoing sector-wide financial pressures but, like many universities, must now implement a transformational change program.
“This includes reducing our workforce by 12% to ensure financial sustainability and prepare for a challenging future.”