Stop the cuts!

Durham UCU have notified the employer of five days of strike action to begin on 28 April unless compulsory redundancies are ruled out.

This follows an enabling motion passed at a quorate general meeting on 2 April, in which DUCU members voted to give management a deadline by which to rule out compulsory redundancies, commence action short of a strike as soon as possible, authorise committee to select five consecutive days of strike action to be called for maximal impact, and immediately commence a reballot over other unresolved issues raised in our local claim.

The industrial action will consist of:

• discontinuous strike action on the following dates: 28, 29, 30 April 2025 and 1, 2 May 2025.
• continuous action short of strike (ASOS) commencing 28 April 2025, including: not working more than the nominal hours specified in employment contracts; not undertaking voluntary duties; not providing cover for absent colleagues; not providing cover for non-replaced staff; boycotting University-related activities relating to the Research Excellence Framework.

This action will go ahead unless the employer rules out compulsory redundancies by 23 April 2025.

If you’re new to industrial action at Durham, or in general, check out our Beginners’ Guide to Pickets and Strikes for key info and tips.

Why the time for action is now

It’s past time for management to negotiate in good faith. The University Executive need to find solutions to their financial difficulties without asking staff and students to pay the price for poor decisions made elsewhere. They can end a strike before it starts by ruling out compulsory redundancies now. 

Durham UCU believe that the savings objective of £20M in staff costs over the next two years is unnecessary. Management have yet to present concrete evidence justifying the drastic measures they are proposing. The data they’ve shared* about why they have chosen to target professional services staff appears to conflict with publicly available data, and they’ve refused to share key information about the university’s financial position. Meaningful consultation demands openness and transparency. Staff deserve better. 

Absent full information Durham UCU cannot propose viable alternatives to management’s cost-cutting plans. Management have rejected summarily any proposals that we have brought. Indeed, by framing their target savings explicitly in terms of staff costs, management have shown their hand. They are not interested in alternatives. They’re set on cutting staff. 

The employer is being uncooperative, refusing to share crucial financial information, and making calloused, unevidenced choices. 

Durham UCU members have demonstrated our willingness to defend our jobs and our colleagues by voting with record turnout to support strike action and action short of a strike. Now is the time to act. 

The employer’s timeline** for the first phase of their proposed restructure has consideration of steps beyond voluntary severance beginning in April, with May set aside for potential consultation on compulsory redundancies, should a proposal be brought, and potential selection processes starting in July. 

As we announced on 28 January, the employer served us with a Section 188 notification of proposed redundancies at Durham University on Tuesday 21 January at 16.31, initiating collective consultation. They also issued Form HR1, informing the government of potential redundancies. Form HR1 must be submitted at least 45 days before any notice of redundancy is issued. The employer met this legal requirement on 6 March. 

Now is the time to stand up for one another and for the integrity of our university. 

Redundancies are a choice. Targeting professional services colleagues is a choice. Stonewalling meaningful consultation is a choice. University management can and should choose otherwise. 

Sign up on Slack to hand out awareness flyers at the upcoming Post-Offer Open Day on 26 April. 

You can also sign up for picket and strike day activities, including helping gather placards from the DUCU office, serving as a picket supervisor, bringing food, participating in teach-outs, and more. 

If you’re not on Slack but want to be, write Sara at president@durhamucu.org.uk for an invitation.

*Confidential to Durham University staff

**Internal SharePoint link