Nottingham university staff plan strikes over restructuring

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at the University of Nottingham plan to strike on 30 September and 1 October over the university’s Future Nottingham restructuring proposals. The two days coincide with a University Council meeting due to consider the final business case for cuts. The union has also announced “sustained strike action” from 5 October to 11 December, though it has not said members will strike every day in that period. [1]

The UCU wants the university to rule out compulsory redundancies and the closure of entire departments, protect teaching and research, and consider alternatives proposed by staff. Members also plan action short of a strike, including working only to contract and not covering for absent colleagues. [1]

The university has said its proposals could involve closing programmes and restructuring academic departments. It says it has considered staff counterproposals ahead of a council decision. A spokesperson said many students would be unaffected by the industrial action and that measures were in place to minimise disruption. [1]

English literature and creative writing student Zoe Monroe told BBC News she expected the strikes to be highly disruptive and felt shortchanged. Politics and international relations student Isaac Wood said he supported the strikes but questioned whether members could sustain action for so long. [1]