University staff strike over jobs threat

THE University of Nottingham has refused to rule out forced redundancies as industrial action opposing its wide-ranging cuts begins.

- By JOSHUA HARTLEY

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) held a strike outside the University Park Campus on Thursday after their employer said its Future Nottingham restructuring programme, which entails the loss of more than 350 jobs, had been approved.

The UCU, along with fellow union Unison, has called on the university to rule out compulsory redundancies, but has yet to receive any assurances.

Lopa Leach, president of the university's UCU branch, said: 'The way management has handled restructuring to date has been nothing but shambolic.

"By continuing to refuse ruling out compulsory redundancies, our vice chancellor extends the existential pressure and anguish for many of our administrative colleagues. We cannot accept this."