Staff at Lancaster University will take two days of strike action later this month in a dispute over a threat to axe one in four staff.
The University and College Union (UCU) announced its members would walk out on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 November in an ongoing row over the proposed job cuts.
The action comes after 88% of UCU members who voted, backed strike action, with pickets at the main university entrance and the southwest entrance at Alexandra Park on both days.
The UCU members at the university are already working to rule, refusing to cover absent colleagues, and refusing to undertake any work outside of their job description.
Earlier in the year plans to reduce the workforce by more than over 400 staff by the end of this academic year at the end of July 2026, including over 200 academics, were revealed by university bosses, in a bid to save up to £30m.
Read more: Staff begin industrial action over proposed job cuts at Lancaster University
UCU has accused the employer of relying on overly pessimistic forecasts and seeking to achieve the savings it claims are needed by axing staff, rather than looking at other areas of expenditure.
The union has called on the employer to commit to no compulsory redundancies and engage in intensive negotiations to review the proposals and the financial assumptions.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: '’Strike action is a last report for our members, but staff have been left no choice to protect Lancaster University from the devastating cuts management is attempting to inflict.
'’Management is relying on overly pessimistic figures and must now fully open the books and work with us to protect jobs and student provision here in Lancaster, rather than spending a fortune on vanity campuses on the other side of the world.
‘’If the university does not listen, it will face disruption on campus this month and the potential of more action in the new year.'’
Lancaster University employs the full-time equivalent of 1,300 academic staff and 1,700 professional services staff.
Read more: Lancaster University staff speak out on plans to slash hundreds of jobs
A spokesperson for Lancaster University told Beyond Radio: ‘’We have a proud record of excellence in both teaching and research, however we have not been immune to sector-wide financial pressures including increased operating costs and declining international student numbers.
‘’We have achieved significant savings on non-payroll and through a voluntary severance scheme this year, but unfortunately our financial projections show that payroll savings of about £30M are required over the next academic year to ensure our ongoing financial sustainability.
‘’The University Executive Board has proposed a plan to ensure our future size and shape is sustainable, while also enabling the University to continue to thrive.
‘’We are not planning to reduce payroll costs through the closure of academic departments, and proposed savings have been identified to achieve strategic efficiencies which will be shared across all academic departments and professional services.
‘’Our preference has always been to achieve these changes through voluntary means wherever possible, however we can’t rule out the possibility of compulsory redundancies as a last resort.’’
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