But war to save jobs continues
Jacob Lloyd, Cardiff graduate tutor and UCU member (personal capacity)
Cardiff University and College Union (UCU) has resisted 400 cruel job cuts. Now, in a massive U-turn, the uni executive board has ruled out all compulsory redundancies for 2025.
This significant short-term victory is the result of hard-fought efforts and the threat of industrial action from union members. In return, UCU has agreed to suspend strike action and a coordinated marking and assessment boycott.
Management worried
The uni board says it has made this offer because of the number of voluntary redundancies that have taken place. But, in reality, management were motivated by the prospect of a summer of chaos that the industrial action would have induced.
The mood in the branch remains vigilant, however, as over 1,200 staff remain ‘in scope’. In a special UCU meeting, we voted to accept management’s offer in the short term, but also to start work on a new, stronger strike action mandate – ready to be rolled out from September.
This reflects the widespread mistrust in management. 973 of 1,022 staff recently expressed ‘no confidence’ in the uni vice-chancellor. The uni bosses claim they will work more constructively with campus unions and staff going forward.
More cuts
But Cardiff uni is also trying to condense professional services into centralised hubs. This will mean job cuts for staff – Unite the Union members – and a reduction in important services for students.
It will require the threat of strong, rolling strike mandates to push them to no job cuts whatsoever, and to claim a more decisive victory in this ongoing battle to defend education.
