Strike ballot opens at University of Nottingham in row over plans to cut hundreds of jobs, says UNISON
Staff at the University of Nottingham are being asked to back strikes in a row over controversial plans to axe hundreds of jobs, says UNISON.
Hundreds of staff, including security officers, library personnel, and administrators, are being balloted in a poll that opens today and runs until Friday, August 29.
The row centres on the university’s plans to axe 356 positions. Earlier this year UNISON submitted a proposal that would save the institution up to £50m without the need for compulsory job losses.
Despite university leaders accepting parts of the union’s plans, just five posts have been saved.
UNISON says the institution’s decision to press on with mass redundancies has left staff with no choice but to vote for strike action.
UNISON East Midlands head of higher education Elliot Dean said: “The University of Nottingham can tackle overspending and find new ways to bring in cash without axing hundreds of jobs.
“Instead of working with staff to minimise jobs losses and protect the student experience, the university is pressing ahead with damaging plans for mass redundancies.
“University of Nottingham workers feel ignored and they’ve been left with no choice but to vote for strike action.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON represents hundreds of professional services staff at the University of Nottingham, including administrators, IT technicians, library workers, finance officers and facilities staff.
– The union submitted a counterproposal in spring 2025, which identified £30–£50m in additional savings and revenues.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy.
