Durham and Northumbria universities latest to face strikes

Union members at Durham University have voted in support of going on strike as part of a dispute over job cuts and working conditions, with staff at Northumbria University also set to walk out in a row over pension contributions.

The University and College Union (UCU) has claimed that restructures have left remaining staff at Durham with “untenable workloads” and called for the university to “meaningfully” negotiate on its concerns.

Durham said that there was no justification for strikes, and it had responded fully to the union’s claims.

Some 63 per cent of UCU members who participated in the ballot voted for strike action on a turnout of 54 per cent.

Last year, the university announced plans to cut staff costs by £20 million over the next two academic years. The institution’s latest financial accounts confirmed a voluntary severance scheme in 2025 reduced total staff numbers by about 5 per cent.

Staff want “workload agreements” to be put in place that outline how changes to the workforce will affect remaining roles. Previously staff surveys run by the union have found four in five reported experiencing higher workloads.

Jamie Callahan, co-president of the Durham UCU branch, said that workloads are “completely untenable” because of the restructuring, adding that “management needs to now do the right thing and begin working with us to improve staff work and student learning conditions”.

A Durham University spokesperson said it was “disappointed” that members of Durham UCU had voted in favour of industrial action, which it said was “without justification”.

“We work closely with all four of our campus trade unions on issues including workload. We have no voluntary severance scheme currently open and no plans for compulsory redundancies.

“We responded fully to UCU’s claims in November 2025 and published our response. We continue to engage regularly and transparently with our whole staff body on matters of importance to them. 

“All students will be appropriately supported, including minimising any impact on those who are affected by this action.

“We continue to ensure that colleagues have a manageable workload through careful management of priorities and resource.”

Separately, staff at Northumbria University will also begin strike action this week, in a bitter dispute over changes to staff pensions.

Union members will take ten days of strike action across February and March, after staff claimed they were being “pressured” into giving up their participation in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) in favour of joining the cheaper Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).

Last year, the university said staff who are willing to move would receive a one-off payment of between £5,800 and £10,000 to forego their TPS pension – which has an employer contribution of 28.68 per cent – and see their pay increase in line with nationally agreed uplifts in the years ahead. Those who refuse the move will not be eligible for a pay rise.

The issue has gained political attention, with 28 MPs signing a motion condemning the university’s actions.

Jo Grady, general secretary of the UCU, said: “It is inexcusable that staff have been told their pay will be held down indefinitely unless they agree to leave their preferred pension scheme.”

She said the “university now needs to look at our reasonable proposals and work with us to avoid strike action”.

The university has previously defended the move, saying it – and other post-92 institutions required to offer the TPS – has been significantly disadvantaged financially compared to older universities on USS, with additional costs of £11 million per year.

Northumbria was contacted for further comment.

juliette.rowsell@timeshighereducation.com