Sheffield Hallam faces strikes as Teesside job cuts fears deepen

Sheffield Hallam University faces staff strikes over its plans to make major changes to its pensions arrangements while a union has also expressed concerns about job cuts at Teesside University.

Some 87.7 per cent of University and College Union (UCU) members at Sheffield Hallam voted in favour of taking action, on a turnout of 72.6 per cent.

It follows the institution’s announcement in March that research-intensive scholars will be the only academics that remain enrolled on the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, which has an employer contribution rate of 28.68 per cent. Meanwhile, other academic staff are set to be transferred to a subsidiary firm with reduced pension conditions.

The UCU branch said: “This vote demonstrates the strength of feeling of academic staff at Sheffield Hallam and represents our members’ unequivocal rejection of the current strategy of managed decline being pursued by the University Executive Board that is destroying working conditions and undermining student learning.”

The university has argued that TPS is “unsustainable”, and that it was looking to make savings of £26.6 million in its 2026-27 budget, with changes to pensions amounting to about £6 million.

But the branch referenced recent reporting by Times Higher Education which revealed that the government is expected to allow employer contribution rates to fall next year, and post-92 universities have been informed to expect a further announcement. 

It said this news “casts further serious doubt on the university’s plan to save money by evading its legal obligation to offer TPS membership to its teaching staff by removing most of them to a wholly owned subsidiary company”.

“Sheffield Hallam UCU now renews its call to the University Executive Board to engage in meaningful negotiation in the knowledge that UCU members are prepared to take substantial strike action to obtain a better deal for academic and research staff, and secure a better future for the university and its students,” it continued.

A spokesperson for Sheffield Hallam said they were “disappointed” over the announcement.

“Like all universities, we are having to make some tough decisions due to the financial challenges being faced across higher education. To date, we have been able to make significant savings without the need for any compulsory redundancies.

“With the overall financial picture for universities likely to be challenging for some time, it is clear that failing to take action would undermine the university’s long-term financial sustainability. We are focused on securing a stable future for Sheffield Hallam, while continuing to support our students, staff and wider community.”

Meanwhile, the UCU branch at Teesside University has called on the institution’s managers to be more transparent over planned job cuts.

About 50 professors were told on 6 May that they could be at risk of compulsory redundancy, the union claimed, with staff expected to leave as early as next month.

The UCU branch called on the university to state how many jobs it intended to cut, where the cuts will happen, and why it is looking to implement the changes so quickly.

It noted the rationale is “unclear”, given that the university has “celebrated its strong financial position”.  

UCU regional support official, Jon Bryan, said the union “stands opposed to the cuts”.

“They not only risk the livelihoods of families, but would damage the university’s reputation, and years of knowledge and experience of senior academics. 

“There is never a good time to tell staff bad news, but the way that this has been handled shows a real distance between those at the top of the university and the rest of the staff body. 

“There is now significant discontent, and senior leaders need to begin by consulting properly and being transparent about what cuts they intend to make.”

Teesside said it was “facing significant financial pressures brought about by sector‑wide challenges, including rising costs and a decline in international student admissions”.

While it remained in a strong financial position it needed to take “proactive steps to ensure we stay that way for the long term”, a spokesperson added.

“Working closely with union and employee representatives, we have begun consulting with colleagues on a number of proposals focused on ensuring the right balance of resources across the university.

“These decisions are never taken lightly. The number of roles quoted by UCU is inaccurate and claims that the process is happening ‘quickly’ are completely unfounded; the university is conducting all processes in line with employment legislation, internal employment policies and contracts of employment.

“Our priority throughout this process is to support our staff, maintain transparency and ensure the long‑term strength of the university.”

juliette.rowsell@timeshighereducation.com