Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at the University of Manchester have voted in favour of industrial action in a dispute over job security and proposed redundancies.
The union balloted its members for strike action in October, claiming 219 staff university were at risk of redundancy after changes to its redeployment policy.
University of Manchester UCU has 1,756 members out of a total 12,125 employees. Over three-quarters (77%) of those who voted in the ballot backed strike action, with 86% backing action short of a strike.
A University of Manchester spokesperson said the planned strike was “disappointing” and would “prove damaging to students and the University”.
Union members will meet on Wednesday 25 November to consider next steps.
The union claims that the row has arisen because the university has been ignoring agreed procedures and pushing staff into redundancy.
The dispute stems from changes to the university’s policy in April, which say staff on its redeployment register for a period of three months or more may face redundancy.
University managers issued 37 ‘at risk of redundancy’ notices.
In July 219 staff working in IT were also to be given notice of potential compulsory redundancy. The union says it received just 40 minutes notice of the redundancy plans.
The two sides have been in talks to resolve the dispute with conciliatory service ACAS but UCU say despite the fact “some progress has been made, the union remains concerned about the impact of proposed changes on job security.”
UCU regional official, Martyn Moss, said: “The ballot result demonstrates our members’ strong support for their colleagues and their anger at the threats which these changes pose to the job security of all staff.
“Since the ballot opened, we have made some progress to resolving this dispute through ACAS talks. We are hopeful we can make further progress so that we are not forced to resort to strike action.”
A University of Manchester spokesman said: “It is disappointing that against a backdrop of significant progress being achieved through voluntary severance and during an on-going dialogue, that UCU decided to ballot their members on industrial action.
“We believe that industrial action – supported by less than a third of UCU members and representing less than 5% of the University workforce – would not only prove damaging to students and the University, but would also jeopardise our chances of accomplishing necessary change through constructive dialogue and agreement.
“A generous voluntary severance package has been offered to all of the 37 staff who had been on the Redeployment Register and we are pleased to report that all of these staff have either been offered redeployment to other roles in the University or have accepted voluntary severance.
“Applications for the voluntary severance scheme in IT Services closed last month and we are pleased to report that, following an initial review of applications, we are hopeful that we can achieve the target reduction in existing roles in this area through the voluntary severance route.
“The University is committed to dialogue with the three campus trades unions and is willing to meet with them to discuss these issues. We have held more than a dozen meetings with the campus trades unions over the past six months, including two meetings where ACAS was invited to conciliate. All changes involving staff undertaken by the University are given very careful and serious consideration.
“The University is committed to ensuring these processes are conducted fairly and transparently and will always seek to first explore opportunities through redeployment and voluntary severance for the avoidance of compulsory redundancies.”
