Over the last few months we’ve been working on a policy/alternative strategy for higher education in the East of England. In essence, we’re proposing a Minimum Provision Guarantee for the HE sector in the East. The attached brief was approved by the branch on October 5th 2026 and has been sent to local MPs. Please send any queries to ucu.office@uea.ac.uk
Branch News
Escalating Industrial Action
UEA UCU will be taking nine days of industrial action commencing 1st may 2025.
The dates for strike action are as follows:
2 days in Week 10: Thur 1st and Fri 2nd May
3 days in Week 11: Tue 6th, Wed 7th, and Fri 9th May
4 days in Week 12: Tue 13th, Wed 14th, Thur 15th and Fri 16th May
Our dispute with UEA is over three key issues:
- Removing the threat of compulsory redundancy
- Financial accountability
- Transparent governance
Read the branch statement about why we have escalated industrial action.
26/3/2025 – Day of Action
UEA UCU has served the University of East Anglia with an official notice that the branch will take a day of strike action on Wednesday 26th March 2025.
This day of strike action needs to be the biggest that UEA has ever seen. We need to see massive picket lines, cross-institution solidarity, and a promise of more action if our demands are not met. We need each and every member to engage with this action. We are also seeking volunteers to help out with the planning and day of action so please contact the branch if you are willing to help.
We are striking for our colleagues who are still at risk of redundancy.
We are striking because we know that fewer staff at UEA will have a detrimental effect on the student experience.
We are striking for a better future for UEA – for a university that is more democratic and where management are genuinely accountable to staff.
While it is true that the sector is in crisis, we know UEA will be in no place to recover and respond if management keep making cuts at this scale. More than 400 people left the university through “voluntary” means a year and a half ago. Now the executive team is wanting a further 192 people to leave UEA.
Compulsory redundancies at our university would represent a new low in the history of our institution. UEA’s reputation would take another hit, while any remaining semblance of positive staff morale would dissipate. These cuts will end careers. They will not only be devastating for those directly affected but will sever any remaining trust there is between staff and management.
The threat of sustained industrial action is a significant force to make management change course. We have already seen a shift in the tone and the stance of the employer in the dispute resolution since we gained our overwhelming mandate for industrial action. That’s why we need all our members to join us next Wednesday on the picket line as we work to protect livelihoods and change UEA for the better. Come together with your colleagues to celebrate all the work you do for our students and for our community.
Strike action is always a last resort, but we cannot and will not tolerate any of our members being under threat of compulsory redundancy. Being a part of this union is about solidarity. It’s about acknowledging that if they come for one of us, they come for all of us.
Members should check their email for further details about picket timings and locations.
Ballot Results
The UEA UCU branch is in dispute with management over proposed redundancies that have put nearly 500 staff ‘at risk’ and would cut 190 staff from its rolls. The branch ran a three-week ballot for industrial action for its members. This ballot has had the highest turnout UEA UCU has ever achieved in a ballot at 67%. An overwhelming 82% of those voted in favour of strike action with 84% also backing action short of strike.
The branch will be considering next steps in their dispute with UEA management.
Other press coverage
- BBC News: University staff back strike action over cuts
- Research Professional News: UEA staff vote for strike action amid ‘financial turmoil’
- Times Higher Education: UEA staff vote to strike over job cuts, Sheffield set to follow
- EDP: UEA staff to strike again over proposed redundancies
- Chemistry World: Science faculty set to be hit by redundancy proposals at University of East Anglia
14/01/2025 – Local ballot opens
A strike ballot will open at the University of East Anglia (UEA) on 14th January 2025 over huge job cuts that are once again being pushed through by management. The ballot will run until Tuesday 4 February and a successful result will pave the way for strike action to begin as soon as next month, unless management rules out compulsory redundancies.
Members are advised to check for emails from the branch committee with relevant information and updates.