Leeds University strike back on

The University and College Union is holding a one-day strike at the university on Thursday, after previously postponing three days of planned industrial action following talks with ACAS.

The strike has been called over a dispute over jobs and Leeds University's refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies.

Leeds University is cutting jobs as part of a review of its biological sciences department and has also launched a major cost-cutting programme aimed at saving 35m by 2011 which the UCU fears could lead to up to 700 redundancies. The university estimates up to 400 posts could be lost.

A University and College Union spokesman said: "When, in spite of our significant ballot mandate, our members called the three day strikes off, we all expected a serious response from the side of university management.

"However, no progress whatsoever was being made on any of the 13 university reviews, in particular the faculty of biological sciences review, which most immediately affects our members' jobs and conditions of service.

"It was therefore the view of your negotiators, and subsequently the UCU committee and emergency general meeting that management were dragging out the negotiations in order that our legal mandate for industrial action would run out.

"Not enough progress had been made in order for any of us to allow this to happen. UCU remains committed to a negotiated settlement and we hope that the management return with speed and sincerity into talks."

However a Leeds University spokeswoman said: "We are disappointed that the UCU has brought eight weeks of ACAS talks to an end with a one-day strike against the University.

"It is particularly saddening since we were discussing the best employment security package on offer in UK higher education. We have proposed a process which is open and transparent, collegial and fair to staff, and which provides for meaningful consultation with staff, and with the trade unions, at every stage.

"We share the concerns of all our unions about impending cuts in higher education, but striking is a pointless disruption to the work of staff and students."

She also said the university believed the strike was not supported by the "vast majority of students or staff" and would not command public support.