Newcastle University staff have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action in response to proposed job losses and financial cuts.
In a ballot conducted by the University and College Union (UCU), 83 per cent of members supported strike action, while 88 per cent said they would be willing to take action short of striking.
The decision follows plans by the university to cut around 300 jobs as part of a £20 million reduction in its salary budget, BBC News reports.
Although the university has said these cuts will primarily involve voluntary redundancies, it has not ruled out mandatory layoffs.
This comes after the university announced a series of measures last September to tackle a £35 million budget shortfall, blamed mostly on a drop in international student numbers. These include freezes on promotions and recruitment, along with restrictions on travel.
It is not yet confirmed when the strikes will take place.
Professor Matt Perry, Newcastle University’s representative for the University and College Union and a member of the School of History, Classics, and Archaeology, said: “The high tuition fee funding model for UK higher education is fundamentally broken. It has never been more important that we campaign together for a new funding model.
“There are huge amounts of anger amongst staff and students about job losses and course closures.”
A spokesperson for Newcastle University said: “We want to work constructively with our unions to build a more sustainable future for universities while supporting our colleagues throughout this challenging time.”
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