by Matt Trinder
Industrial Reporter

STRIKE action is set to continue at the University of Brighton this month after IT jobs were cut just before Christmas.

Eight workers have been made compulsorily redundant at the university, with technical support services being centralised or outsourced.

The University & College Union (UCU) organised five days of socially distanced pickets and virtual demonstrations to protest against the changes last month after members voted for action.

Brighton University UCU chairman Mark Abel said the decision to cut jobs during the coronavirus pandemic was “indefensible.”

He said: “We’re all much more reliant on technology than we ever were before, working from home, sometimes on our own equipment, without the adequate software or having to update it. During a pandemic, [the changes are] potentially disastrous.

“The use of [Covid-19] as an excuse for cutting jobs has become quite widespread in higher education despite the fact that the doom-and-gloom predictions about a collapse in the number of students this academic year didn’t materialise at all. We’ve actually got more students in the sector than ever.

“[The university bosses] just don’t want to spend the money on wages basically.”

Consultations on further strike dates will take place this week.

A University of Brighton spokesman said: “We regret that members of the UCU have chosen to take strike action and that the local branch persists in misrepresenting the facts to their members.

“The university has a long-standing commitment to avoiding compulsory redundancies wherever possible. Regrettably, a small number of roles were no longer required, but where this was the case, the colleagues concerned were fully supported.” 

Messages of support can be sent to [email protected] and donations to the strike fund can be made at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/savebrightonitstaff.