'Funeral march' staged over planned university cuts

The union representing staff at the University of Nottingham held a funeral march as part of a day of industrial action against planned compulsory redundancies.

The University and College Union (UCU) is striking until 11 December over plans to cut courses, staff numbers and some support services.

The plans are part of the Future Nottingham blueprint, which was approved by the university's governing body earlier this month.

A university spokesperson said there was "support in place to minimise disruption" for students, adding it would "continue to meet regularly with trade union colleagues to work towards a resolution".

The UCU said the funeral procession, held on Tuesday, symbolised the threat of job cuts and the erosion of "intellectual inquiry [and] academic freedom".

Prof Andreas Bieler, vice-president of the union's local branch, said the protest was reflective of the actions of the university.

"Our management is leading us down a death spiral, destroying this institution," he said.

He acknowledged the "financial pressure" the sector was facing as a whole, but said the counter-proposals put forward by the UCU "indicate clearly" how savings can be made without any job cuts.

He urged the university to "come to the negotiation table", adding "the ball is in management's court to do so".

Nick Clare, president of the Nottingham UCU branch, said the theme of the march was a "hybrid of Halloween, spooky and the Traitors".

"We're seeing the death of the university as we know it," he said.

He added "spooky decisions are being made, often in the turret of what looks a bit like a castle by people who are often kind of unaccountable, acting in secret".

Clare said his own job as an associate professor in geography was at risk.

"There are no jobs in the sector, so if I lose this job, it is the end of my career," he said.

"It's not just a job, it is something I care deeply about."

Max Stephanou, a third-year history student, said the impact of the strikes had been "devastating" but he supported his lecturers.

"It's been so difficult," he said. "I've just been sat at home, so, so sad about how much work I've put in, how much money I've spent to be here, just for nothing to come of it."

Amelie Halliwell, a third year English student, said she was supporting the staff despite the disruption.

"This is their livelihoods. When you get a job in academia, you can't just find another, they are not readily available," she said.

"They aren't doing this for the money, they're doing this because they love their subjects and they love their students.

"They have supported me so much and I can't bear to see them lose their jobs."

A university spokesperson said: "Members of UCU are currently undertaking industrial action, which means some staff may be on strike on selected days through this period.

"For most of our students, teaching and learning will continue as planned. However some students will encounter disruption.

"We want to reassure them we have procedures and support in place to minimise disruption and ensure they get the most from their university experience.

"We also continue to meet regularly with trade union colleagues to work towards a resolution and bring an end to this period of industrial action."

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