The Cardiff University branch of the University and College Union has voted to restart a campaign of industrial action after talks with the university broke down. The union has demanded that the university commit to no compulsory redundancies in 2027 and reduce staff workloads.
The university has so far committed to no compulsory redundancies in 2025 and 2026; however, the UCU are demanding that this commitment is reaffirmed alongside more manageable working conditions. The UCU say that staff cuts through voluntary means, as well as staff leaving the university and not being replaced, have worsened the workloads for those that remain.
Peter Hill, a UCU Wales official, said: “We continue to maintain a red line against compulsory redundancies. Similarly, we recognise the effects of job losses are felt by those who remain within the university. Impossible workloads and reductions in research time erode quality education”.
According to union leaders, staff cuts combined with changes to the time staff are allocated to do different aspects of their jobs, such as research and teaching, mean that “an already existing workload crisis is getting even worse.
The union is demanding the protection of research time and a reversal of cuts made to the amount of time academics within the university are given to commit to research. The UCU is demanding that this is restored to 40 per cent.
The UCU has stated that the next steps in action will be a non-binding consultative ballot to members in early November with a view to a ballot on strike action and action short of a strike in early 2027. If the dispute is not resolved, it is possible that students may see disruptions to teaching at the start of 2027. Potential UCU action could include anything from marking boycotts to full strikes.
A Cardiff UCU spokesperson said: “The threat of industrial action from our members has so far limited the damage done by management’s catastrophic cuts and reckless, chaotic restructuring exercises… Disruptive industrial action is the last thing any of us want, but the threat of it seems to be the only thing which Cardiff Uni bosses understand”.