Rally planned in Newcastle over planned job cuts at city's university
It's believed 300 roles are at risk
Last updated 11th Jun 2025
University and College Union (UCU) members from across the UK will descend on Newcastle tomorrow to demonstrate against the hundreds of jobs Newcastle University is cutting
The rally comes as Newcastle staff begin their 37th day of strike action on Wednesday (11 June) over planned job cuts.
The rally will begin at 12.30pm outside the Civic Centre and attendees will then march to Grey's Monument for speeches by UCU general secretary Jo Grady, Trades Union Congress deputy general secretary Kate Bell and Fire Brigades Union regional secretary Karl Wager.
Staff will also be on picket lines outside university buildings from 8am Wednesday morning.
They will be taking over 60 days altogether from Tuesday 4 March to Thursday 17 July if management persists with the huge cuts.
The dispute is over the university's claim that it needs to axe over 300 jobs due to a shortfall in international student numbers.
Management has already cancelled promotions, restricted travel and asked staff to quit the institution through a voluntary severance scheme.
Meanwhile, the university is building new halls of residence costing £274m and looking to open a campus in India, with the vice-chancellor speaking at an event in Delhi earlier this year.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'Altogether, Newcastle University staff are set to walkout for over 60 days. They are only taking this unprecedented level of strike action because management's cuts would cause unprecedented disruption. UCU members, students and trade unionists from across the UK will join them at our rally because they refuse to stand by while senior managers try to make their own staff the shock absorbers for their financial mismanagement.'
A spokesperson for Newcastle University said: “We are extremely disappointed by the industrial action and will be putting in place measures to maintain academic standards and the integrity of our teaching.
“Like universities across the UK, we are working to address the financial pressures which is why our senior management have been exploring opportunities overseas including a possible campus in India.
“We want to work constructively with our unions to build a more sustainable future for universities while supporting our colleagues throughout this challenging time."