Staff at University of Sheffield International College begin 10 days of strike action
36 jobs are threatened at the school, which is run by private firm Study Group and provides English language skills to students from abroad.
Staff at the University of Sheffield International College have started 10 days of strike action, after dozens of them were put at risk of redundancy.
36 jobs are threatened at the school, which is run by private firm Study Group and provides English language skills to students from abroad.
100% of University and College Union (UCU) members who voted in the ballot approved of strike action.
Staff at the University of Sheffield International College (USIC) will be out from today until Friday (February 14), as well as:
Tuesday 18 and Thursday 20 February
Monday 24, Wednesday 26 and Friday 28 February
Tuesday 4 March and Thursday 6 March
Monday 10 March
UCU branch chair Sam Morecroft said: ‘USIC management should be ashamed that they are forcing their staff out onto picket lines rather than working with us to save jobs."
"Our members are prepared to stand firm for all ten days of strike action. Study Group now urgently needs to come to the negotiating table and stop the disruption.’
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: "Our members at USIC have the full support of their national union in fighting against this callous attack on their jobs."
"Management must now remove the threat of compulsory redundancies and resolve the dispute."
In a statement last month, a spokesperson for Study Group said: “Study Group is committed to providing an excellent education to international students from around the world. "
“Like many universities and higher education providers, we need to adapt our staffing levels to recent changes in international recruitment and regrettably this sometimes means reducing employee numbers.
"We very much regret UCU members at Sheffield International College have made this decision, especially after months of active engagement to try to avoid such an outcome.
"We will however ensure that any strike action minimises impact on our students and their education."