Student: Uni strikes 'not what we signed up for'

A student has said she feels "shorthanded" as staff at University of Nottingham staff are to go on strike for three months.

The University and College Union (UCU) said its members would strike on 30 September and 1 October and would then carry out "sustained strike action" from 5 October to 11 December over the Future Nottingham restructuring plans.

A spokesperson for the University of Nottingham said it was "disappointed" by the timing of industrial action, adding many students would be "unaffected" by the strikes.

Zoe Monroe, who studies English literature with creative writing, told the BBC the strikes were not what students had signed up for.

The university said previously the proposals could involve programme closures and academic restructure.

It added it had reviewed and considered all Future Nottingham counterproposals, which would now go to the University Council for a decision.

The university had suspended music and language courses and planned hundreds of job cuts earlier this year to deal with "significant financial challenges".

Union members from UCU, Unison and Unite voted in July in favour of a motion of no confidence in the vice-chancellor and other senior leaders after a "complete breakdown of trust".

The first two days of action have been planned to coincide with the university's council meeting at which the final business case for cuts will be considered.

The strike will also include action short of a strike, such as only working to contract and not covering for absent colleagues, the UCU said.

Monroe said the strikes announcement had left her feeling shortchanged by the teaching she had received during her three years in Nottingham.

"[The strikes are] going to be highly disruptive," said the 20-year-old.

"It's not what we've paid and signed up for. It's awful because I don't know what else we can do about it other than just raise awareness.

"I feel quite shorthanded because it is a lot of money and I've come to university to to learn. It's very disappointing."

The third year student fears the strikes will damage the university's reputation, which she feels could affect her chances of securing a job in the future.

"I'm going to learn less, and the reputation of the university is going to most likely go downhill after this", she said.

"People will be less likely to accept University of Nottingham students and feel as if we are less qualified and we are going to be offered less opportunities."

Isaac Wood, a third year politics and international relations student, said he supported the strikes, however he also added: "I'm not really sure about their approach to the strikes with going on for so long because I think that's a big ask of a lot of their members to do it for that long and to sustain it.

"I support them and I wish them all the best but it is starting to become a little strenuous," the 20-year-old said.

Nick Clare, UCU branch president, said: "We don't want to strike, but staff will not stand by while colleagues lose their jobs and whole areas of teaching and research are dismantled unnecessarily."

He said the dispute could still be resolved, adding the union were "open" to meaningful talks with management to resolve the issue ahead of the new academic year.

The union said it was calling on the university to rule out compulsory redundancies, the closure of full departments, protect teaching and research, and "engage seriously" with the alternative proposals put forward by staff.

A spokesperson for the university said they continued to engage in "meaningful discussions" with trade union colleagues.

They added: "While we know many of our students will be unaffected by this action, the timing of this to deliberately disrupt the start of the new academic year for our students is particularly disappointing.

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

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