**Strike Action and Marking Boycott at Cardiff University Halted After Compulsory Redundancy Threat Lifted**
Proposed industrial action at Cardiff University has been suspended in a dramatic turn of events, following a breakthrough agreement between university management and the University and College Union (UCU). The decision came after university leaders assured staff that no compulsory redundancies relating to the current cuts programme would occur before the end of 2025. The news comes as a considerable relief to many in the university community who had been bracing for significant disruption to teaching and assessment.
UCU members at Cardiff had been poised for strike action and an indefinite marking boycott, raising concerns about the possible impact on coursework grading and this summer’s graduation ceremonies. The walkout was scheduled for 2 May, with the boycott due to start on 6 May. Both actions have now been called off after intense negotiations culminated in a commitment from university leaders to safeguard jobs through a voluntary redundancy programme.
Speaking on behalf of staff, Joey Whitfield, President of the Cardiff UCU branch, expressed cautious optimism about the developments. “We are really pleased that UCU members and staff at the university have had the threat of compulsory redundancy removed,” he said in a statement. “While we remain concerned about the university’s future, we welcome the improved dialogue and look forward to working more closely with management over the coming weeks.”
University managers stated that the suspension of industrial action was a condition of their offer. The institution announced that, owing to a significant number of voluntary redundancy applications, it was in a position to avoid compulsory job losses—at least until the end of next year. Negotiations reached a conclusion during an extraordinary general meeting of the UCU’s Cardiff branch on Thursday afternoon.
The university has promised additional communication with staff, committing to publish an interim timetable next week charting the next steps in the ongoing cuts consultation. A decisive meeting of Cardiff University Council is set for 17 June, when further clarity on the future of the academic workforce and at-risk roles is expected. In a statement, university leaders acknowledged the anxiety caused by its Academic Future project, which has included proposals for sweeping departmental closures and major restructuring since first being announced in January.
“We want to recognise the very real human impact that the Academic Future project has had, and the level of anxiety felt more broadly across the academic and professional services,” the university’s spokesperson said. “Once again, we have committed to working in partnership with staff, assessing steps we can take to ensure the health and wellbeing of everyone involved.”
The originally proposed cuts, which included the potential closure of entire departments and up to 350 job losses, had generated significant resistance among staff, students, and the wider community. Since January, university management had already softened its stance, notably agreeing to reconsider plans to shutter the highly regarded School of Nursing. The prospect of compulsory redundancies had prompted many staff to apply for voluntary severance packages.
Both the UCU and the university have announced that a more detailed, joint statement will be issued shortly, outlining the next phases in the negotiations and the likely implications for staff. The resolution is seen by many as a temporary reprieve, rather than a long-term solution to the financial and structural pressures facing Cardiff University and much of the higher education sector more broadly.
Neutral observers suggest that while this agreement will provide breathing space for staff and students alike, tricky questions remain about the university’s strategic direction and the future robustness of its academic offering. Workforce morale, the sustainability of voluntary redundancy schemes, and the need for a constructive dialogue between staff and management will be central to Cardiff University’s efforts to move forward.
This episode at Cardiff reflects a broader trend in UK higher education, where financial challenges are forcing universities to balance difficult issues of staff retention, student experience, and budgetary restraint. The hope amongst union members and university leaders is that this new collaborative approach can help preserve both academic excellence and employment security during a period of profound change.