🎄📚 Tensions Rise at Cardiff University Ahead of Christmas 🎓❗️
Over 1,100 staff members at Cardiff University are reeling after receiving notices that their jobs are at risk, with Christmas just around the corner. This comes as the university undertakes a significant overhaul of its non-academic roles, sparking anxiety and frustration among employees.
The university insists there are roles available for all under the new structure, yet staff argue the offered positions come with lower wages and altered conditions. Many are facing tough decisions about voluntary redundancy without clear insight into future roles, fueling stress in a typically festive season.
💬 “I am being asked to make a major decision about whether to take voluntary redundancy without any understanding of what my future role will look like,” shared one senior staff member. “This is particularly stressful as it falls so close to Christmas, a time that should be focused on family, not job insecurity.”
Financial pressures loom large, with a £30m deficit threatening Cardiff University and universities across Wales facing a collective £77m+ shortfall. Rising costs and decreasing international student numbers are adding to the strain.
Historic cuts from earlier this year saw 1,800 academic staff put at risk. Now, Unite and UCU unions are sounding alarms over the risk of redundancies, impacting crucial staff who keep the university ticking.
“Our professional services staff have been breaking their backs to keep this institution running,” reported a UCU representative. “To leave thousands in limbo right before Christmas is incredibly unfair. The goodwill of these workers is what keeps the university together.”
The unfolding situation could lead to disruption in the New Year, with talks of potential strikes brewing. 📢✊
🗳️💔 The Cardiff UCU Branch is gearing up for a ballot on strike action to protect jobs. Amidst the turmoil, 187 academic roles remain at risk from previous rounds of cuts.
As the festive season approaches, Cardiff University is facing a critical juncture, balancing financial stability with the wellbeing of its valued staff. 🕊️🎒