Trade union members at the University of Sunderland have threatened to go on strike after declaring a formal industrial dispute in a row over job cuts.

The University and College Union said that the dispute had been triggered after the university announced plans to operate “on a budget that costs £40 million less than it does currently”, which it said will necessitate cuts to staff and non-staff costs. 

It also follows a decision by the university to employ all new academic tutors through a subsidiary company, locking staff out of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, resulting in what UCU has described as a “two-tier workforce”. 

The union said industrial action could be “inevitable” if the university does not row back plans and said that staff and students should not “have to suffer the mistakes of senior management”. 

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There has been widespread discontent across the sector in recent months, as branches including the University of Nottingham and Goldsmiths, University of London partake in lengthy strike action. The universities of Edinburgh and Dundee are also on strike.

Jo Grady, general secretary of UCU, said industrial action “is a last resort for our members” but this vote to enter a formal dispute “shows that they have had enough and are ready to fight to save jobs”. 

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“Cutting costs by slashing jobs will damage both the student experience and academic reputation at Sunderland. Our members are fighting for their jobs, their students and the community they serve. 

“Staff and students shouldn’t have to suffer the universities’ mistakes and management must change direction and work with us to save jobs, or face disruption in the coming months,” she said.

A spokesman for the University of Sunderland said: “Like universities across the UK, we are not immune to the significant financial pressures facing the higher education sector, including rising costs and continuing regulatory and policy changes.

“Against this challenging backdrop, we are working with colleagues across the University to identify where we can reduce costs and operate more efficiently, while protecting the quality of our students’ experience.

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“We recognise that uncertainty around the change is concerning for our staff and we are committed to working with the unions throughout the process, taking a measured and transparent approach.

“Our priority is to put the University on a sustainable financial footing for the future, while ensuring Sunderland remains a great place to study and work.”

juliette.rowsell@timeshighereducation.com