01-05-2025
Cardiff University issues new statement on compulsory redundancies
Cardiff University issues new statement on compulsory redundancies
The UCU union is holding an extraordinary general meeting today (Thurs May 1) to discuss this proposal with their members
Cardiff University
(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne )
Cardiff University has issued an update on compulsory redundancies with more than 1,000 staff still under threat of losing their jobs.
The university said that if staff agree to suspend all industrial action then it won't make any compulsory redundancies of all staff connected to the proposed cuts programme before the end of the 2025 calendar year. The university said it was able to do this because of the number of applications for voluntary redundancy currently received. The UCU union is holding an extraordinary general meeting today (Thurs May 1) to discuss this proposal with their members.
Trade unions say that staff still in-scope for redundancy in the cuts "need clarity".
The university said it will publish an interim timetable next week, showing what happens between the end of the cuts consultation and a meeting of the university council on June 17. You can get more story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
"That council meeting is the point at which we can give a definitive update on plans and their impact on staff and their at-risk status," the university said.
"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. Again we have committed to working in partnership together to assess the steps that we can take to ensure that we are looking after the health and wellbeing of our staff."
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Members of the UCU put the first planned day of strike action over proposed compulsory redundancies on hold after agreeing to talks with bosses chaired by the Advisory, Conciliation, and Arbitration Service (Acas) on April 30.
The union said that as a gesture of goodwill, and to allow time for members to consider any possible outcomes from these talks, it had suspended the first day of its planned strike action
All other planned industrial action is still set to go ahead. This includes an indefinite marking and assessment boycott, which could affect graduations, and action short of strike beginning on May 6.
The university announced proposed sweeping cuts, including erntire department closures, in January. Since then it has agreed to consider not closing the school of nursing The initial 350 job losses proposed have also gone down with many staff taking voluntary redundancy.
The full joint statement of Cardiff University executive board, the University and College Union (UCU), Unite and Unison:
Earlier this week, the University and College Union (UCU) agreed to suspend the industrial action planned for Thursday, in order for us to meet collectively to discuss the 'Our Academic Future' project.
We had very positive and constructive dialogue, and are grateful to ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) for their chairing.
Colleagues from UCU, Unite, Unison and the University Executive Board have all reconfirmed our strong desire to work in partnership together for the benefit of staff, students and our wider University community.
The University is able to confirm that, should UCU members agree to suspend all industrial action under the current mandate for 2025, the University will rule out compulsory redundancies for all staff connected to Academic Future or the wider transformation programme, before the end of the 2025 calendar year.
The University is able to do this because of the number of applications for voluntary redundancy currently received. The UCU will hold an extraordinary general meeting tomorrow (Thursday, 1 May) to discuss this proposal with their members.
Colleagues from the trade unions have emphasised the need for clarity for those members who are still in-scope. Valid questions have been raised about the outcome of the consultation process, and when staff will be informed of those outcomes.
We have committed to publish an interim timetable next week, showing what happens between the end of the consultation and the Council meeting on 17 June. That Council meeting is the point at which we can give a definitive update on plans and their impact on staff and their at-risk status.
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.
Article continues below
Again we have committed to working in partnership together to assess the steps that we can take to ensure that we are looking after the health and wellbeing of our staff.
