Sheffield Hallam University has claimed that there are “misleading elements” in comments by the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) regarding voting for strike action.
The union’s Hallam branch announced that a statutory ballot for industrial action at Sheffield Hallam University had opened on Monday, 15 April.
Original story: Ballot opens for strike action at Sheffield Hallam University
The UCU accused the university administration for making “poor financial decisions”, including excessive spending on new buildings, and for making controversial personnel changes.
The university was contacted for comments and has released a statement in regards to the situation.
In the statement, the university claims that there are some misleading elements in the UCU’s release that they are keen to highlight, specifically the number of compulsory redundancies and the claims around buildings.
A spokesperson from the university said: “We are disappointed that UCU has chosen to ballot members for industrial action, despite our engaging thoroughly with trade union representatives on plans that support maintaining a healthy financial position and keeping redundancies to a minimum.”
Regarding claims around the building costs in Sheffield, the university claims that the developments are to ensure that it continues to be “an attractive place to study and work” while it will also deliver “significant regeneration of a key getaway to the city centre and provide a new public green space for local people”.
As for its plans to new satellite campus in north-west London, the university claims that the project will diversify income as it will be delivered and financed by a private developer and the local authority.
The university also said, despite claims that 225 academic jobs were to be axed, approximately 120 redundancy letters had actually been issued to affected staff but have created new roles which are ring-fenced for applications from those at risk.
“We are confident that we will be able to keep compulsory redundancies to a minimum.”
The strike ballot will be open until Monday, 22 May.
