Union members have vowed to strike after a university announced more than 100 redundancies among academic staff.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) said they will fight the job losses at Brighton University and criticised the institution’s use of finances.

The strike threat comes after the university announced 110 staff face the axe in an effort to save money amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Dr Mark Abel, chairman of the UCU in Brighton, said: “This is a threat to the livelihoods of individual members of staff and a threat to the quality of education at our university. Staff should not be made to pay for the failures of management.

“Staff morale was already low before this announcement, with little evidence of faith in the senior leadership.

"We have shown consistently that we will fight to defend jobs and conditions and to protect the quality of education at this university. We will do everything in our power as a union to defend our members and this university from this attack from above.”

Dr Abel also called on university vice chancellor Debra Humphris and the senior management team to resign.

Brighton University announced plans to make cuts to staff on May 4, citing “generationally high” levels of inflation.

MOST READ:

UCU said the university is attempting to make nearly £18 million in savings but has spent nearly £50 million on building projects in the last two years.

A Brighton University spokesman said: “As a provider of high-quality, skills-based education there are significant opportunities for us to continue to strengthen our position as we look to the future. The proposals for change we have shared with our staff today will help us to do that.

“The University of Brighton will complete its long-term plan to consolidate on our three Brighton campuses during 2024. This will enable us to provide the best possible facilities for our students and staff.

“We are funding this investment – including a new academic facility on the site of the former Virgin Active health club at Falmer – by a schedule of estate disposals, including the closure of our Eastbourne campus. This means we have been able to finance investment without taking money away from funding our day-to-day activities.

“We recognise that this is a very difficult and concerning time for our staff and we will be doing all we can to support those colleagues impacted by these proposals.”