Teaching and research staff at Lancaster University have started industrial action over plans to reduce hundreds of jobs. Members of the University and College Union (UCU) say the move threatens both jobs and academic standards.

The dispute stems from the university’s plan to cut about 400 full-time posts as part of efforts to save £30 million. Rising operational costs and a drop in international student numbers have contributed to the financial strain. Staff say they are being unfairly targeted to solve a wider budget problem.

As part of the current action, lecturers and researchers are working to rule, completing only duties listed in their official contracts and refusing to cover for absent colleagues. The action, according to the UCU, aims to pressure university management to reconsider compulsory redundancies and seek alternative cost-saving measures.

A university spokesperson said the institution is trying to make voluntary changes before considering compulsory redundancies. They added that Lancaster remains focused on maintaining teaching quality and supporting students during the transition.

Union Accuses Management of Misplaced Priorities

The UCU believes about one in four staff could lose their jobs. The union criticised management for continuing with a planned India campus despite budget concerns. Leaders called the project a “vanity investment” that diverts funds away from existing staff.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said the programme of cuts is “destructive.” She urged the university to open its financial records and explain how much the India expansion will cost. “Management must work with us to protect local jobs,” she said.

“If the university refuses, members will have no choice but to escalate to strike action before Christmas,” she warned.

Lancaster University employs around 1,300 academic and 1,700 professional services staff, teaching approximately 10,000 UK and EU students and another 3,000 international students.

In a statement, the university said it recognised the period of change was “deeply unsettling” but stressed that achieving financial sustainability was essential for the institution’s long-term success. “We do not enter this process lightly,” the spokesperson added. “These are difficult but necessary decisions to protect the student experience and secure the university’s future.”