Fears for jobs as Sheffield Hallam Students’ Union threatens to axe 40 per cent of staff

Staff in the union’s commercial operations, helpdesk and marketing teams would be hit hardest by the cuts which management say are necessary to increase student engagement, prioritise representation, and decrease operating costs.

A formal consultation has been launched this week in which 40 per cent of Students’ Union staff have been formally placed ‘at risk’ of redundancy – although management say other suitable roles are being sought for some to minimise job losses.

Under the proposals, there would also be an expansion in the use of placement students on zero-hours contracts with around 15 redundancies expected overall.

Dan Bye, branch secretary of the Sheffield Hallam University branch of Unison, said: “Staff at Sheffield Hallam Students Union are facing an uncertain Christmas because of proposals which could lead to redundancies in the middle of a pandemic which has caused an unprecedented recession.

"32 members of staff, the vast majority of them permanent staff, have been formally placed ‘at risk’. The consultation on the Students’ Union’s restructure proposals, which concludes this week, could see the closure of the students’ union bar, café and helpdesk, as well as cuts in staff numbers across the organisation.

“The Students’ Union, which is funded by Sheffield Hallam University but managed independently, has argued that a reorganisation is necessary to increase student engagement and reduce costs.

"But staff, who are represented by the trade union Unison, have argued that the proposals will reduce face-to-face contact, impact student wellbeing and erode the student experience. Unison opposes redundancies, and is working with members on alternative proposals to defend jobs.”

Unison members working at the Students’ Union allege that years of ‘underinvestment by Sheffield Hallam University, the impact of COVID-19 on commercial activities, and longstanding staff dissatisfaction with the leadership and direction of the Students Union’ are to blame for the cuts.

Over 160 people have now signed a petition against the cuts which launched online on Tuesday.

Sheffield Hallam Students' Union said it is responding to the “changing needs of students to increase its levels of engagement with members and have the resources to invest in its long term future.”

In a statement, the organisation said: “The Students' Union has the ambition to reach a diverse tech savvy audience and react quickly to their needs. This equates to a change in priorities and practises, and a move towards digital services.

"As a response to these factors, the organisation is undergoing a strategic development process and intends to deliver services to suit the changing student circumstances.

“These changes have meant that very difficult staffing decisions are being made. A number of roles within the Students’ Union are now formally ‘at risk’, and we are working with our employees and their representatives to arrive at the best outcome under very difficult circumstances.

"We are hoping there will be a significant number of job roles that will be matched in to positions within the proposed new structure, in addition to new job roles being created for staff to consider.”