Weeks of strike action starts tomorrow over plans to "gut" Sheffield Hallam University, says union
The strikes may delay student graduations because papers might not be marked in time
A union starting weeks of strike action at Sheffield Hallam has slammed leaders for what it calls a “doom loop of decline” at the university.
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Union members at SHU will strike for 18 days over the next month, starting tomorrow.
The UCU warns the strikes will mean no marking will take place for the duration of the strike and may therefore delay student graduations.
Staff will walk out for weeks at a time beginning Wednesday, May 27, over what the University and College Union (UCU) calls plans to “gut” SHU teaching.
Specifically, management will cut up to £27m by the end of 2026, reportedly by axing 200 academic staff.
Another controversial measure is moving employees off the generous, industry standard Teacher’s Pension Scheme (TPS) by instead contracting staff under a shell company and not the university itself.
Over 1,000 staff have left or been taken voluntary redundancy in the past two years in attempts to save £60m.
The full list of 18 strike days planned includes:
Week 1: Wednesday, May 27 to Friday, May 29
Week 2: Monday, June 1 to Friday, June 5
Week 3: Monday, June 8 to Friday, June 12
Week 4: Monday, June 15 to Friday, June 19
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “This sustained action shows Hallam’s staff refuse to allow management to gut the university.
“The current financial woes are down to systemic governance failures, including a London campus that’s been beset by delays and looks more and more like a white elephant each day it remains empty. It is completely unacceptable that staff and students be forced to pay the price for these failings.
“Staff are fighting to stop the doom loop of decline that management appears wedded to.
“Senior leaders now need to work with us to protect jobs, conditions and student provision. Failing to do so is going to cause serious industrial unrest and could harm student graduations.”
The strikes will also see rallies at Hallam Square at 9.30am on May 27 and from 12pm on June 1.
A public meeting is also planned from 6pm on June 11 at Channing Hall.
The UCU also scolded the university’s new London campus worth tens of millions of pounds.
The union demands the university “halts plans to move staff over to a subsidiary employer, continues to allow all academics to access TPS, stops trying to degrade staff working and student learning conditions, and works with it to avoid compulsory redundancies.”
A Sheffield Hallam University spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that UCU have announced they intend to take industrial action. During any strikes, our priority will be to do everything possible to minimise the impact on our students and wider university community.
“Like all universities, we are having to make some tough decisions due to the financial challenges being faced across higher education. To date, we have been able to make significant savings without the need for any compulsory redundancies.
“With the overall financial picture for universities likely to be challenging for some time, it is clear that failing to take action would undermine the university’s long-term financial sustainability. We are focused on securing a stable future for Sheffield Hallam, while continuing to support our students, staff and wider community.”
It comes after the union held 16 days of strike action starting in November 2025 in response to an email from leaders in September stating plans to axe £23m from staffing costs.