Staff at the University of South Wales (USW) are threatening strike action as the institution presses ahead with 200 redundancies. Campus union Unison warns that remaining workers are burned out and unable to provide the level of service students deserve.
Union demands rethink on cuts
Unison branch secretary Dan Beard said: "Staff cannot provide the same level of excellence to students with 10% fewer workers. The employees who remain will face impossible workloads. Some already report working 50 hours a week."
Beard added: "It's insulting for the university to tell staff more cuts are needed when senior managers won't be affected. No wonder they're asking for a ballot on industrial action." The union claims the university wants to create new management roles, including one paying more than £100,000 annually.
Voluntary redundancy programme underway
A USW spokesman said almost 100 applications have been accepted as part of the voluntary redundancy programme announced earlier this year. "Non-essential vacancies are being removed," they said. The spokesman added: "We announced in March that we were seeking to reduce our workforce by approximately 200 roles in response to ongoing external challenges. A consultation with some of our professional services areas and business school, and recognised trade unions, is now under way on proposals, which may regrettably include redundancies."
Wider financial crisis in Welsh universities
USW's cuts are part of a broader financial crisis across Wales. Universities face a combined £97m operating deficit, up from £77m in 2023-24. The 2024-25 deficit swelled by £20m, though some of the increase is due to one-off redundancy costs as institutions try to balance their books. University bosses blame falling numbers of higher-paying international students, largely static home tuition fees, increased costs, and diminished income.
Unison said USW has already shed more than one in 10 business and professional support staff roles in two years. The union claims the cuts disproportionately affect lower-paid workers while senior management remains untouched.
Impact on students and staff
Beard warned: "The university is stuck in a doom loop of cuts and must rethink its plans or risk strike action." He said remaining staff cannot provide the same excellence with 10% fewer workers, and workloads are already unsustainable.
The university maintains that the voluntary redundancy programme and removal of non-essential vacancies are necessary to address ongoing financial challenges. However, with hundreds of jobs lost and degree courses cut across Wales in recent years, the sector faces an uncertain future.
