The article details widespread university cuts and restructuring in the UK, driven by financial pressures and government policies. Universities like Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Sheffield are facing significant job losses, program closures, and increased workloads for remaining staff. These cuts are being justified through performance reviews and are impacting various departments, including humanities and social sciences.
The University and College Union (UCU) is criticized for failing to adequately defend jobs and working conditions, instead focusing on negotiations and compromises that often result in accepting management’s proposals. The article argues that the UCU’s strategy of limited industrial action and reliance on legalistic approaches has proven ineffective in preventing these attacks on higher education.
The piece highlights specific instances where the UCU has accepted redundancies and restructuring, such as at QMUL and Sheffield. It suggests that the union prioritizes maintaining its relationship with management over defending its members’ interests. The article emphasizes the need for a more militant and independent approach, advocating for rank-and-file committees to organize resistance and challenge the union’s leadership. The author contends that only through independent, grassroots organization can university staff and students effectively fight back against the ongoing assault on higher education.
find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/06/17/cnge-j17.html