Alarm over job losses

The UCU university and college union is balloting members at the University of East Anglia for strike action after management refused to rule out compulsory redundancies.

The dispute concerns a threat to cut more than 190 staff, almost one in six, to meet continued budget shortfalls.

It is also balloting more than 1,000 members at Newcastle University over £35million in cuts.

The union says these will mean cancelling promotions, restricting travel and asking staff to quit via a voluntary redundancy scheme. The university has also refused to rule out compulsory redundancies.

The Equity performers’ union joined the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain and Society of Authors to campaign against proposed cuts to Audio Drama on BBC Radio 3 that it says will be “a devastating blow to the creative community”.

“It will mean fewer job opportunities for actors and writers, opportunities which historically have given a real platform to people just starting in their careers,” said Equity official Shannon Sailing.

The union also called on Bristol City Council to rethink plans to cut arts funding that “would do significant damage to jobs and cultural activities”.

Meanwhile, Unite says closing the Lloyds Banking Group Liverpool site, which employs nearly 500 staff, is a huge mistake.

The bank told staff they must travel to Chester but Unite says the impact of the longer commute will be huge and described the loss of important jobs from Liverpool as a blow.