Management want to cut 400 jobs, but we know a better university is possible. We've posted our ballots - have you?

Just one act of vandalism after another at Essex right now - a university firmly embedded in a community that really needs it. Solidarity with everyone there, and hopes for a better future than this.

Meanwhile, in Sheffield:

Sam McLean @sammcleanntcc.bsky.social on Essex Pathways, the University's experts on foundation year provision. "[O]nce that department is gone, it's gone. It would take decades to rebuild the hundreds of years of combined experience that run it."

Pam Cox MP, former member of staff at the University of Essex, speaks out against redundancies and course closures 👏 www.facebook.com/reel/2288732...

What a way to say “thank you for all the work you did getting this trying term to a good end”: risk of redundancy letters to go into the Christmas break. Wishing triplet ghost visits upon Essex management. And sending much solidarity to all @ucuessex.bsky.social

Local MPs are visiting Southend campus tomorrow (12th Dec) at 9:30am, room TF.2.14.

Since they're not restructuring, they're putting us all at risk because there may be a diminished need for "teaching and research", which are... the university's missions I guess?

Ongoing decimation of British universities part 252: Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email. Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk

This @universityofessex.bsky.social, by the way: www.ft.com/content/2cdd.... The university that had been established to transform the region & society, swiftly dropping the programmes for widening participation the moment finances are tight. They were in the middle in 2024, what happened?

it's gutting to see access and widening participation initiatives being binned across the university sector. ELCE here at Bristol, Essex Pathways here. nothing pushes my personal, visceral buttons like the idea of denying academic study to someone whose life it could change

Foundation courses are under attack left, right and centre. I was a foundation student. It changed my life.

There are some people who would regard decreasing access to universities as a good thing. As the Second Doctor would say, these people must be fought.

It somehow is always the widening participation programmes that are the ones that get cut first, that get deemed dispensable. Shame on @universityofessex.bsky.social. Transforming society for the better is #UKHE 's role, Essex's in particular. Have you forgotten what you were established for?

they’re coming for everyone but hitting the parts with the most positive social impact hardest: campus in Southend that was part of regeneration plans which trains nurses & social workers our foundation programme which does incredible work none of the rest of us *can* do

In yet more devastating news, the VC has confirmed her plans to cut 80% of academic staff from Essex Pathways, our foundation year department. This would effectively close down all our existing foundation year programmes through the back door. But it's not a done deal yet. Please share urgently.

Solidarity with Essex UCU as they fight these unnecessary and devastating proposed cuts

One of our branch co-presidents, Jordan Osserman, talking on BBC Essex this morning about the devastating cuts to our University, and what needs to be done about them. Please share. We had yet more shocking news this morning - stay tuned.

No future plan. www.instagram.com/reel/DRzk2BF...

The threat to 400 jobs at Essex, in the lead up to Christmas is nothing short of cruel. We stand with every member affected. We will fight this. www.ucu.org.uk/article/1427...

Solidarity with all staff and students affected by this wanton act of vandalism.

Yet more cutting of HE provision in the South East that's not London. The coastal towns in England are among some of the most deprived in the UK - it's not just that present and future students are losing out, it's also the amount of JOBS being lost.

The University of Essex has announced it is looking to cut staff and close one of its campuses as it looks to create a more “sustainable” future. Juliette Rowsell reports https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/essex-close-southend-campus-and-cut-400-jobs

Extremely difficult news here today, I'm sorry to say.

honestly the most hurtful part of this announcement was the repeated supposed commitment to respecting everyone’s ‘dignity’ while announcing the closure of a campus on said campus in the middle of a teaching day

It's official: 400 redundancies and a campus closure. At-risk staff will get a letter next week. Absolutely no serious consideration of any of the union's counterproposals. Please share widely.

Solidarity forever outside the @ucu.org.uk office for UCU Yorkshire & Humberside staff in Leeds on day 3 of the @unitetheunion.bsky.social strike. #ReclaimUCU #SupportTheStrike #MOT

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