Staff at the University of Sheffield will walk out on strike for the second time in less than six months next week in a bid to protect jobs.
Sheffield UCU members have voted in favour of taking industrial action from Thursday May 7 to Thursday May 14 inclusive.
When asked about the considerations the university will make for students during the strike period, a spokesperson from the University of Sheffield said: “The university is working to minimise any potential impact on student’s learning, teaching and assessment.
“As those undertaking strike action do not have to notify their employer in advance under British law, disruption might not be known in advance, but the university will try to notify students whenever possible.”
The industrial action is in response to the threat that changes in Chemistry, East Asian Studies, and Materials Science and Engineering “pose to job security in those departments, together with wider issues of ever-increasing workload and job cuts across the institution.”
In a notice by the SUCU Committee, it said “strike action is always a last resort” but, following numerous general meetings, they are “deeply concerned” about the threat coming restructures pose to the stability of the teaching body.
In addition to the strike, actions short of strike that may cause disruption include
- not covering for absent colleagues, vacant posts, or posts that are discontinued due to change management;
- not rescheduling lectures or classes cancelled as a result of strike action;
- not sharing materials relating to lectures or classes cancelled as a result of strike action;
- not undertaking any voluntary activities;
- not undertaking duties which are not commensurate with the grade of the post; and
- not using personal devices to conduct work.
One UCU member, who asked not to be named, said: “The last thing any of us want to do is to impact our students’ education, but these planned cuts must be reversed. We are lucky that our students’ have supported us in the past, and hope they understand that we must make our voices heard.”
SUCU negotiators will meet again with management to seek to resolve their dispute on Friday, 1 May, with hopes that the industrial action will “further incentivise management” to produce a meaningful offer and resolution.
This strike will be the first of 2026, with the previous industrial action spanning across November and December 2025.