The first strike in a series of walkouts took place yesterday at the University of Sheffield as staff protested ongoing restructuring plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) voted in favour of the strikes earlier in the month, with a 9-day walkout planned to begin on the 6th May. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Staff and students formed picket lines in multiple locations across the University in response to management plans for large-scale redundancies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umberto Albarella, a Professor of Zooarcheology at the University and a member of the Sheffield UCU dispute committee, said: \u201cThere is a feeling that university staff are exhausted from working in such an unsympathetic environment and have completely lost trust in the management.\u201d
Mr Albarella added: \u201cI\u2019m a senior academic, I\u2019m on research leave, and I\u2019m 62. Through the strike, I will lose money, delay my research, and get no personal benefit whatsoever, but future generations will not forgive me for staying idle while their university is being destroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sheffield University are currently planning budget cuts to cope with the financial challenges facing many universities across the UK. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still, the Union are unhappy with the University’s inability to promise no redundancies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many students saw their classes cancelled with no prior notice during the day, and ‘alternative timetables\u2019, filled with talks to educate students on the strike action, were set up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n