Unite the Union - Lancaster University Branch

We have received a letter, supporting us fighting redundancies at Lancaster University, from the local Labour party.

Lancaster City Council Labour Group strongly supports the University and College Union (UCU) and the other campus trade unions – UNISON and Unite the Union – in this current fight back against mass compulsory redundancies at Lancaster University. These are simplistic and draconian cuts to livelihoods that will impact on hundreds of local families. We
thank UCU for bringing this matter to the attention of City Council by speaking at the July Council. The Lancaster Labour Group expresses our solidarity with staff and their elected representatives.
The Labour Group completely rejects Lancaster University’s management defence of cutting over 450 staff as lazy and simplistic. We agree with UCU, Unison and Unite that this is a crisis entirely of senior management’s making. If left to proceed, the job losses will have a devastating impact on our local community.
Cutting 1-in-4 academic and professional services jobs will negatively impact the local economy, leading to reduced overall spending and a decrease in local investment. This ill-conceived plan of forced redundancies will directly affect over 450 families in our district with
a knock-on impact on local businesses – all because an external consultancy told Lancaster University the easy way out was to sack front line staff. Ever since Lancaster University Court was abolished in 2018, Lancaster University senior executives have become accountable to no one and increasingly divorced from the local community.

The Labour Group in Lancaster calls on Lancaster University to:

1. Withdraw the current ill-conceived redundancy plans
2. Re-think their financial position and look at alternatives – perhaps senior executive
   pay and re-restructuring to share the pain with staff rather than looking after
   themselves.
3. Work closely with campus trade unions and staff to develop alternative proposals
4. Engage with the local community and Lancaster City Council
5. Reinstate the Lancaster City Council representative to University Council
6. Restore University Court

We have received a letter, supporting us fighting redundancies at Lancaster University, from the local Green party.

North Lancashire Green Party (NLGP) stands with the Lancaster University branches of the University and College Union (UCU), Unison and Unite The Union, in calling for the threat of compulsory redundancies to be withdrawn.
We share the unions’ concern that the proposal to cut around one in four academic and professional services posts at the University has been made by the Senior Management without transparency, meaningful consultation, or demonstrable consideration of alternative ways to improve financial sustainability.
The University workforce has already been reduced significantly over the last four years, taking a heavy toll on the stress levels and mental health of remaining staff. We are deeply concerned about the impact that a further huge reduction in staffing levels would have on students’ education, staff workloads and morale, and the local economy and community.
For the benefit of the whole community of the district, we call on the University’s Senior Management to halt the compulsory redundancy process. We call for co-operative work with the trade unions, students’ union and all those bodies that represent and support the university community to build trust, share relevant information and develop alternative proposals for reducing costs and liabilities.
If this does not happen and union members vote to take strike action, NLGP will offer our support in solidarity with strikers and students.

There has been a meeting scheduled between the branch exec committee, the regional officer and the national officer to plan the ballot. Further information will be made available as soon as possible.

The government’s Employment Rights Bill was developed with unions and is currently being debated in parliament. The bill promises the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation. If delivered in full, the bill is set to benefit over 10 million workers, including many on low incomes, in the following ways:

• Sick pay: The Bill will strengthen sick pay provisions and ensure that every worker has access to sick pay from the first day of illness.
• Protection from unfair dismissal: The Bill will provide workers with protection from unfair dismissal from their first day on the job.
• Protections for pregnant workers: The Bill will strengthen protections for pregnant workers, ensuring they are protected from redundancy from the moment they inform their employer of their pregnancy until six months after returning to work.
• Parental leave: The Bill will grant workers the right to parental leave from their first day at work.
• Bereavement leave: The Bill will introduce a right to bereavement leave, including for pregnancy loss before 24 weeks, such as miscarriage.
• Flexible work: The Bill proposes to make flexible working the default and that any refusal must be reasonable.
• Union access: The Bill will give trade unions the right to access workplaces to meet, support, recruit, and organise workers.

In Solidarity,

Unite the Union, Lancaster Uni Branch Exec Committee

Dear Unite Members,

Below are updates on some key areas and information on pensions and becoming a rep.

Earlier in July, the campus trade unions met with our local MP, Cat Smith, to discuss the proposed redundancies at the University. Cat suggested we petition her to raise in Parliament before it was dissolved for summer recess.

Thank you to everyone that signed the petition – there was an overwhelming response and support. The following has been received from Cat:

“Thank you for recently signing the petition regarding redundancies at Lancaster University.
I understand how deeply concerning the situation is for faculty, as well as the impact this could have on students and the quality of education at Lancaster University.
This looming uncertainty is deeply unfair, especially during the summer months which should be spent relaxing and recuperating after a stressful academic year.
I have been liaising with the Vice Chancellor where possible and have been approached for support from the recognised trade unions on campus. With you action and the help of your union representatives, I was able to collect signatures and present a petition on the floor of the House of Commons, calling on the government to take immediate action to ensure Universities are supported in securing employment for staff and a high-quality learning environment for students.
The petition was presented on the 21st July 2025, you can watch this over on my social media www.facebook.com/catsmithmp and feel free to find out more information on my website www.catsmith.co.uk
I am committed to monitoring this ongoing situation and will continue to engage with staff and trade unions. As always please feel free to get in touch with me at cat.smith.mp@parliament.uk“

Yours Sincerely,
Cat Smith MP
Member of Parliament for Lancaster and Wyre

If you wish to watch the petition being presented in parliament, but not through facebook, you can do that here. Now that the petition has been presented it will be escalated.

Dear Unite Members,

Below is an update on the key areas Unite has been actively involved in recently, many of which are directly affecting our members.

In solidarity,
Unite The Union, Lancaster Uni Branch Exec Committee