Up to 188 jobs under threat as University of Sunderland and unions issue joint statement on redundancies
A spokesperson from the University of Sunderland confirmed it has agreed to the publication of this joint statement
Up to 188 jobs at the University of Sunderland are under threat as the university looks to manage £40m of cuts to its budget.
In October, the University and College Union (UCU) confirmed it was in formal dispute with the university, paving the way for possible industrial action over potential job cuts linked to the budget reduction.
At the time a UCU spokesperson said: “The dispute centres on the university's plans to operate 'on a budget that costs £40m less than it does currently' and will involve cuts in both staff and non-staff costs.”
The need for redundancies has been confirmed this afternoon, with a joint statement by the UCU, University of Sunderland, and UNISON, the UK’s largest trade union who also have members employed at the university.
The joint statement said: “A consultation process has begun at the University of Sunderland involving the recognised trade unions: UCU and UNISON. The first meeting took place on Wednesday 4 November 2026.
“Up to 188 posts are potentially at risk of redundancy. This is not a final outcome and includes a number of fractional contracts (part time).
“The university and the trade unions are committed to working together. Consultation meetings will take place weekly in November and into December.
“All parties recognise that this is a difficult situation that will create uncertainty. Following a request from the trade unions, the university has confirmed it will not issue any dismissal notices to impacted staff in this calendar year.”
A spokesperson from the University of Sunderland confirmed it has agreed to the publication of this joint statement. They also confirmed employees from all areas of the university’s workforce will be contacted about the option of voluntary redundancy, and that the proposed cuts are not specific to particular department areas.
The spokesperson also stressed that the consultation does not necessarily mean 188 jobs will go, and that this is the number of positions which are being consulted on.
The joint statement added: “As part of the consultations, the university has agreed to look at various ways to maximise the number of people who leave the university on a voluntary basis, rather than through compulsory redundancy. There is agreement on the need to avoid compulsory redundancies, wherever possible.
“Consultation will continue with a view to both explore and agree ways of avoiding or reducing redundancies and mitigating their impact wherever possible.”