SHEFFIELD Hallam University staff began four weeks of strike action today in a row over pensions, jobs and working conditions. 

Student graduations may be delayed as no marking will take place during the strike, warned University and College Union (UCU).

Union members will picket on every day of the action, which runs until Friday this week and weekdays until June 19.

The dispute is over a threat from management to cut costs by £27 million by the end of the academic year. 

This includes axing up to 200 academics from across the university, forcing teaching staff from university employment and into a subsidiary company, denying new starters access to the industry-standard Teachers’ Pension Scheme, increasing maximum teaching hours, and tearing up national agreements on pay progression.

Some 88 per cent of UCU members backed the action in a strike ballot with a turnout of 73 per cent.

A Sheffield Hallam University spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that the UCU is taking industrial action.
 

“Like all universities, we are having to make some tough decisions due to the financial challenges being faced across higher education.
 

“With the overall financial picture for universities likely to be challenging for some time, it is clear that failing to take action would undermine the university’s long-term financial sustainability.”