Teesside University has been warned that it risks losing ¡°years of experience¡± if it follows through with plans to cut senior academic roles.

A planned restructure at the university will see it remove 39 principal lecturer posts across four different schools, the University and College Union (UCU) said. Twenty-five new roles are being created, resulting in a net loss of 14 jobs.

Given that these roles tend to have more of a research focus alongside teaching responsibilities, the union warned of a major knock-on impact on the university¡¯s operations.

¡°Between them, the principal lecturers under threat have years of experience in the?sector,¡± said UCU Teesside branch chair Terry Murphy. ¡°These are not people that we can lose lightly and without consequence.¡±

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The union said that the restructure would mean those currently in post would need to reapply for their jobs, take voluntary redundancy by the end of the month or risk facing compulsory redundancy.?It will affect departments across the university.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: ¡°Teesside University must urgently rethink these plans and work with us to find an alternative to job losses. Management needs to allow time for genuine negotiations or risk serious disruption on campus at a crucial time of year.¡±

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A university spokesperson said that its review of?principal lecturer roles has been ¡°carefully developed to align with the university¡¯s strategy and objectives and to provide leadership roles in the most appropriate areas¡±.???

¡°This will result in the removal of up to 14 roles which we anticipate will be concluded through a voluntary redundancy and redeployment process. We?are working closely with all impacted staff to provide full support at this time.?

¡°We have consulted with UCU throughout this process and do not anticipate any operational impact on the university as a result of these contained changes.¡±?

Meanwhile, staff at Imperial College London have confirmed they will start strike action next week over pay and working conditions.

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The university, which does not participate in national pay bargaining, has awarded staff a 2 per cent pay rise, above the 1.4 per cent offered by the employer¡¯s association.

But this has been rejected by unions because it falls below inflation. Imperial staff will now undertake 10 days of strikes over the next two months, after 77 per cent of union members voted in favour of taking action, on a turnout of 59 per cent.?

Grady added that staff are ¡°the backbone of Imperial and deserve an actual pay rise¡±.?

¡°It¡¯s a disgrace they are being forced to take industrial action to protect their livelihoods. Striking is a last resort for our members, but this action shows they have had enough and are prepared to fight back.

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¡°We call on Imperial to look again at its refusal to increase its pay offer and work with us to find a constructive path forward, or face disruption on campus across October and November.¡±?

The news marks further disruption to start of the academic year over?job cuts, with staff at?the University of Sheffield also voting in favour of industrial action?over a planned restructure,?and Edinburgh and Nottingham staff having already taken to the picket lines.?

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Both Teesside University and Imperial College London were approached for comment.

juliette.rowsell@timeshigheeducation.com