Open University staff have gone on strike after the closure of its Birmingham office was rubber-stamped.

Up to 55 jobs are to be axed after the distance-learning educator confirmed its Harborne office was to shut.

Staff are staging a 24-hour walkout today, and are planning another on December 2, to oppose the cuts.

While workers will be offered an option of voluntary redundancy or relocation to a centre in either Edinburgh, Cardiff, Manchester, Nottingham or Milton Keynes, the University and Colleges Union (UCU) has branded that “unrealistic”.

The OU wants to centralise its support centres in three locations: Manchester, Nottingham and Milton Keynes.

Union branch president for the university, Pauline Collins, said: “Nobody wants to take strike action, but we have now been left with no alternative. The university needs to listen to our concerns and abandon these damaging proposals.”

An Open University graduation awards ceremony at ICC Broad Street
An Open University graduation awards ceremony at ICC Broad Street

MP for Birmingham Hall Green, Roger Godsiff, added: "The Open University was one of the finest and most lasting achievements of the Harold Wilson government. It opened the door to higher education for the poor, the elderly and those who had previously missed out on university.

"It would be a tragedy for its superb work to fall victim to the current passion for cost-cutting. It is vital for education to be accessible everywhere and to everyone, and benefits both individuals and the wider society and economy. I would be very sorry indeed to see the Birmingham regional centre close."

However, Peter Horrocks, vice-chancellor of The Open University, said: “This is an important decision for the University and its students as it means we can now introduce much-needed improvements to our student support services – something which simply isn’t possible across dispersed, smaller offices.

“No local services to students, including individual support for disabled students, will be withdrawn, however we recognise the impact this will have on affected staff. Our priority now is to maintain and improve services for our hard-working students while supporting our staff as we start to implement these changes.”

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