Unions are threatening a spring, summer and autumn of discontent as a bitter row over University of Birmingham job cuts rages on.

Union members have voted for weeks of strike action in April, June and beyond over plans for cuts to pharmacology, engineering, and modern languages.

The Birmingham chapel of the University and College Union (BUCU) said the plans had left workers “let down and dismayed” and vowed to oppose any compulsory redundancy.

The BUCU said 95 per cent of the chapel supported the action, which is yet to be ratified.

However, if it were to go ahead, workers would walk out for:

  • A full week of strike action during revision week/summer term 2016 – April 25 to 29
  • Another full week during exam board week – June 13 to 17
  • Continuous strike action with one day of strike per week (alternating days) beginning with autumn term 2016.

The university said it was disappointed by the move and claimed it was working to offset compulsory redundancies.

The proposals could see up to 12 staff made redundant by August next year.

But BUCU spokesman Carl Chinn said the committee is now proceeding with all required formalities to set up the formal ballot.

He said: “We will not accept any compulsory redundancies.

“This just goes to show the strength of feeling among our members. People who have worked for this university for a long time feel let down and dismayed.”

A spokesperson for the university said to date there had been no compulsory redundancies across neuroscience and pharmacology, engineering, hydrogeology and modern languages and that it was working hard to avoid compulsory redundancy.

She added: There will be no compulsory redundancies in Neurosciences and Pharmacology at this time following recent grant awards. The redundancy consultation in modern languages is still at an early stage and all proposals are subject to consultation.

“We are acutely aware of the impact of redundancy proposals on individual members of staff and we take our responsibilities very seriously to minimise or avoid compulsory redundancy if we can.

"We are therefore extremely disappointed BUCU have decided to hold a formal ballot to decide whether its members wish to take industrial action, particularly when the University is continuing to try to mitigate redundancies and has acted in accordance with our agreement with BUCU on seeking to avoid compulsory redundancies arising from restructuring.”