Jobs ballot at Birmingham university

The UCU union is set to ballot lecturers at the University of Birmingham for strikes against compulsory redundancies and an “aggressive” management style.

The ballot will cover almost 1,000 workers and ends on 14 February.

The university’s vice principal, Michael Sheppard, has told lecturers that strikes could “put jobs at risk”.

The union plans to hold half day strikes from Thursday 28 February for three weeks, and a two-day strike in the fourth week.