UNISON General Secretary Angela Egan at rally in the Forum, Southend defending 400 University of Essex jobs threatened by the proposed closure of the Southend campus.

University of Essex vice-chancellor Professor Frances Bowen has announced ruinous cuts as the institution struggles to tackle a £23 million deficit.

She plans to close down the Southend campus and slash around 400 full-time posts across the institution, split evenly between academic and professional services staff.

The university blames its financial issues on falling student numbers, especially among international undergraduates who pay higher fees.

But the cuts will make Essex a less attractive place to study, with fewer people delivering courses and supporting students’ time at the university.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Together we can stop the cuts.

Sign the petition

Staff, students and members of the public can also write to the vice-chancellor to urge her to abandon this deadly path.

Write to the VC

 

Support the strikes

UNISON members at the Southend campus now have a mandate for strike action. You can support them by donating to the hardship fund.

  • Strike Fund
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