Staff, students and members of the public will come together to help save the Southend campus of the University of Essex this weekend, UNISON says today.
They will march and rally through the city on Sunday (8 March) urging the university to keep higher education in Southend.
People will gather at 1pm at the top of Pier Hill before marching to Broadway for a rally outside the Odeon where staff and students will speak.
University bosses announced plans in December to slash 400 jobs and close its Southend campus as they aim to tackle a £24m deficit.
Staff have already voluntarily provided £10m of savings – more than half the university’s target for the year – by limiting their hours or taking voluntary redundancy, but university leaders say they are ploughing ahead with the closure.
University and College Union members staged a week-long strike last month and are launching an escalating programme of walkouts today.
UNISON members at Southend are currently voting on whether to join them on the picket lines, with the result expected later this month.
UNISON University of Essex branch secretary Ryan McCready said: “This campus brings life to Southend, filling hospitals with nurses and midwives, providing social workers for local councils and honing enterprise skills for the city’s budding entrepreneurs.
“Closing the campus wouldn’t just be a disaster for the staff losing their jobs or the students forced to traipse to Colchester to complete their education. It would leave a gaping hole in the city itself.
“That’s why residents, staff and students are coming together with a clear message – stop these cuts and save Southend campus.”
University and College Union general secretary Jo Grady said: “Staff, students and the people of Southend will be out in force on Sunday to stop the University of Essex from shutting down the only higher education provision in the city.
“Management now needs to look at the strength of feeling from the whole community and think again.”
Southend student Beth Orchard said: “People are still shocked and angry at the way senior leaders have handled this situation for both students and staff.
“We deserve better and we’ll continue to protest for the students, staff, and local community. This closure will affect all of us.
“Our education is important to us and we’ll keep fighting to defend it.”