Bangor University vice chancellor faces no-confidence vote over job cuts

A Welsh university staff union has passed a motion of no confidence in Bangor University’s vice chancellor and chief finance officer over plans to implement job cuts and tighten budgets. The Bangor University branch of the UCU said the vote, held at the end of August after talks with university leadership broke down this week, signals a willingness to pursue industrial action in the spring unless conditions improve. The union described the current climate as chaotic for staff and students as the academic year nears its start, with departments uncertain about who will be teaching whom in the near term.

Bangor University, located in Gwynedd, announced earlier this year that it would need to find about £15 million in savings, a move that could affect roughly 200 jobs. In a statement issued this week, the university said it has had to "take difficult steps" to safeguard the institution’s future in what it called a challenging financial environment. The university noted pressures common to many higher education providers across Wales, including inflation, a higher National Insurance contribution and the broader economic effects of Brexit.

The UCU, which represents university staff, said formal talks with Bangor University representatives over the job-cuts package had broken down this week. Vivek Thuppil, the vice president of the UCU Bangor branch, told Newyddion S4C that staff were facing growing workloads and mounting stress as the autumn term looms. "For the remaining staff, there is a tremendous amount increase in the workload and staff are being pushed to breaking point," he said. "Students have already begun to move onto campus, classes are due to start in 10 days and departments don't know who is teaching what because they don't know who will be here in a couple of months. It's chaotic and it's having an effect on staff health and wellbeing."

The union said that more than 250 positions had already been cut through voluntary redundancies this year, with a further 13 potentially at risk of compulsory redundancies. The breadth of the restructuring has prompted concern among staff about the sustainability of service levels and the impact on students’ learning environments. The UCU will ballot its members for industrial action to be held in the spring, saying the membership is prepared to pursue action if jobs remain at risk. "Members are very angry — there is a lot of anger in the membership," Thuppil added, signaling a strong mandate for strike action if necessary to protect jobs.

In February, the Welsh government announced a £19 million package for higher education institutions to help relieve pressures. The UCU has argued that a portion of Bangor University’s share of such funding should have been directed toward safeguarding jobs rather than broader restructuring, contending that the money could have been used to maintain staffing levels and avoid compulsory redundancies. The union has called on the university to rule out redundancies for the 2025-26 academic year while the situation remains unsettled, though university officials say the long-term financial plan requires ongoing adjustments regardless of year-to-year financing.

The university has defended the restructuring as a necessary step to achieve financial targets and establish a sustainable operating model in a tougher funding environment. A spokesperson for Bangor University said the leadership team had worked closely with staff and campus unions to minimize compulsory redundancies by offering voluntary severance and redeployment where possible. They stressed that the changes were intended not only to reduce costs but also to improve efficiency and the university’s ability to support staff and students as income remains constrained. The spokesperson acknowledged the stress and uncertainty caused by the process but framed it as an unavoidable measure to secure the institution’s future. They added that the university remained committed to well-being and support for its community as the process continued.

The situation at Bangor University reflects a broader trend in Wales and the wider UK higher-education sector, where institutions have faced cost pressures from inflation, higher payroll costs, and the long tail of the Brexit-era funding landscape. While some universities have sought to shield core teaching staff from compulsory redundancies through voluntary severance programs and redeployments, others have faced protests and possible industrial action as unions press for assurances that cuts will not undermine academic standards or student services. Analysts note that the immediate challenge for Bangor will be to balance financial sustainability with maintaining a stable academic environment as the academic year begins and enrollment patterns begin to take shape.

University officials say they will continue to monitor the impact of the restructuring and are committed to communicating with staff and students as decisions evolve. The no-confidence vote signals rising discontent among faculty and professional staff over how the current savings drive is being executed and whether adequate protections are in place for those most affected. As negotiations resume and the spring ballot looms, stakeholders will be watching closely to see whether the university can navigate this period without compromising its educational mission or triggering prolonged disruption to campus life.