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OU faces threat of fresh strikes

Credit: The Open University

The Milton Keynes based Open University is facing the threat of fresh strikes by staff in a long running dispute over jobs. The University and College Union warned of walkouts on Tuesday if managers do not make a "fair offer" by tonight for staff affected by office closures.

The union said it wants a guarantee of fair transitional arrangements for around 500 staff in seven regional offices affected by a "massive" restructure.

"The Open University risks losing the experience and expertise of hundreds of staff members if it does not sort out transitional arrangements for its restructure plans.

We are fed up with its refusal to honour commitments made to staff and will be walking out on Tuesday if it does not come back to us with some serious developments. We remain happy to talk right up until Monday night's deadline but the ball is in the university's court."

– Pauline Collins, UCU Open University branch president

The closure of centres in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Gateshead, Leeds, London and Oxford sparked a strike last year.