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More than 1,100 Cardiff University staff say they have been effectively issued with redundancy notices this week. They say alternative posts are not at the same level and their jobs are at risk in a second major overhaul at the university. The institution has insisted there are jobs for everyone in the latest shake up announced on Thursday, but staff say that's not the case as some alternative posts on offer come with a lower wage or different hours and conditions. One spoke of their deep stress at finding out their job had gone so close to Christmas . A senior professional services staff member said: “I am being asked to make a major decision about whether to take voluntary redundancy without any understanding of what my future role will look like, after spending the majority of my career working for this institution. "This is creating significant stress, particularly as the decision falls so close to the Christmas period, a time that should be spent with my family rather than facing uncertainty about employment and income.” Cardiff faces a £30m black hole whilst collectively universities in Wales have a £77m+ deficit Cardiff University bosses announced on Thursday that they are re-organising non academic staff following bruising cuts, job losses and department closures among academics. Academic cuts at Cardiff University were finally agreed by its ruling council in June after six months of rows, demonstrations, public outcry and job losses. Under the latest overhaul unions said more than 1,100 non-academic staff have received notice that their roles are at risk The university said this was a necessary part of the legal process but was adamant there were jobs for all those told their current roles will go. S i gn up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . A university spokesperson said: "Impacted staff have not been issued with notice of redundancy." The spokesperson added: "For the avoidance of doubt there will be roles for everyone in the new structures proposed. No compulsory redundancies are planned as part of these proposals. "However, a precautionary Section 188 notice has been issued to our recognised Trade Unions and impacted staff have received formal notification of the proposals as part of this process. This is our agreed consultation process. It ensures that employees’ rights are protected and everyone has a voice throughout the consultation period. "It has been issued as proposals could remove at least 20 existing posts whilst creating new roles or adapting roles as part of redesigning our services and structures. "Again, it is important to stress that posts do not equate to people and engagement will be undertaken with teams and individuals to help them understand what the proposals mean for them. We appreciate that this consultation will cause some staff to be concerned about the personal impact. We would encourage staff to engage fully with the consultation process.” But Unite and UCU unions insist that in what is the second massive restructuring at the university in 10 months formal S188 notice of risk of redundancies were issued to the three campus trade unions on November 6. Non academic staff employed in the university's colleges, schools, and education and student support services are all potentially affected by the proposals. Their roles are in what is known as professional services. The UCU said these staff "keep the university running". "University management say they want to avoid compulsory redundancies, but the proposals remove and downgrade many jobs and open a voluntary redundancy scheme for those staff," the union said. "Together with the 1,800 academic staff who were put at risk of redundancy in January 2025, Cardiff University has now put at least 41% of their overall staff at risk of losing their current jobs in a single year. "University staff are already under enormous pressure after a new timetabling system was imposed by senior management over the summer. This process led to chaotic scenes with multiple classes scheduled for the same tutor at the same time, classes scheduled in non-teaching rooms such as x-ray theatres, students timetabled for back to back classes on different campuses with no time to travel between them, and in one case 100 students sent to a toilet block instead of a lecture theatre. "Already overstretched, professional services staff have had to work non-stop (including over weekends) to contain the crisis." A UCU union representative said “Our professional services staff have been breaking their backs to keep this institution running. The restructures imposed by management have created chaos for academics and students, leaving professional services staff to pick up the pieces. "To leave thousands of these staff with no idea what type of job they will return to after Christmas is cruel. The only way this university keeps on its feet is through the goodwill of all its workers.” A Unite representative added: “Professional services staff have worked tirelessly to keep the university running. In the past year 356 roles were removed through voluntary severance and vacancy controls, creating enormous workload pressures. "Now, over 1,100 staff are part of a formal consultation involving major role changes. Launching this process before the festive season is deeply concerning and risks eroding staff goodwill. We urge leadership to act with transparency, empathy, and genuine collaboration.” The Cardiff Branch of UCU is currently preparing for a ballot on taking possible strike action to protect jobs and prevent overwork. It could mean students facing further disruption to their studies in the new year. Meanwhile 187 academic staff still remain in scope for redundanct after a first round of cuts was agreed by the University Council. The university's council approved the previous "painful but necessary" plan for academic staff which sees departments close and jobs lost to save £22m a year. But it warned then that the move would still not close the financial hole the institution faced. Wales's university's face a combined deficit of more than £77m. They have blamed rising prices, static home tuition fees and falling numbers of higher paying international students for the crisis. Some universities also face steep interest payments for money borrowed for new buildings to woo applications and stay competitive in an inceasingly tough education market.
