By Abbie Wightwick

Copyright walesonline

Cuts have left a Welsh university in chaos with only two weeks to go before term starts, academic union UCU claims. With 200 jobs gone in the latest savings at Bangor University there is no clarity on who will be teaching what, the branch chair said. Members have passed a motion of no confidence in vice chancellor Professor Edmund Burke and chief financial officer Martyn Riddleston. The vote was passed at an extraordinary general meeting on August 18 by members of Bangor UCU with no opposition to the motion. The branch leadership said it delayed the publication of the vote with the aim of reaching a negotiated settlement with management. Now the branch said “university management have decided to plough ahead with their cuts strategy” so they have gone public. Bangor’s latest job losses were a bid to save more than £15m with higher education across the UK beset by rising costs and a fall in numbers of higher paying international students. You can get more story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here . Bangor UCU vice-president Vivek Thuppil said: “Our members have been pushed to breaking point. With the departure of hundreds of staff already they are already facing impossible workloads. “With only two weeks to go until classes begin departments still do not have clarity on who is teaching what.” One staff member said: “Senior management have not been forthcoming about their financial plans moving forward beyond some unspecified comments about pursuing growth.” Read more: University and college applications in Wales show one major difference to every other UK nation Read more: The full ranking of Wales’ universities revealed in Complete University Guide In February, during an ongoing a row over sweeping cuts at Cardiff University and warnings that the higher education sector was in crisis , the Welsh Government announced £18.5m for institutions to help with pressures. UCU members claim this money has not been used to save jobs at Bangor. At the extraordinary general meeting they expressed “indignation” that the “financial lifeline” of nearly £1.4m given to Bangor University , as its slice of the £18.5m, had not been spent in a way that would protect jobs. Mr Thuppil said: “After persistent questioning the CFO Martyn Riddleston finally admitted that the funding meant to provide breathing space to universities was spent on the medical school . “Whilst management claim that the tertiary education regulator Medr did not convey any government intent behind this funding to save jobs it nonetheless represents a disqualifying lapse in judgement on the part of the university leadership to spend these additional taxpayer funds on unplanned infrastructure at the same time as moving to make staff compulsorily redundant.” The motion at the extrordinary meeting in August criticised the vice chancellor and chief financial officer for what it said was not understanding the Welsh educational landscape and for undermining historically constructive industrial relations at Bangor University. A staff member said: “Historically we had a partnership between management and union, this has now been turned on its head.” Bangor University UCU branch is now preparing a formal industrial action ballot potentially causing disruption during the autumn term. “The threat of industrial action will remain unless the university management issue a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies for the 2025-26 academic year and rescind any compulsory redundancy notices that might have already been issued,” the branch said. Asked to respond to the vote of no confidence, and other criticisms from the UCU, Bangor University said in a statement: “Bangor University, like many institutions across the sector, is facing significant financial challenges. “The recent restructuring was a difficult but necessary step to help us meet financial targets and secure essential savings. “Over the past year the executive board has worked closely with colleagues and campus trade unions working hard to avoid compulsory redundancies by offering voluntary exits and redeployment wherever possible. “Over 200 staff have left the university through retirement, resignations, or voluntary severance – less than 10 posts remain at risk. “Our focus has not only been on reducing costs but also on improving efficiency and creating a sustainable operating model that supports staff and students in the context of reduced income. “We recognise that restructuring has caused stress and uncertainty for staff and students and we remain committed to supporting the wellbeing of our community. “This exercise, however, was an unavoidable and essential part of securing the university’s long-term future in a highly challenging HE environment.” Universities in Wales estimate a combined deficit of at least £70m at the end of the last academic year. The extra £18.5m from the Welsh Government took the total it has given to universities in the 2024-25 financial year to more than £50m.