The threat of industrial action at Holloway’s London Metropolitan University may become a reality this week, as students and staff members anxiously await the results of a ballot this Friday. The vote follows the announcement earlier this year of proposals which campaigners say may lead to 120 job cuts at the institution.
Glyn Robbins is one of those affected. The 61-year-old senior lecturer made the career pivot from housing management to academia about four years ago. He now fears of losing his position after his job title appeared in an email by the university listing roles at risk of being cut.
According to Robbins, the announcement in early January said most jobs at risk are academic and support staff from the School of Social Science and Professions. “I think it was 100-plus jobs just in our school that they’re deleting and mine’s one of them,” Robbins added.
No final decision on the cuts has yet been made, according to the London Met. But a spokesperson told Islington Now: “Schools across London Metropolitan University have concluded a 45-day formal consultation process involving staff and recognised trade unions. All responses are now being carefully considered, and no decisions have been made. We recognise that this has been an unsettling time for colleagues and that uncertainty causes real concern.”
Since the announcement in early January, staff and students have been protesting the job cut proposals and demonstrations have been attended by the likes of Jeremy Corbyn, the MP for Islington North and former Labour leader. Most recently, on 2 March, the University and College Union (UCU) hosted an online solidarity rally.
“I’ve been pleasantly surprised because we got a lot of support from other members of staff, but in a way equally and maybe more importantly, a lot of students have been really supportive,” Robbins said.
Christina Paine, UCU branch chair at London Met, said what struck her the most at recent rallies was the large number of students involved in the campaign. Students have told her that they are “heartbroken and worried for their futures and the reputation of their courses and degrees”.
The move by London Met will impact Robbins’s career. He’s relatively new to academia and passionate about his area of study. “I’m 61, so I’m obviously going to be at somewhat of a disadvantage when it comes to getting a new job,” he said.
Financially, it could threaten his only source of income. Yet he described himself as one of the “lucky unlucky ones” given that he owns a property and has grown-up children. “But it will have a financial impact. There’s no question about that,” he added.
Robbins fears for his colleagues who face far worse repercussions. “I do look around at some of my colleagues who might be in their thirties, just beginning their academic career, maybe just taking on a mortgage, maybe got small children. This is disastrous,” he said.
According to Robbins, the impact on students will be terrible. “This is going to reduce the amount of teaching time they get, probably going to increase class sizes, [and] reduce supervision and support,” he said.
Robbins said that mentoring staff, especially important for students with learning difficulties, are also at risk of being cut. “To dismantle the structures that provide that diversity is an act of vandalism and damage to students,” Paine said.
Beata, a PhD student who is neurodivergent, will lose both of her PhD supervisors should the cuts go ahead. “As a neurodivergent student, that relationship is particularly important for me, as my supervisors understand how I work and how to support my research,” she said.
The institution is being critiqued by some for not living up to its commitment to diversity and empowerment. The fact that the university has predominately been attended by people of colour and working-class communities is hard for Robbins and Paine to ignore. “They’ve [the senior management team and Board of London Met] got a particular vision for the university that I think is at odds with its history,” Robbins said.
A spokesperson at London Met responded: “Our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and to the quality of education our students receive, remains at the heart of everything we do and will continue to guide every decision we make.”
A reduction in international students has affected funding at London Met and is reflective of a nationwide decline. Home Office statistics showed a 14% drop in student visa applications in the 2023/24 year compared to the previous 12 months. But the university’s funding issues and management of funds has been called into question by campaigners.
“We know that they’re committed to spending 2 million pounds a year on building improvements, building new cafés and entrances to the university. I don’t think most students care about those things. They’re getting rid of all the mentoring staff, which are really important for students who might struggle with keeping up, so you know it’s a terrible situation,” Robbins said.
A spokesperson at London Met said: “Like the majority of UK universities, London Met is navigating significant financial pressures: government policy changes, rising employer pension and National Insurance costs, inflationary pressures, and a sustained fall in international student recruitment. Regulated tuition fees no longer cover the full cost of teaching. We have taken early and sustained action to control costs, but further action was needed to secure the University’s long-term financial sustainability and its ability to support students, staff, and the communities it serves.”
For Robbins and Paine, the response from London Met to their protests has been quiet and dismissive. “They’re not engaging, they’re not providing us with information. There’s no actual discussion or collaboration or care about what we think,” Robbins said. While according to Paine, the union has only had one negotiation meeting with the university which she described as “rushed”.
Robbins and many other campaigners anxiously wait to find out the results of the ballot on Friday that determines whether industrial action will proceed.
“I hope that my colleagues will see that we’ve got to fight. We’ve got to fight for our jobs, but we’ve got to fight for the future of London Met,” Robbins said.
Claudia Efemini is an MA Newspaper Journalism student at City St George's, University of London. She has previously written for BBC Africa and BLK Brit covering Africa and the diaspora across news, culture, and business.