The University and College Union (UCU) and Union have both issued statements ahead of planned strike action.

The University of Essex is facing more strikes as part of an escalating row and will see nine days of strikes this month, as staff protest against plans to close its Southend campus, cut 400 jobs, and reduce courses.

The latest industrial action will begin on Thursday, March 5, and continue on Friday, March 6, with further walkouts planned for March 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, and 19.

Staff will form picket lines on each strike day, following seven days of action last month and ongoing action short of a strike since February.

Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), said: “University staff are back out on strike in an attempt to rescue the University of Essex from the ruinous path management is taking.

“We won’t allow senior managers at the university to decimate the staff body, harm student learning, and shut down the only higher education provision in the city of Southend.

“Our members are not only going on strike; many have also cut their hours and pay to reduce the institution’s outgoings and help protect it from the financial failings of their own senior managers.

“Those managers should now look at cutting their own pay, rule out compulsory redundancies, and start trying to resolve this dispute.”

UCU is urging the university to work with them to protect jobs.

According to the UCU statement, university management recently confirmed it has made more than £10million in savings – over half of its target – through reduced hours and voluntary redundancies.

The university originally said it intended to axe 200 academic and 200 professional staff.

Caroline Hennessy, Unison Eastern regional officer, said: “Staff won’t sit idly by while senior managers take a wrecking ball to the University of Essex, putting short-term business interests ahead of students’ education.

“Unison professional services staff fully support the stand UCU members are taking.

“They will stand shoulder to shoulder to defend the university on the march next weekend and on the picket lines soon.”

A rally to support the Southend campus will take place on Sunday, March 8, at 1pm.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the university said: “The University of Essex is committed to doing everything it can to make sure that any industrial action affects our students as little as possible.

“The university will remain open on all campuses to support the delivery of education and research.

“The library, IT and student support services will be available as normal for students, as will on-campus study and recreational facilities.

“The university will continue to work extremely hard to safeguard our students’ learning outcomes and student experience during this time.

“We are aware of the worry the situation may cause, and will be communicating regularly with our students, ensuring they know that support is available, should they need it.”