STAFF at the University of Leeds will take part in a strike from tomorrow until Friday over changes to the university’s dismissal policy.

There will be three consecutive days of strike action following the university’s decision to amend its employment statute. The University and College Union says the changes will allow the university to allow employees to be dismissed for ‘Some Other Substantial Reason’ which the union has dubbed a ‘sackers’ charter’.

In a ballot of UCU members, two-thirds (67 per cent) of those who voted backed strike action.

UCU Leeds branch president Vicky Blake said: "The University of Leeds is insisting on an open ended catch-all power to dismiss staff on the grounds of 'Some Other Substantial Reason', posing a serious threat to our member's job security.

"We believe the change could enable the university to sack people for all sorts of dubious reasons and may restrict staff from pursuing new ideas or controversial topics within their daily work. UCU is also concerned that this sackers' charter could subject staff to third party commercial or political pressure over unpopular research findings, or could even risk staff being sacked for a breakdown in trust with a manager.

"Strike action is always a last resort but the university needs to urgently reconsider these damaging changes if it is to maintain the confidence of its staff."

A University spokesperson said: “The University is not introducing any new grounds for dismissal, it is simply modernising the procedures it would follow, in the interests of openness and transparency. Checks and balances that prevent any abuse of procedures have been included, and the principle and protection of academic freedom – a cornerstone of our constitution – is made explicit in all relevant procedures.

“We are disappointed with the decision to take industrial action, which we genuinely believe is unnecessary. We will do everything we can to ensure that students are not adversely affected. Only a small proportion of our staff took part in an equivalent strike earlier this year.”