London Metropolitan University Graduate Centre. Image: http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/

The staff at London Metropolitan University have voted to strike in protest over 165 job cuts.

Campaigners have asked the university to reconsider their decision, saying London Met University has a  ‘strong record’ in educating people from disadvantaged groups.

They say job cuts could hinder their achievements.

But the university says it needs to reduce costs in line with its student numbers.

University and College Union (UCU) members will meet later to discuss what form the action should take.

Last night they tweeted:

UCU members at London Metropolitan University vote to strike over job cuts ucu.org.uk/7509#.VVDAZ3VK…

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UCU (@ucu) May 11, 2015

Over two-thirds of UCU members voted for strike action.

Members of its sister union ‘UNISON’  are voting in a separate ballot, which will come to a  close on the 22nd of  May.

They opened their vote on 2nd of may tweeting:

LondonMetUNISON members, your ballot papers are arriving from today: Vote YES and YES to defend jobs and education http://t.co/Rc7QArmUIo

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London Met UNISON (@LondonMetUNISON) May 02, 2015

Both academic and professional support workers’ posts will be closed under the university’s proposals.

Staff and students will also lobby the university’s board of governors at their general meeting tomorrow.

The unions say the cuts will damage a university that has made great progress in helping minority groups in higher education.

The campaign argues the university has a track record in ‘providing educational opportunities for some of the most disadvantaged groups in society.’

In the academic year starting September 2012, nearly half the students at London Met were from minority ethnic groups, and about half were from the poorest groups in society.

UCU’s regional official Barry Jones said:

Nobody wants to be on strike and we remain open to sitting down to explore a better way forward than these job losses.

Far from further cutbacks, this university is in desperate need of investment to expand access to education.

A spokesman for London Met University  said:

…costs were too high. We therefore need to reduce our cost structure to be more in line with our student numbers, as well as universities in the capital similar to London Met.

Various university campaigns are being promoted on twitter urging people to persuade the University to reverse the decision on job cuts.

Stop the savage cuts at London Met. Sign the open letter to the governors uculeft.org/2015/05/stop-t… #ucu #highered

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UCU Left (@UcuLeft) May 08, 2015

Please consider signing this letter to London Met board of govs to stop the proposed mass job cuts ucu.org.uk/stopthelondonm… #HandsOffLondonMet

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Terese (@missing_words) May 02, 2015

London Met Uni: No more jobs cuts - stop the spiral of decline change.org/p/london-met-u… via @UKChange

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sean vernell (@62Seanv) May 02, 2015