Higher education closed out a brutal 2025 with roughly 9,000 reported layoffs, and faculty and staff unions are moving toward job‑action votes at multiple institutions. Credit rating agencies and sector analysts cite workforce reductions and rising operating pressure as leading indicators of a difficult 2026 for many colleges. In the U.K., University and College Union ballots at four Scottish universities open amid proposed compulsory redundancies; UCU members are weighing strike action and targeted measures like marking boycotts. In the U.S., widespread December cuts and restructuring rounds have prompted faculty blowback, no‑confidence votes and governance friction at several flagship campuses. Labor conflict threatens instruction continuity and research productivity; trustees and presidents should consider phased workforce planning, transparent consultation, and targeted investments in retention for critical roles to mitigate disruption. Leaders: clear communications, early bargaining engagement and evidence‑based restructuring plans reduce both legal risk and campus morale damage during cost‑cutting cycles.