Staff at Sheffield Hallam University staged fresh strike action this week as members of the University and College Union (UCU) protested job cuts, workload and welfare concerns; the walkout coincided with graduation ceremonies. UCU organisers say roughly 1,000 posts have disappeared across the city’s universities in two years, with academic and support roles hit. Sheffield Hallam management says tough financial decisions were necessary and that it has avoided compulsory redundancies so far. Separately, Lancaster University staff announced a work‑to‑rule campaign after leadership proposed cutting about 400 full‑time posts to save £30 million. UCU members at Lancaster are refusing voluntary extra duties and coverage for absent colleagues, a tactic designed to limit discretionary work without an all‑out strike. Both disputes underscore a sector‑wide theme: universities squeezing costs amid falling international enrolments and tight public finances, while unions press back on governance, transparency and the local economic impact of layoffs. Practical note: "work‑to‑rule" means staff adhere strictly to contractual duties, increasing operational friction.