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LECTURERS at the Open University (OU) began balloting yesterday on strike action against plans to axe more than 500 staff and close seven regional centres.
The proposals were confirmed by the OU’s governing senate amid protests from staff.
The OU employs 1,000 academics, 2,500 administrative staff and, with 250,000 students, is Britain’s biggest university.
Lecturers’ union UCU Open University branch president Pauline Collins said: “We feel we have little alternative now but to ballot for strike action.
“Axing over 500 staff across seven centres would be catastrophic to the Open University’s ability to provide the kind of support that students need.
“We hope the university will now see sense and work with us to find a better solution for staff, students and the future of the Open University.”
