PLANS to cut another 170 jobs at the cash-strapped University of East Anglia will hit the youngsters attending too, Unison has warned.

Nearly 600 services jobs — cleaners, caterers and administrators — have been lost over the past two years, said the union.

Unison UEA branch secretary Amanda Chenery-Howes said remaining staff are being treated as “little more than numbers on a spreadsheet” and are already struggling with the increased workload as a result of the cuts.

“Staff have been going over and above to protect services, but these cuts are sure to hit the student experience: you can’t lose nearly 600 jobs over two years and maintain the same standards,” she said.

“UEA must commit to not making any compulsory redundancies and do everything possible to stop further running down the university; our staff must not be made to bear the brunt of the executive team’s mismanagement.”

A UEA spokeperson said: “We will continue to focus on providing an excellent experience for all our students. They will be supported to continue their studies, complete their courses and successfully achieve their awards. They will continue to be able to access a range of modules and enhancement opportunities and will still be able to benefit from all our support services, including wellbeing, mental health, learning support and careers.

"UEA intends to remain a dual-intensive university with excellent research and high-quality doctoral training provision. All staff and students have been updated on our plans. Those staff who are directly affected have received additional information about what this means for them, and support. Over the coming weeks, we will continue consultation with our Trades Unions. We have stressed that compulsory redundancies will always be a last resort.”