University staff have gone on strike over “brutal job cuts”, a union has said.

Staff at the University of Winchester, who are members of the University and College Union (UCU), started their walkout on Tuesday morning.

The UCU confirmed they would also begin action short of a strike on Wednesday, including working to rule and refusing to cover for absent colleagues.

The University of Winchester said it was having to take action so it could continue to “deliver transformational education in Winchester and Hampshire”.

UCU said 79% of its members voted to strike as staff had faced regular rounds of redundancy since 2019, and morale was at an “all-time low”.

It added members were fighting against university plans to cut about 40 academic staff and increase workloads.

Barbara Loester, came to the UK from Germany to work as a lecturer and has been with the university for 15 years.

Speaking from the picket she said she is “gutted”.

“My job is under threat and is very likely to go and this for me means pretty much the end of my career in the UK,” she added.

James Beddington’s role as a senior lecturer in languages and linguistics is also at risk and he said he is feeling “anxious” as he has children in school in Winchester and ties to the town.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “University of Winchester staff have been forced to strike because management refuses to listen and is pushing ahead with compulsory redundancies that will have a devastating impact on staff and students.

“Our members have now faced constant redundancy cycles for half a decade, leaving morale at an all-time low.

“We are prepared to take further strike action next semester unless management begins meaningful negotiations over its threatened cuts and punitive new workload model.”

The cuts include the threatened closure of the climate and social justice institute, as well as the centre for religion, reconciliation and peace.

In 2021, the university faced criticism from students for what some called “a vanity project” after it installed a £24,000 statue of environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg.

A University of Winchester spokesperson said: “Universities across the country are facing very serious financial challenges, with real-term cuts of £6bn in tuition-fee income since 2017, and sharply rising costs.

“Within this context, the University of Winchester is acting responsibly in its use of public funding, by considering all cost-saving options whilst maintaining the high quality of its student education and support.

“Every effort is being made to secure savings through all means possible.”

It added the proposals were “not a reflection of the dedication and performance of those affected” and it was “having to take action to ensure that it can continue fulfilling its mission to deliver transformational education in Winchester and Hampshire”.