NEW MP Laura Smith has joined staff from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) in urging chiefs to rethink their plans for redundancies at the Crewe campus.

University and College Union (UCU) members walked out on Tuesday, June 20, as 160 academic staff fear for their futures at the university.

MMU confirmed in February that it intends to close its Crewe campus in August 2019, once students currently enrolled on courses have ended their studies.

In a message of support to the strikers, former MMU Crewe student Ms Smith called on university managers to get back round the negotiating table with UCU to resolve the dispute.

She said: “I send my support and solidarity to striking staff at MMU. I know they would not have taken this decision lightly.

“As the Labour MP for Crewe and Nantwich I am especially concerned about the fate of the 160 academic staff who are currently in limbo.

“I urge management to hold off with the proposed redundancies and engage in a meaningful discussion with trade union representatives to explore all viable alternatives.”

UCU claims that strike action is a last resort, but that the university has rejected its request to postpone redundancies planned for the summer, snubbed its offer of further talks and even turned down an offer to involve the specialist conciliation service ACAS to help resolve the dispute.

The union also insists that MMU has reserves of £400 million, leaving ‘no rationale’ for refusing to pause this summer’s job losses or rule out compulsory redundancies.

“As a former MMU student who graduated with a degree from the Crewe campus, I know how important it is for many prospective students to be able to access higher education closer to home,” Ms Smith added.

“It concerns me that the decision by MMU management to close the campus could remove this opportunity from prospective students in my constituency, create uncertainty for existing students, and have a negative effect on the local economy.”

Strikes also took place in Manchester on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

A spokesman for MMU told the Guardian: “We have been open and honest from the beginning of the process that there will be job losses, but we will continue to engage with the UCU and other unions at a local level to minimise those redundancies.

“The university has had more than 270 individual meetings with affected colleagues and over 14 meetings with trade unions and this has ensured that a range of redeployment options are open to staff.

“Regarding MMU’s reserves, [the £400 million figure] is net of any liabilities such as creditors, loans and provisions made for pension liabilities.

“To realise the cash sum being quoted the university would need to sell all of its assets and pay any of the organisations to whom it is indebted. At that point, the university would cease to exist as a going concern.”