Planned strike action at Cardiff University has been called off at the last minute after an agreement there will be no compulsory job cuts this year.

Members of the University and College Union agreed to suspend their plans in a meeting held today.

But the agreement does not rule out redundancies after this academic year.

Earlier this week, the University and College Union (UCU) agreed to suspend the industrial action planned for the 1st of May to meet with the University's Executive Board.

The University has ruled out compulsory redundancies for some staff before the end of this year, in exchange for the suspension of industrial action.

In March UCU members voted to Strike over proposed job cuts at the University.

At the time the UCU said "83% (of members) backed strike action and 86% backed action short of strike up to and including an assessment boycott".

It was in response to proposals made by Vice-Chancellor Professor Wendy Larner in January to no longer provide courses in Ancient History, Modern Languages and Translation, Music, Nursing, and Religion and Theology.

It left staff concerned that 400 people could lose their jobs.

The Vice Chancellor had said "difficult decisions" needed to be taken.

At the time a 90 day consultation period on the cuts was opened. In a joint Statement between the UCU, University Executive Board, Unite, and Unison published yesterday (30th April) they said "valid questions have been raised about the outcome of the consultation process, and when staff will be informed of those outcomes."

They've now committed to publish an interim timetable next week, showing what happens between the end of the consultation and the Council meeting on 17 June. They say that is when there will be a definitive update on the impact on staff.

In that statement, the UCU, University Executive Board, Unite, and Unison say "we want to recognise the very real human impact that the Academic Future project has had, and the level of anxiety felt more broadly across the academic and professional services.

"Again we have committed to working in partnership together to assess the steps that we can take to ensure that we are looking after the health and wellbeing of our staff."

Although UCU spokesperson described today's development as a “big victory”, the union warned that "over 1000 jobs still remain at risk and while the University partially reversed plans to end nursing provision, other Schools are still set for closure."

A Cardiff UCU Spokesperson commented “our members are still deeply unhappy with the restructuring process, and the way it is being delivered. For that reason, we’ve also decided to seek to renew our industrial action mandate when the current one expires.

"We truly welcome the new partnership-led approach the University has committed to, and we look forward to working much more closely together than we’ve been able to so far. We will be releasing a joint statement regarding the agreement in due course."