ULSTER University's move to more remote learning for students in the new term has led to 50 catering staff being put on 30-day notice.
The redundancies are being made by Mount Charles, which for the last seven years has provided catering across the university's three main campuses at Belfast, Jordanstown and Coleraine.
A spokesman for the company told the Irish News: “The university has informed us that remote learning will be used extensively in the new term.
“We have been given no indication of actual student numbers or clarity if any catering service is required on site, therefore we are unfortunately left with no option but to take this action.”
The redundancies come just months after Mount Charles won a four-year contract to provide outsourced catering services to 14,000 students, staff and visitors at Maynooth University in Kildare.
Ulster University said: “The current challenges faced by Mount Charles and the wider hospitality sector are very regrettable for all those affected.
“Matters relating to staff employed by Mount Charles should be directed to the company for response. It would be inappropriate for us to comment further.”
Trade union Unison is urging the university "not to abandon" its catering staff, many of whom have given many years' service.
Regional organiser Marianne Buick said: “Our members are extremely anxious and fearful of what the next few weeks will bring.
“Seven years ago Ulster University outsourced its catering to Mount Charles despite our opposition. We feared this would lead to employment becoming more precarious, and unfortunately this now appears to be coming to pass.
“Since the middle of March all staff have been furloughed, receiving 80 per cent of their pay. Mount Charles has begun the process of consultation on redundancies because they are concerned over uncertainty in their contract with the university.
“This is an unacceptable state of affairs that is leaving our members as piggy-in-the-middle between the University and Mount Charles."
Unison is demanding that both the university and company take all steps to protect staff and must act immediately to clarify the situation in relation to catering across all three sites.
Ms Buick added: “Ulster University should remember that many of the workers affected have given it considerable service, including as directly employed workers before being outsourced to Mount Charles.
“They provide a vital service and the university cannot abandon them now.
“We have been calling for several years for the catering service to be brought back into the university. This should now be done to protect people’s livelihoods and the catering service itself.’’
