However, the union said the process was putting a strain on members, with many facing job insecurity and high workloads.
It also said staff had been “pressured to make up teaching lost” and had pay withheld during and after recent strike action.
The university said pay was withheld when staff breached their contractual obligations to not replace teaching missed due to strike action.
It said the policy, which affected about 50 of its 8,600 staff, was intended to minimise disruption to students and ensure they received the education they were entitled to.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said confidence was “at an all-time low” due to the “continued attack on staff” and called on vice-chancellor Prof Koen Lamberts to either change the plans or resign.
“There is no business or educational case for management’s plans and it is essential that governors listen to staff concerns and challenge the flawed management being led by the vice-chancellor,” Grady said.
“We fear these cuts are the thin end of the wedge and, unless urgent action is taken now, Sheffield staff and students will suffer real harm in the future.”
