Dundee University staff to strike for five days over job cuts
It comes as interim university principal Professor Nigel Seaton told the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee last week that the total number of job losses would exceed the 300 already agreed through voluntary severance
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Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at Dundee University will take five days of strike action next week, beginning on Monday 10 November.
Staff will walk out each day from Monday to Friday, with additional action short of a strike involving working to contract, refusing to cover for absent colleagues and withdrawing from voluntary duties.
The strike follows a re-ballot in which 72% of participating members backed industrial action on a turnout of 58%. The re-ballot was required under trade union legislation, which limits the validity of strike mandates to six months.
Next week’s walkout coincides with the first anniversary of the then principal’s announcement of a £30m deficit and the prospect of compulsory redundancies. To mark the anniversary, campus trade unions are planning a rally in Dundee on Thursday 13 November.
Earlier this year, staff at the university staged strikes over job security and called on senior management to rule out compulsory redundancies.
Interim university principal Professor Nigel Seaton told the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee last week that the total number of job losses would exceed the 300 already agreed through voluntary severance.
Branch co-president Melissa D’Ascenzio said: “News that further job cuts are coming is just another shocking revelation in a year when staff have been told one thing only to be then told something different over the number of jobs to be cut and the need for compulsory redundancies.
“Last week was another example of staff hearing what’s happening to their jobs and the university via the Parliament or in the media. Throughout the past year, staff have continued to teach students and carry out world-leading research while not knowing if their job is secure.”
She added: “Staff are striking next week to defend jobs and to demand, a year after they first learnt about the debacle caused by the university’s leadership, that university senior managers finally rule out the use of compulsory redundancies.”
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “It’s galling that, once again, staff hear about more job cuts in the Parliament and in the media. It’s beyond time for Nigel Seaton to conclusively rule out compulsory redundancies. UCU members at Dundee have again shown their determination to vote for and to take action to defend jobs and protect the university’s long-term future.”