Dundee University staff begin three-week strike

Staff at Dundee University have begun three weeks of strike action over the institution’s plans to cut jobs due to a potential £30m deficit.

The University and College Union (UCU) Scotland said that 74% of its members had backed strike action, on a turnout of 64%.

More than 450 UCU members, comprising academic and support staff, will strike each weekday for the next three weeks. It is expected lectures and classes will be cancelled.

Dundee University said the action was “premature” and had been voted for by less than 10% of the university’s staff.

The university currently employs more than 3,000 people.

Former principal Prof Iain Gillespie told staff in November that job losses were “inevitable” and blamed “an extremely challenging period” for the UK higher education sector.

Prof Gillespie resigned a month later after the university defended a £7,000 business trip he took to Hong Kong with a colleague.

Amanda Millar, the university’s court chairwoman, resigned with immediate effect last week.

The UCU said staff will be on picket lines outside the university’s Tower Building each morning of the industrial action and a rally will be held in the City Square on Monday.

Local branch co-president Ian Ellis said: “Every single member of staff is committed to ensuring the university’s long-term future.

“It’s not too late to save jobs and it’s not too late for senior managers to take action to stop the strikes.

“We’re calling on university management to rule out the use of compulsory redundancies and to work with staff and the union to deliver the best future for our university, our students and the city of Dundee.”

A Dundee University spokesperson said: “We have been in regular discussion with the unions since November and remain committed to meaningful consultation going forward.

“While we recognise the concerns of the unions and staff, we consider this action to be premature as we have not yet made a firm proposal.

“We will do all we can to mitigate the impacts on our students and ensure as little disruption to their students as possible.”