Scots universities at 'crunch point' ahead of 'unprecedented' strikes
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow Caledonian and Heriot Watt universities are all taking part in industrial action this month.
Scottish universities are at a “crunch point” as thousands of staff across the country are set to take part in “unprecedented” strikes at the start of the academic year.
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow Caledonian and Heriot Watt universities are all taking part in industrial action this month.
It comes as talks over job cuts at Aberdeen University broke down on Friday after a union official was dismissed.
Nathan Morrison, Scotland official for UCU, said: “This autumn will see unprecedented levels of strikes and industrial action in Scotland’s universities with strike action across the sector and thousands of university staff taking part.
“Presently, we’ve either just had or are about to have strikes at Dundee, Edinburgh, GCU and Heriot-Watt universities where there are threats of compulsory redundancies.
“The strike action is in response to a funding and jobs crisis that is now acute and driven by poor management and decision making at individual universities, coupled with governance failings and the public underfunding of the sector.
“The job cuts and closures announced recently are on a scale we’ve never seen before. The sector is in crisis and we need to see emergency funding and action from the new higher education Minister and the Scottish Government.”
The Dundee and Edinburgh strikes will begin on September 28 and last for five weeks. Staff at both institutions are protesting cuts and job losses.
Glasgow Caledonian University staff are set to walk out for three days next week, with 11 more days of action in October.
Heriot-Watt staff were on strike for two days earlier this week.
Scottish Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Duncan Dunlop said Scotland’s world-renowned university sector was “at risk of demise”.
He said: “We are now at a crunch point. Our university sector that has been at the backbone of practical and intellectual innovation for centuries is at risk of entering a demise.
“It is incumbent on all of us to seek sustainable solutions. Universities need to reflect on their own model. The SNP government need to finally lead, instead of diminishing a proud sector via continual underfunding.
"The Scottish Liberal Democrats stand ready to work constructively with all partners to make sure further and higher education continues to excel in research and teaching and garners respect.”
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Last year the University of Edinburgh announced £140m worth of cuts, while Dundee needed a £40m bailout from the Scottish Government. Strathclyde University also announced plans to cut 70 jobs in December.
Scottish Labour tertiary education spokesperson Jenny Young pointed the finger of blame at the Scottish Government.
She said: “Our higher education institutions have been badly let down by SNP ministers who have consistently ignored warnings from the sector about the challenges they face.
“Universities Scotland has been clear that the major contributing factor in this crisis has been a drop in funding provided by the SNP government.
“It is well past time for the Scottish Government to wake up to the dire financial situation our universities are now facing, with students bearing the brunt of the disruption as a result.
“Ministers need to get around the table with university bosses, staff, and trade unions to find a resolution to the ongoing dispute.”
Meanwhile, talks over an ongoing dispute at the University of Aberdeen broke down after a trade union official was sacked.
A £10 million savings plan had been agreed earlier this year. It could result in 100 job losses.
Staff went on strike earlier this year because of the proposed cuts.
The UCU’s Mr Morrison said: "The Aberdeen UCU branch has pulled away from local bargaining arrangement at the university as a result of the dismissal of one of our senior reps.
"We will be engaging with management to try and resolve this, but I'm clear that the dismissal of a trade union rep needs to be met with a proportionate response from the union."
A University of Aberdeen spokesperson said: "We're disappointed that the unions have withdrawn from ongoing talks but we are committed to working to maintain a constructive dialogue as we go forward."
The statement added: "We don't comment on individual staffing matters, which are confidential."
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