Strikes at three Scottish universities in one day

EIS members at Robert Gordon University took strike action in April

Staff at two Scottish universities are to begin a one-day walk out over the threat of compulsory redundancies.

Members of the EIS union at Robert Gordon University (RGU), in Aberdeen, and the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) said strike action was a "last resort" after the institutions refused to back down on plans to cut hundreds of jobs.

RGU announced almost 190 roles had been lost due to redundancies on Wednesday.

It means staff at three of the country's universities are on strike on the same day, after workers at the University of Edinburgh began five days of action on Monday in a dispute over budget cuts.

The University and Colleges Union (UCU) is also balloting staff at the University of Highlands and Islands for strikes in a dispute over job cuts and redundancy threats.

Staff at RGU took strike action in April over the redundancy plan.

The institution said 188 redundancies had taken place as part of cost-saving plans announced in November last year, but just 18 had been compulsory.

The remaining 170 roles had been voluntary severance, the university said.

However, the EIS described the job losses as "short-sighted" and raised concerns over an increased workload for remaining staff.

At UWS, more than 94% of members backed industrial action during a recent ballot.

Graham Jeffrey, a professor in arts and media practice at UWS, said "we are the steelworks of the knowledge economy"

Graham Jeffrey, a professor in arts and media practice at UWS, said he was worried about the 300 people who were on an at-risk list.

He explained: "The process has been really opaque, it hasn't been fair. Staff have had their lives pulled from under their feet because the university are threatening to take away their jobs.

"If we were a steelworks there would be a national outcry about this, but because we are a university for some reason people think it doesn't matter.

"But we are the steelworks of the knowledge economy. We produce all the people who can go to work in hospitals, schools, social work. The Scottish government and UK government are asleep at the wheel with this. It's a complete crisis."

Staff redundancies

The EIS general secretary, Andrea Bradley, said the planned cuts would have a "detrimental impact" on staff, students and local communities.

She said: "Both universities have failed to provide a no compulsory redundancy guarantee, and our members have been left with no choice but to take a stand by striking.

"Our members are resolute in their fight to defend their jobs and protect the quality of education at RGU and UWS.

"Staff are being forced to take strike action as neither university has made any attempt to resolve their respective disputes, instead deciding to push forward with plans to make staff redundant."

Staff are going on strike at the University of the West of Scotland

An RGU spokeswoman said the university had a "continuing commitment" to avoiding compulsory job losses.

She added: "The university is continually evolving to meet the needs of our students, staff, and the wider sector.

"This means we must remain agile and responsive to changing circumstances, which like any organisation may involve further adjustments over time.

"Any such changes will be approached with care, transparency, and a commitment to minimising impact, guided by our shared goal of long-term sustainability and success."

A UWS spokeswoman added: "As EIS colleagues know, a voluntary severance scheme is open, and it is hoped that this approach will avoid the need for compulsory redundancy.

"We remain in an ongoing consultation process with our recognised trade unions. Our approach has been transparent from the outset and our position regarding compulsory redundancies has remain unchanged."

UCU members at the University of Edinburgh have been on strike this week

In Edinburgh, UCU members have appeared on picket lines at several of the university's sites around the city since Monday.

It follows a one-day walkout over planned cuts, totalling £140m, in June.

The UCU said the university had refused to rule out compulsory redundancies as part of its savings bid, with as many as 1,800 jobs understood to be at risk.

They described the university as "one of the richest in the country," and said it could cut back on capital expenditure and building work, or draw on its "large reserves", instead of cutting staff.

Prof Sir Peter Mathieson, the university's principal and vice chancellor, said the institution was "facing serious and urgent financial challenges," adding it had been "transparent about the impact".