Dundee University staff vote for fresh strike action

The university faces a £35m deficit and plans to cut about 300 jobs

Staff at Dundee University have voted for fresh strike action over the university's continuing plan to cut jobs as it tackles a financial crisis.

The University and College Union (UCU) Scotland said that 72% of its members had backed strike action, on a turnout of 58%.

UCU members held three weeks of strike action earlier this year in opposition to proposed job losses.

Dundee University said it was "disappointed" the union had "taken this course of action."

Members of the University and College Union Scotland staged a three-week strike in February

The union represents academic and support staff at the university.

It said 90% of members voting would also be willing to take part in action short of strike which could include working to contract and not covering for absent colleagues.

The university currently faces a £35m deficit.

More than 600 job losses were originally estimated to be required, but that was later revised to about 300 through the use of a voluntary redundancy scheme.

Last week MSPs were warned further job cuts may be needed.

Richard Maconachie, from the Scottish Funding Council's Dundee recovery team, told Holyrood that generating income from new courses would help the university, but he believed it would also "need to restructure" going forward.

The UCU said it was "shameful" that staff still faced the threat of compulsory redundancies almost a year after news of the deficit was revealed.

Melissa D'Ascenzio, branch co-president, said: "Staff have been more than patient as successive leaderships at Dundee have failed to find a sustainable way forward for our university which can carry the support of staff and students.

"This renewed mandate and the overwhelming nature of the 'yes' vote, shows that staff are as determined as ever to defend the university, and to ensure the university's long-term future and protect jobs."

The union said it would consult its members over the next steps following the result of the ballot.

A Dundee University spokesman said: "We will continue to engage with all campus unions as we work with the Scottish Funding Council and Scottish government to secure a sustainable future for the university."