Dundee University staff in strike threat

Almost 200 posts could be cut at the university to achieve savings

Staff at Dundee University have said they are prepared to strike over the threat of compulsory redundancies.

The Dundee University and College Union said members had voted "overwhelmingly" in favour of a strike ballot.

The university's governing body approved plans on Monday to cut 195 posts in a bid to save millions of pounds a year.

A voluntary severance scheme has been opened but the university said it could not rule out compulsory job losses.

Union President Dr Carlo Morelli said: "Despite a continuing dialogue between the academic union and senior management, management has so far refused to reject compulsory redundancies as a possible means of achieving financial stability.

'"This has led the union to consider industrial action to protect both staff jobs and the students' experience."

"Over 80% of those at the union meeting voted agreement to the union having a ballot on support for industrial action."

Unprecedented cuts

The union said it was "premature" of the university to make such decisions when the financial position was not fully known.

But Professor Pete Downes, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Dundee, has said the university needed to be prepared for unprecedented cuts in public expenditure.

He said the job losses were primarily about focusing on the "great strengths" the university had.