University staff to strike for eight days in job security dispute

Staff at a Scottish university are to begin eight days of strike action after a union claimed management rejected an offer which would have guaranteed job security over the next six months.

Teaching staff at the University of Aberdeen, represented by its University and College Union (UCU) branch, will begin industrial action on Wednesday.

The union criticised the employer, claiming it has refused to guarantee no staff would be placed at risk of redundancy for six months as it seeks to make budget cuts.

The UCU had originally said it would call off strike action in April and May, and would not take any further industrial action for the next six months, if the employer had agreed to introduce voluntary redundancies and saved money on non-staff budget costs.

Union bosses said the strikes would now go ahead as planned.

Dan Cutts, UCU Aberdeen co-chair, said: “By rejecting our proposal to guarantee job security for six months, senior management have put staff livelihoods and the student experience at risk.

“Although the proposal was submitted last week, UCU were required to wait a further week for a response due to the principal’s absence in the United States.

“Throughout this period, we have consistently demonstrated our willingness to engage constructively and resolve this dispute.

“We will oppose these destructive plans at every stage, using every means available to defend our members, protect jobs, and safeguard the student experience.”

Mike Williamson, another official with the UCU, added: “Last week UCU put a proposal to University of Aberdeen senior management to call off our industrial action in exchange for a guarantee that nobody would be placed at risk of redundancy for six months.

“Yesterday we learned that they have rejected this proposal, to the great disappointment of staff and students.

“University court meets next week and will be asking questions about why this strike action could not be avoided. From UCU’s perspective it is clear who is to blame.”

A University of Aberdeen spokesperson said on Tuesday: “We met with UCU representatives yesterday but disappointingly fell short of mutual agreement.

“We remain unable to rule out compulsory redundancy, however have committed to prioritising every possible voluntary measure in seeking to avoid these.”