Dundee University staff to strike over five weeks at start of new term

Staff at Dundee University are set to strike over five weeks in a long-running dispute over cuts and job losses.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at the university will walk out for 25 days over five weeks at the start of the new academic year.

They will be on strike each weekday from September 21 through to October 23.

As well as the walkouts, staff will also be taking part in action short of strike – which will include not covering for colleagues or undertaking voluntary activities.

The dispute began in November 2024 when the then university principal announced an unforeseen deficit of £30 million and the possibility of compulsory redundancies.

Since then, 815 jobs have been cut and senior management announced in June further plans to axe another 200 posts.

Ian Ellis, co-president of the Dundee University UCU branch, said the impact of the strikes on students is “hugely regretful”, but further redundancies would impact teaching further.

He said: “Five weeks of strikes at the start of the new term will have a real impact for the students starting their studies here.

“Absolutely no-one wants to take strike action, and the impact on students is hugely regretful, but the fact is that another 200 staff members facing redundancy, on top of the over 800 who have already gone, will have a bigger impact on the university and on our students and their education than anything else imaginable.”

The Scottish Government previously said a multimillion-pound rescue package was provided by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) on the basis that engagement with unions and the wider university community would be undertaken.

However in June, Education Secretary Mairi McAllan said further evidence was needed that the institution was engaging with staff and trade unions.

Mr Ellis continued: “The deficit that started this catalogue of failure was the fault of the university executive and court, and the inability to find a solution to this crisis that doesn’t wholly impact on staff, who have done absolutely nothing wrong, simply signifies yet another failure of management.

“Government ministers are right to call out the lack of engagement with trade unions and staff. We want to be part of the solution to this crisis, but willingness to open and genuine engagement is a prerequisite for that.”

UCU members will also be lobbying court members outside the university campus on Thursday to call for senior management to rule out using compulsory redundancies.

Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said: “When the ballot for strike action was last renewed, almost 80% of members backed the action. Staff have shown time after time that they’re prepared to defend jobs.

“The Scottish Government has rightly been critical of the lack of engagement from the university. Senior management at Dundee need to listen to their staff and students and find a solution to this crisis that saves jobs and guarantees the university’s future.”

A Dundee University spokesperson said: “We are disappointed by UCU’s decision to take industrial action, especially over such a long period.

“We are particularly disappointed that UCU has decided to attempt to disrupt the life of the university when our students are looking forward to a new academic term, and we call on them to suspend this action.

“This remains a profoundly difficult time for members of our community. While we recognise the right to strike, this action will do nothing to help build a sustainable future for the university.

“Most staff will be working as normal across the university and we expect most classes and student contact time to proceed as normal. We will do all we can to mitigate the impacts on our students and ensure as little disruption to their studies as possible.

“We want to work constructively with the trade unions and have been in regular discussion with them, including on the ongoing collective consultation process.

“We would encourage DUCU to continue to participate in our consultation process, during which important discussions about our proposals for change are instrumental to meaningful engagement with all of our recognised trade unions and our staff.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Industrial action is in no-one’s best interests – least of all students’ – so while the Scottish Government cannot intervene directly, we encourage universities and trades unions to engage constructively and seek resolution to these disputes.

“It is well documented that the University of Dundee faced unacceptable financial mismanagement which led to its financial crisis. The Scottish Funding Council will continue to support the university as it recovers, and the university must engage meaningfully with staff and students if it is to access funding.

“However, we also appreciate the monetary pressures currently impacting the sector, including the impact of inflation and energy prices, UK Government immigration policies hampering international student recruitment, and increases to employer national insurance contributions.

“This is why we’ve launched the Framework For Sustainability And Success Of Scotland’s Universities, a joint evaluation with universities, trade unions, staff, and students to consider ways to address the challenges we face together.