Staff at Glasgow Caledonian University to be balloted on strikes

The University and College Union (UCU) is considering industrial action at Glasgow Caledonian University.

The dispute centres around plans to cut 100 jobs through a voluntary redundancy scheme, with compulsory redundancies not ruled out.

The University and College Union (UCU) is considering industrial action at Glasgow Caledonian University. (Image: Gordon Terris)

Industrial action is already underway at universities across Scotland, including Aberdeen, Dundee, Heriot-Watt, and Strathclyde.

The University of Edinburgh is also set to be affected by strikes next week.

Karen Lorimer, UCU branch president, said: "Workers have already shown that we’re willing to take a stand against these cuts, jobs losses and compulsory redundancies.

"The turnout at our rally, the support from students, and the evident anger at management’s proposals are clear signals that workers represented by the campus unions will defend jobs.

"Management need to know that any use of compulsory redundancies is unacceptable.

"We’re calling on the principal and management to open the books and for full financial transparency.

"We’ll work with management to look for alternative savings but we’re clear that no jobs should go until all possible alternatives have been tried."

The dispute centres around plans to cut 100 jobs through a voluntary redundancy scheme, with compulsory redundancies not ruled out. (Image: Gordon Terris)

The ballot at Glasgow Caledonian University asks staff whether they are willing to take strike action or action short of a strike.

The ballot will close on Thursday, April 23.

Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said: "Jobs are being lost across Scottish higher education like never before.

"With an election in just over a month’s time, politicians and the Scottish Government need to take emergency measures to stop the crisis.

"We need to fully fund our universities and provide emergency funding to stop the exodus of jobs."

We reported last week that staff and students at the university held a protest outside the ARC building against plans to cut 100 jobs.

Lecturers at a university in Glasgow are being balloted on potential strike action after plans were revealed to cut around 100 jobs. (Image: Gordon Terris)

Demonstrators, backed by the student solidarity group, argued staff are being forced to pay for management decisions and warned redundancies would damage education at a university already criticised for its staff–student ratio.

Protesters chanted “Save the 100! No cuts at GCU!”, with students stressing that “their working conditions are our learning conditions.”

A spokesperson for the University said: “Like many other universities across the sector this year, Glasgow Caledonian University has experienced a drop in international student recruitment.  International students contribute significantly to campus life, of course, but international student income is also essential for financial sustainability given that funding arrangements for Scottish students do not cover the costs of delivery.  As a result, over a two year period we have seen a £33m loss of income, and face a predicted financial deficit of over £10m in the next financial year. We therefore urgently need to take action to ensure the financial sustainability of the University.

“To address this substantial reduction in income, the University has launched a Targeted Voluntary Redundancy Scheme for staff working in areas where international student numbers have reduced or where activity has been sustained by international income.

“The scheme will run until the 15 April and look to identify upwards of 100 posts. We are currently holding a concurrent open consultation period with staff and our trade union colleagues so we can work together to explore how best to deliver the changes needed while maintaining a high-quality experience for our students and the impact of our research.  By taking this targeted approach, the University is actively seeking to reduce the need for compulsory redundancies.

“We appreciate this may be an unsettling period for all our staff and students, and particularly concerning for those directly affected, but we have to take this targeted action now to move the University back into a sustainable financial position and ensure we are the right size and shape for the future.”