Dundee University staff back industrial action for the second time in longstanding dispute over job cuts

Staff at Dundee University have today again backed industrial action in the longstanding dispute over job cuts, as the university continues with a financial and leadership crisis.

In the ballot of UCU members at Dundee University, 72% of those who voted backed strike action on a turnout of 58%.  90% of members voting also said that they would be willing to take part in action short of strike which could include working to contract and not covering for any absent colleagues.

The crisis is now in its eleventh month since, in November 2024, the now disgraced principal announced cuts of £30million and the possibility of compulsory redundancies.  In response, UCU members voted conclusively to take industrial action to force management to rule out the use of compulsory redundancies.  The need to re-ballot is a requirement of UK trade union law.  The union said that today's resounding result demonstrated the anger and disappointment with the lack of progress and failure of successive leaderships at the university to deliver a sustainable way forward that protects jobs and the university's future.

Since the start of the crisis successive management teams have proposed savings and planned job cuts including the use of compulsory redundancies.  Adding to the sense of uncertainty, evidence from the Scottish Funding Council in the Scottish Parliament last week, highlighted the unclear status of the current principal - the third since the crisis broke - and questioned the status of plans to rescue the institution, a university which plays a critical role educating students, carrying our world leading research and is critical to the city and the region's economy.

The union said it was shameful that, almost a year after news of the deficit broke, staff at the university, who have done absolutely nothing wrong and who have continued to work dutifully throughout teaching students and carrying out research, still have the threat of compulsory redundancy hanging over them and are unclear what the future will bring.  The union repeated calls for senior managers to finally rule out the use of compulsory redundancies, for increased transparency in decision making, and for meaningful negotiation so that staff and unions can meaningfully contribute to shaping the future of the university.

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.  We will now take time to consult with members over what the next steps are, but management at the university should be in no doubt that unless they rule out plans for the compulsory redundancies they're repeatedly pushed and start to consult transparently and genuinely with staff and students, that strikes and the disruption that entails remain a distinct possibility.'

Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said: 'Almost a year on from the surprise announcement of the deficit and in a year when management failures have become clear, this ballot result demonstrates the continued resolve of staff and their determination to stand up for the university's future.  It is shameful that there remains to be a cloud of uncertainty over their future.  It is beyond time that Professor Seaton and the rest of the leadership once and for all rule out the use of compulsory redundancies and work with us to deliver a future for the university that has the support of staff, students and the city.'