Strikes likely at the University of the Highlands and Islands as staff back industrial action

Staff at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) have today backed industrial action in a dispute over job cuts and the ongoing use of compulsory redundancies.

In the ballot of UCU Scotland members at the university's executive office, 71% of those who voted backed strike action on a turnout of 82%.  93% of members voting said that they would also be willing to take part in action short of strikes which could include working to contract, not covering for absent colleagues, or not undertaking voluntary activities.  Following the clear result, members of the UCU branch at the university will now decide their next steps in the dispute.

The dispute follows the decision of management at the university to make 16 people redundant as part of efforts to save £2million. 

The union said that the job cuts would impact badly both on the staff losing their jobs, but also on their colleagues who will be left with unmanageable workloads.  The decision to press ahead with cuts will also impact the university's ability to fulfil its educational mission, teaching students across the Highlands and Islands and carrying out critical research.  The union said that management's figures did not make sense, and that there was a worry that once these jobs were lost management would come back for more.  Jobs have been lost at UHI, either by compulsory redundancy or staff taking voluntary severance year-on-year recently and the union said that cuts impact the ability of the university to function effectively.   

UCU UHI branch president, Conchúr Ó Giollagáin, said: 'This result shows university management the strength of feeling at these jobs going, and the anger at the use of compulsory redundancies.  Even at this late stage it's not too late for management to commit to ending the use of compulsory redundancies, to work with the union to find alternative savings and to end this dispute.  No-one wants to take strike action but unless management withdraw from their decision to force people from their jobs, then management risk pushing staff into taking industrial action.'

Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said: 'UHI plays a crucial role across the Highlands and Islands and the loss of these jobs, including by the shocking use of compulsory redundancies, is unacceptable.  The ballot result is clear and staff at the university will have the full support of the union in any action they decide to take opposing these cuts, saving jobs and ending the use of compulsory redundancies.'