Strike dates set at University of the Highlands and Islands in dispute over use of compulsory redundancies

UCU members at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) will take four days of strike action beginning on Thursday 30 October.

As well as 30 October, staff will also strike on Wednesday 5, Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 November 2025.  UCU members will also take part in action short of strike which will involve staff taking actions including working to contract, not covering for colleagues or undertaking voluntary activities at the university.

The strike follows a ballot where 71% of those who voted backed strike action on a turnout of 82%.  The dispute is over management pressing ahead with plans to make 16 jobs at the university's executive office redundant as part of efforts to save £2million.  University senior managers are using compulsory redundancies to implement the job cuts; a move the union says is unacceptable.  The union also questioned the impact cuts would have on the remaining staff who will be left with unmanageable workloads and said that these new cuts followed multiple cuts and jobs losses in recent years.  The union said that the hollowing out of the university's executive office isn't sustainable long term with a functioning university.

UCU UHI branch vice-president, Sorcha Kirker, said: "Management at UHI have been warned time after time that staff are angry at these cuts and, in particular, with the use of compulsory redundancies.  After an overwhelming ballot result, and with strike action now planned for 30 October, it's still not too late for management to resolve this dispute, cease the unfair use of compulsory redundancies and to sit down and find a solution that saves jobs and protects the university's future.  If they don't then UCU members are determined to see through the strike action they voted for and the only people to blame will be senior management."

Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said: "It's appalling that UHI management continue to press ahead with cuts and job losses including using compulsory redundancies.  After recent cuts, staff workloads are already sky-high and the loss of more jobs will make a difficult situation even worse.  Students know who's to blame for the disruption strikes will cause and I'd urge the principal, even at the last minute, to take the steps necessary to end the dispute."