Staff back industrial action in vote at University of Stirling

In the ballot of University and College Union (UCU) Scotland members at Stirling university, 80% backed strike action on a turnout of 66%.  88% of those voting additionally said they would be willing to take part in action short of strike which could include not covering for absent colleagues, working to contract or undertaking voluntary activities. Action short of strike could also include a marking an assessment boycott. UCU members in the branch will now decide what action they want to take.

Stirling University's principal recently announced that he will be retiring once a replacement is found. Last year he became Scotland's top paid higher education boss on a salary worth £428,000 a year including benefits. While those at the top of have enjoyed lavish pay, the university has been making cuts by looking for staff to leave with 175 staff already gone through a voluntary severance scheme. Despite this, the university is looking for further savings and has so far refused to rule out compulsory redundancies. The union has questioned the fairness of exorbitant pay of those at the top when job security is so low down the order of their priorities.

A spokesperson for the Stirling UCU branch, said: ' There is no need or justification for more job losses at the university. Before this dispute escalates further we urge Professor McCormac and university senior management to pull back from the brink; revisit their financial strategy and its associated targets, and prioritise the protection of existing jobs at Stirling. If the university can afford to pay its principal well over £400,000 a year, then we can absolutely afford to protect the jobs of the staff who deliver the teaching and research essential to the university's purpose and mission.'

Jo Grady, UCU General Secretary, said: ' Professor Sir Gerry McCormac will enjoy his retirement with a healthy pension while the staff at the university who teach students and carry out world leading research face job insecurity and not knowing if they have a future there. It's time for Professor McCormac to engage with the unions, rule out compulsory redundancies and end this dispute.'