Ballot for strike action opens at Glasgow Caledonian University

A ballot for industrial action opens today (Wednesday) at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) in a dispute over job cuts and the possible use of compulsory redundancies.

University and College Union (UCU) members at GCU are being balloted on whether they are willing to take strike action and action short of strike against job losses and the threat of compulsory redundancies.  Action short of strike could include working to contract and not covering for absent colleagues.  The ballot runs from today until Thursday 23 April.

The ballot is being held in response to plans announced by university management to cut up to 100 posts through a targeted voluntary redundancy scheme in response to a predicted deficit of £10million.  The university is not currently in deficit. 

The union says that it wants to work with management to save jobs and find alternative savings but called on senior management at the university to rule out the use of compulsory redundancies.  A joint union rally at the university last week saw staff from across the institution and students join together to voice their opposition to the cuts and oppose compulsory redundancies.  NUS Scotland also issued a statement of support with university staff across Scotland taking industrial action to oppose cuts and save jobs.

Karen Lorimer, GCU 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.  This university means a great deal to the people of Glasgow and the West of Scotland.  It is integral to the Scottish Government's widening access targets and educating the next generation of Scottish public sector workers.  Diluting GCU's mission as a force for the 'common good' is not something senior managers should undertake lightly."

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."