Ten-day strike at Aberdeen university starts today

Members of the University and College Union at Aberdeen university begin the first of ten days strike action today in a dispute over job cuts and the threat of compulsory redundancies.

The strike comes after staff at the university also walked out for four days last month.  Staff are striking today, tomorrow and for another eight days through to May.  In total the university will have been disrupted for 14 days this term.  The dispute is over plans by managers to cut jobs.  The union says that management are also holding back on academic promotions and refusing to rule out using compulsory redundancies despite being repeatedly asked.

In the vote authorising the strike members backed strike action by 83% with a 60% turnout.  Staff are also taking part in action short of strike including working to contract, not undertaking voluntary duties or covering for absent colleagues. 

UCU Aberdeen branch co-chair, Dan Cutts, said: "Spring is a busy and critical time at Aberdeen university and staff want to be at work supporting students but the actions of management and the failure to resolve this dispute has left us no alternative but to take this action.  Members overwhelmingly backed these ten days of strikes because of management's unwillingness to engage meaningfully.  What we're asking for is reasonable and hasn't changed.  Staff want management to rule out using compulsory redundancies, restore academic promotions at the university as would normally happen, and engage openly and transparently on the 'adapting for continued success' programme."

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: "Once again, staff have shown their determination to stop management forcing through compulsory redundancies.  Our door is open for talks, and we're calling on senior leaders to engage and find an acceptable end to this dispute."