Staff at Glasgow Caledonian University vote for industrial action

Staff at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) have backed possible strikes in a dispute over jobs cuts and the possibility of compulsory redundancies.  

In the ballot of University and College Union (UCU) Scotland members at the university which ended yesterday, 79% backed strike action on a turnout of 69%.  93% also said they would be willing to take part in action short of strike.  This can include working to contract, not covering for absent colleagues or undertaking voluntary activities.  Following the ballot, UCU members at the university will now decide their next steps in the dispute.

As well as the strong ballot result, the university campus has also seen a series of well attended demonstrations by staff and students opposing the cuts.  Despite the opposition, university management are pressing ahead with plans to cut up to 100 posts through a targeted voluntary redundancy scheme as they predict a deficit of £10million.  This is despite the fact that the university is not currently in deficit.

Karen Lorimer, GCU UCU branch president, said: "This is a decisive message from staff to management to rethink what they're proposing.  We want to work with management on alternatives that protect jobs, but the first step must be ruling out compulsory redundancies.  GCU plays an integral role in meeting key Scottish Government widening access targets and cuts of this scale will directly undermine our teaching and educational offer to students, setting back recent progress on fair access. 

"It is not too late for management to change course. But this result shows staff have given a clear mandate to respond if meaningful engagement does not follow."

Jo Grady, UCU General Secretary, said: "GCU is highly thought of in Glasgow and across west central Scotland.  The loss of 100 jobs can't happen without significantly impacting widening access and teaching future key public sector workers.  Management need to listen to the university's staff and, before it's too late, commit to no compulsory redundancies."