Scotland’s Academic and Administrative Staff Prepare for Strike Over Cuts
Four universities in Scotland are facing the prospect of strike action due to increasing financial pressures and planned job cuts. The University and College Union (UCU) Scotland has launched a strike ballot among academic and professional staff at the Universities of Aberdeen, Heriot-Watt, Stirling, and Strathclyde. If the ballot results in support for industrial action, strikes are expected to ta pop ke place at the start of the spring term, a particularly busy period marked by examinations and the assessment of students’ work.
The union states that university managements are pursuing cost-cutting measures to address budget deficits and have refused to rule out compulsory redundancies. At the University of Aberdeen, ongoing financial difficulties have led to the preparation of cost-reduction plans, alongside a freeze on academic promotions and the risk of job losses in certain departments. At Heriot-Watt University, a restructuring process referred to as “right-sizing” is underway, with plans to reduce courses and academic programmes.
The Scottish Government, meanwhile, has emphasized the vital role universities play in the economy and wider society, announcing that £1.1 billion in funding will be provided to the sector this year. Despite this support, trade unions argue that uncertainty around job security and working conditions continues to cause serious concern among university staff.