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Staff at the University of Edinburgh are being balloted on strike action in a dispute over plans to cut £140m from its budget. The Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) claimed the university had refused to rule out compulsory redundancies as part of the cuts.
The union said there was “no need” for the institution to make that level of cuts, describing it as a “manufactured crisis”. The ballot is scheduled to run from Monday until 20 May, with staff asked if they would be willing to strike or take action short of a strike.
Branch president Sophia Woodman said: “There is no need for the university to be making cuts of £140m. In fact, without a deficit, there’s a strong feeling among staff that this is both an unnecessary and a manufactured crisis.”
Cuts of the size university senior management are planning will have a devastating impact not just on the university’s future, but also on the city and our local economy.
The UCU is balloting members on strike action over the cuts. The union said about 75% of members who voted in a “consultative” ballot backed strike action, with 85% saying they would be willing to take action short of a strike.
The proposed cuts are the latest measure taken by a higher education institution in Scotland to save money. Staff at Dundee University were also balloted for strike action last week following reports up to 700 jobs could be cut in an effort to overcome a £35m deficit.
Writing in Scotland on Sunday, Prof Mathieson suggested a “re-wiring” of the tuition fee system was needed. He claimed universities were “nearing or toppling into an economic abyss”.
The failure to increase funding for Scottish students, who do not pay tuition fees, has resulted in an “over-reliance” on foreign students.
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