Dundee University staff to strike over five weeks amid job cut dispute

Staff at Dundee University are planning to strike over five weeks, disrupting the start of the new academic year.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) will strike for a total of 25 days amidst a turbulent period for the university.

Dundee University intends to make more cuts to its workforce in a bid to save £20 million, at a cost of around 190 jobs.

The institution has been slashing its workforce since 2024, with hundreds of staff already gone.

Staff will be on strike each weekday from September 21 until October 23, the first five weeks of the new academic year.

Ian Ellis, co-president of the Dundee University UCU branch, has warned that the action will have a “real impact” on students starting their studies.

“Absolutely no one wants to take strike action, and the impact on students is hugely regretful, but the fact is that another 200 staff members facing redundancy, on top of the over 800 who have already gone, will have a bigger impact on the university and on our students and their education than anything else imaginable”, he said.

Dundee University staff take part in five-week strike action at the start of the new academic year. STV News

“The deficit that started this catalogue of failure was the fault of the university executive and court, and the inability to find a solution to this crisis that doesn’t wholly impact on staff, who have done absolutely nothing wrong, simply signifies yet another failure of management.”

In addition, staff will stop covering for colleagues or undertaking voluntary activities, and will lobby members of the court and the governing body of the university over the cuts.

A university spokesperson said: “We are disappointed by UCU’s decision to take industrial action, especially over such a long period.

“We are particularly disappointed that UCU has decided to attempt to disrupt the life of the University when our students are looking forward to a new academic term, and we call on them to suspend this action.

“This remains a profoundly difficult time for members of our community. While we recognise the right to strike, this action will do nothing to help build a sustainable future for the University.

“Most staff will be working as normal across the University, and we expect most classes and student contact time to proceed as normal.

“We will do all we can to mitigate the impacts on our students and ensure as little disruption to their studies as possible.

“We want to work constructively with the trade unions and have been in regular discussion with them, including on the ongoing collective consultation process.

“We would encourage DUCU to continue to participate in our consultation process, during which important discussions about our proposals for change are instrumental to meaningful engagement with all of our recognised trade unions and our staff.”