Dundee University staff walk out for 26th time in 15 months over compulsory redundancy threat

Dundee University staff have gone on strike for the 26th time in 15 months over the continuing threat of compulsory job cuts.

University and College Union (UCU) members have been taking strike action in response to the institution’s financial crisis and recovery plan, which could put jobs at risk.

News of Dundee University’s £35m financial black hole was revealed in 2024, plunging the university into crisis.

It has since received £62m of public money, while almost 300 members of staff have taken voluntary redundancy.

Yet the institution remains troubled, and remaining staff are fearful about the future.

Politics senior lecturer and DUCU treasurer, Dejan Stjepanović, said strikers are asking university management “come to their senses” and take compulsory redundancies off the table.

“What we are calling for is for the management to understand that if they proceed with the cuts, the university may not exist in the current shape and form,” he said.

“And all the good things that a university does for the local community and for students will be gone.

“We’re asking them to come to their senses, because what they are proposing will be devastating for the fabric of the city and in Scotland. We want compulsory redundancies off the table, and we want to go back to our jobs, we want to go back to teaching and research.

“This is what we are good at, we don’t want to be here. This is one of the longest industrial disputes in higher education in Scotland. They should also be aware that there is a lot of reputational damage to their mismanagement.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for Dundee University said it’s doing all it can to ensure as little disruption to students as possible.

A spokesperson said: “DUCU have voted for this industrial action in relation to the university’s financial crisis and recovery plan.

“We are committed to doing all we can to ensure there is as little disruption to students as possible.

“We anticipate the majority of classes and student contact time will proceed as normal but there may be an impact in some areas of the university. We have robust contingency plans in place to mitigate the impact of strike action as far as we possibly can.”