University of Dundee staff begin five-week strike over job cuts

Staff at the University of Dundee have walked out on strike for five weeks over the threat of compulsory redundancies.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) will strike for a total of 25 days at the start of the new academic year.

In addition union members will also be taking part in action short of a strike, such as not covering for absent colleagues – with the UCU warning this could lead to a marking and assessment boycott at the university.

Staff are set to walk out every weekday from Monday, September 21, through to Friday, October 23.

The union said it was “hugely regretful” that new and returning students to the university would be affected by this latest protest.

It comes as the university seeks to reduce its staff numbers further as it responds to financial pressures.

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

In November 2024, the then principal announced an unforeseen deficit of £30m and the possibility of compulsory redundancies.

Since then, 815 jobs have been cut and senior management announced in June further plans to axe another 200 posts.

The UCU insists cash saved from staff cuts, as well as funding received from the Scottish Government, should be sufficient for management to rule out the use of any compulsory redundancies.

Ian Ellis, co-president of the Dundee branch of the UCU, said: “No-one wants to take strike action, but with the threat of compulsory redundancies still hanging over staff, then the only people to blame for these strikes are university management.

“New and returning students will be impacted at the start of term, which is hugely regretful, but we’re also clear that university management cutting more jobs and more staff leaving will have a major and long-term impact on students’ education and the university.”

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “This strike should be a wake-up call for senior managers at Dundee.”

She said “failures of governance, management and funding have created a crisis” at the university, and added it is “unacceptable that workers at the university are the ones left to pay the price for others’ failure”.

Ms Grady said: “University management must rule out compulsory redundancies and, if they continue to refuse to do so as they have done for almost two years, then ministers should show they understand the impact on staff and the city of Dundee and force their hand.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Industrial action is in no-one’s best interests – least of all students’ – so while the Scottish Government cannot intervene directly, we encourage universities and trades unions to engage constructively and seek resolution to these disputes.”

The University of Dundee has been contacted for comment.