Hundreds of Strathclyde University staff to begin week-long strike over proposed job cuts

Hundreds of workers at the University of Strathclyde will take seven days of strike action over proposed job cuts.

Over 400 members of Unite the union working at the university will begin industrial action on Monday and finish on Sunday, March 22.

The union says action will directly impact on the operations of the university, with estates staff and security workers involved.

There will also be no technicians in labs to support students, and cleaners will be taking action, resulting in no cleaning of university buildings, toilets, and student residences.

In December, it was revealed that the university is proposing to cut 76 posts in a bid to bridge a £35m funding gap.

Unite has condemned the university’s “failure to fully consult unions over the planned cuts to jobs” and not to rule out compulsory redundancies.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Strathclyde University can no longer hide from its cloak-and-dagger proposals to slash jobs. The university is in an overall healthy financial position and there is absolutely no need to attack workers.”

“Our members have been left with no option but to fight for their jobs, pay and conditions.”

Alison MacLean, Unite regional coordinating officer, said: “The university’s management team is choosing to attack its poorest paid workers. It now appears that in this rush to cut jobs they are not even following their own due processes.”

“There remains exorbitant executive pay levels at Strathclyde and it’s not lost on our members that there are no proposals to attack this by management. That’s why our members have no option but to fight against such double standards and to take action to protect all jobs at Strathclyde.”

A spokesman for the University of Strathclyde said: “We recognise the importance of job security and are continuing to work with our trade unions while taking steps to minimise disruption to students.

“Like many universities across the UK, we are facing significant financial pressures. This means we need to make savings now through a mix of income generation and controlled salary and non‑salary savings.

“This ensures long‑term sustainability and a strong platform to deliver our strategy.”