University of Highlands and Islands (UHI) strike begins in dispute with UCU union over job cuts and compulsory redundancies aimed at balancing budget with £3m savings
Four days of strike action by staff at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) is underway in a dispute over job cuts and the use of compulsory redundancies.
The action by the University and College Union (UCU) Scotland comes in response to senior managers’ plans to make a necessary £3 million saving by streamlining the university’s executive office.
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Ten people have been served notice of being made compulsorily redundant, while another two are under consultation, a reduction on an original 16 proposed job cuts.
UHI say they have held “constructive discussions” with the UCU since the strike ballot, but have been unable to identify viable alternative options for making the savings needed to balance their budget.
UCU members are taking four days of strike action over the next month – today (Thursday), and then on November 5, 17 and 18.
They will also be embarking on continuous action short of a strike from Thursday. This includes working to contract, not covering for colleagues and boycotting administrative work related to implementing the cuts.
UCU University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) branch president Conchur O’Giollagain, said: “Taking strike action is always a last resort, but the strength of feeling against management’s poorly conceived plans have left staff with no choice.
“Staff and students both know that these proposals are harming our students and risking the future of the university.
“We want to work with senior management to resolve this dispute, but, for that to happen, we need compulsory redundancies to be taken off the table.”
The union has called on senior management to return to negotiations in the hope of finding a solution.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “It’s not too late for senior managers at the university to end this strike action and let our members get back to work.
“They need to listen to staff and students, commit to ruling out compulsory redundancies and get back to the negotiating table.”
A spokesman for the University of the Highlands and Islands said: A spokesperson for the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) said: “We have been informed by University and College Union (UCU) that members intend to take industrial action in relation to proposed redundancies within our Executive Office.
“We understand this is a difficult time for colleagues and have held constructive discussions with UCU to explore all possible alternatives.
“Unfortunately, no viable options have been identified that would achieve the level of financial sustainability required. Our priority remains supporting staff, maintaining open dialogue, and ensuring students are not affected by any action.”