LECTURERS at the University of Dundee have begun 15 days of strikes as they fight against the threat of compulsory redundancies.

The university was plunged into chaos in November when principal and vice-chancellor, Professor Iain Gillespie, emailed workers to inform them of a £30 million black hole in the institution’s finances that made job cuts “inevitable” before promptly resigning along with the entire senior management team.

Management have since refused to rule out compulsory redundancies, prompting both UCU and Unison to ballot for industrial action.

While the Unison ballot is ongoing, lecturers in the UCU have already overwhemingly backed strike action, and today will rally outside the city’s Caird Hall to mark the beginning of their three-week strike.

Dundee University UCU branch co-president Ian Ellis said: “No-one wants to take strike action but throughout this dispute UCU members at the university have shown they’re determined to do whatever it takes to stop the university forcing staff out of their jobs because of mistakes management has made.

“It’s not too late to save jobs and it’s not too late for senior managers to take action to stop the strikes.”

Offering her solidarity with striking lecturers, left Labour MSP and former UCU rep, Mercedes Villalba told the Star: “Deep financial mismanagement has left staff members feeling distressed and facing uncertain futures in their workplace. 


“I will continue to work alongside the campus unions to ensure they are supported throughout the next few months and using my platform at Holyrood to raise their voices with the relevant Scottish government ministers.”

A University of Dundee spokesman said: “We remain disappointed in UCU’s move to strike.”

Professional services staff represented by Unison at the university are also to be balloted for strike action over potential job cuts.