Dundee UCU votes for strike action over job losses

On a 42 per cent turnout, 72 per cent of members supported strike action, and 88 per cent backed action short of a strike.

The ballot was held as 바카라사이트 institution looks to cut costs by removing approximately 35 academic posts across its School of Medicine and College of Arts and Social Sciences, and by cutting about 50 administrative roles.

The university said it was ¡°absolutely committed¡± to making 바카라사이트 targeted savings through voluntary redundancies and by not filling vacant posts, but warned that it may have to look at compulsory redundancies ¡°if 바카라사이트 necessary savings are not reached¡±.

The union believes that approximately eight compulsory redundancies will have to be made in 바카라사이트 School of Medicine, and fears that more could follow.

Carlo Morelli, vice-president of 바카라사이트 UCU branch at Dundee, said members could not stomach a fourth round of job cuts in six years.

He claimed that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s hope of accumulating investment funding by cutting costs was misguided, since staffing reductions lessened 바카라사이트 amount of teaching and research income that 바카라사이트 institution attracted.

¡°This is 바카라사이트 last straw for staff,¡± Dr Morelli said. ¡°It is quite evident from 바카라사이트 strength of feeling in 바카라사이트 ballot that staff are at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 line in terms of patience with university management.¡±

A university spokesman said Dundee needed ¡°to achieve financial security¡± to achieve its ambition of becoming ¡°Scotland¡¯s leading university¡±, stating that 바카라사이트 institution had budgeted for a deficit of ?2.7 million in 2014-15. Efforts would also be made to increase income, he said.

¡°We are aware of 바카라사이트 result of 바카라사이트 UCU ballot but at this time we have not been informed what form any industrial action may take or when it will take place,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said. ¡°We are disappointed in 바카라사이트 move by UCU towards industrial action. This will do nothing to resolve 바카라사이트 pressing issues which 바카라사이트 university faces.¡±

The ballot came as 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen considers plans to cut 150 jobs in a bid to save ?10.5 million.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com