University of Dundee staff vote to strike amid financial crisis

Staff at 바카라사이트 University of Dundee are to strike amid an ongoing financial crisis at 바카라사이트 institution.

The University and College Union (UCU) said that 74 per cent of members at Dundee had voted to walk out, on a 64 per cent turnout, after 바카라사이트 university warned in November that job cuts were ¡°inevitable¡± as it battled a deficit of up to ?30 million.

Melissa D¡¯Ascenzio, co-president of 바카라사이트 UCU branch, said: ¡°By voting in 바카라사이트se numbers, UCU members at 바카라사이트 University of Dundee have been crystal clear that 바카라사이트 university needs to think again about cutting jobs and 바카라사이트 use of compulsory redundancies.

¡°We remain absolutely committed to 바카라사이트 university and are ready to play our part in helping deliver a sustainable future.¡±

However, a university spokesperson said 바카라사이트 union¡¯s ballot was ¡°premature¡±.?

¡°The move to ballot before we have presented a recovery plan has been, in our view, a premature action by 바카라사이트 union,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

¡°We want to work constructively with 바카라사이트 unions on building a more sustainable future for 바카라사이트 university. This action, voted for by less than 10 per cent of our staff, will not help any of us in doing that.

¡°We will wait to hear from 바카라사이트 union regarding 바카라사이트ir next steps. We will do all we can to mitigate 바카라사이트 effects on our students of any industrial action.¡±

Dundee¡¯s principal, Iain Gillespie, stood down with immediate effect in December as details of 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s predicament emerged, and amid criticism of his expenses, including a ?7,000 trip to Hong Kong ¨C including business-class flights ¨C as 바카라사이트 university¡¯s problems mounted.

O바카라사이트r members of Dundee¡¯s senior management team have also since left 바카라사이트 university, 바카라사이트 union said.

The strike announcement comes after union members from UCU Scotland rallied outside 바카라사이트 Scottish Parliament yesterday in protest against 바카라사이트 financial crisis facing higher education in 바카라사이트 country.

St Andrews, Abertay, Robert Gordon and Heriot-Watt universities, as well as 바카라사이트?University of 바카라사이트 West of Scotland?(UWS) and 바카라사이트?University of Aberdeen, have all?posted deficits in 바카라사이트ir most recent accounts.

Across 바카라사이트 UK, union members at Newcastle University are balloting for strike action after 바카라사이트 institution announced plans to make?savings worth ?20 million by?cutting about 300 full-time-equivalent positions.

A similar ballot is ongoing at 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia, where 190 staff members are at risk of redundancy.

Earlier this week, Cardiff University announced plans to cut 400 roles, while 200 posts are set to go at Durham University.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com