Strike ballot opened in response to Edinburgh University budget cuts

A strike ballot has been opened over £140m budget cuts at the University of Edinburgh.

UCU said the cuts would be the largest of their kind in the history of Scottish higher education.

Six hundred staff at the university have been consulted on whether or not they wish to take strike action in response to cuts that UNISON say are likely to result in severe job losses.

Last week, staff at Dundee University were balloted for strike action following reports of cuts to overcome a £35m budget deficit that could lead to hundreds of lost jobs.

A consultation opens today and will run for almost three weeks.

In an earlier UCU consultative ballot, 75 per cent of members employed by Edinburgh University responded that they were willing to strike.

And 85 per cent of those members said they would take action that wouldn’t involve striking, such as refusing to cover for colleagues whom were absent due to striking.

UNISON said the cuts might involve the merger of departments or the closing of entire programmes altogether.

Peter Mathieson, university principal and vice-chancellor, said: “We are and have been in discussion with our joint trade unions throughout this process, during which they have been provided with detailed financial modelling.

“We appreciate many of the concerns raised by colleagues, students and others in our community, and we are making every effort to listen.

“However, we have been very clear that our current financial position is not sustainable and we are not immune to the challenges that the higher education sector is currently facing.

 “The actions we must take now – which include a reduction of both staff and non-staff operating costs – will ensure that we remain strongly placed for the future, so that we can continue to attract the brightest minds and remain a world-leading university.”

June Maguire, UNISON branch secretary, said: “These cuts are irresponsible and will deeply damage the education students receive.

“The university must protect its services and the staff who provide them. There should be no compulsory redundancies, outsourcing of services or extra work caused by this damaging process for already overburdened employees.”