Staff at the University of Aberdeen are being balloted on industrial action in a dispute over a £10m savings plan that could cost more than 100 jobs, following the breakdown of negotiations between the institution and the University and College Union.
The ballot asks UCU members whether they would support future strikes or action short of a strike, which could include a marking and assessment boycott, BBC Scotland reported on 21 October. Staff have already taken strike action this year over the proposed cuts.
The savings plan, agreed earlier this year, aims to bring the university to financial break-even by 2028. The institution reopened a voluntary severance and early retirement scheme and asked departments to identify further savings.
Negotiations broke down last month after the dismissal of a senior trade union official. UCU said the dismissal required a "proportionate response" and withdrew from the talks. The university previously expressed disappointment that negotiations had broken down.
The dispute comes as universities across Scotland pursue cost-cutting programmes. Edinburgh University announced plans in February last year to seek £140m in savings to address financial difficulties. Dundee University received £40m in emergency funding from the Scottish government during its financial crisis.
Strikes over cost-cutting have also taken place at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, while Strathclyde University announced plans in December to cut 70 jobs.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- More than 100 jobs could be lost under Aberdeen's savings plan, making the dispute significant for staff and the university's operations.
- A vote for industrial action could lead to further disruption. A marking and assessment boycott could also affect students' academic progress.
Background
Universities rely on staff both to teach and to assess students, giving industrial action consequences beyond the immediate employment dispute. At Aberdeen, the disagreement combines opposition to proposed job losses with a breakdown in negotiations following a union official's dismissal.
The university's stated financial objective is to break even by 2028. Similar savings programmes and financial pressures at other Scottish institutions place the dispute in a wider higher-education context.
Key Perspectives
UCU and its members: The union opposes the proposed cuts and is seeking members' support for further industrial action. It linked its withdrawal from negotiations to the dismissal of a senior union official.
University management: The institution is pursuing savings to reach financial break-even by 2028 and has previously expressed disappointment at the breakdown in talks.
Students and staff facing disruption: The practical concern is how any further action would affect teaching, assessment and employment. A boycott could extend the dispute's impact beyond strike days.
What to Watch
- The ballot result and which forms of industrial action members support.
- Whether the university and UCU resume negotiations.
- Changes to proposed job losses and progress towards the university's 2028 break-even target.