The Edinburgh University and College Union has announced six days of strike action to take place on Undergraduate Open Day on 20 June and Welcome Week from 8 to 12 of September.
The strikes are in response to the University of Edinburgh’s proposed 140-million-pound budget cuts, of which 90 million pounds will be in staff costs.
Previously, the UCU has questioned the university’s warnings of a deficit and criticised its capital expenditure. Edinburgh Branch President Sophia Woodman stated: “we need compulsory redundancies to be taken off the table and for there to be an honest discussion about why management are proposing job cuts and projecting deficits while, at the same time, increasing spending on new buildings.”
From 20 June staff will be taking further continuous action short of strike, including working to contract, not rescheduling classes or lectures cancelled due to strikes and not uploading material for cancelled classes, and undertaking a boycott of administrative work related to implementing budget cuts.
A marking boycott has currently not been announced.
In an email to staff, the University of Edinburgh stated that the Undergraduate Open Day will still take place. The University of Edinburgh further commented: “While we fully respect the right of our staff to take part in industrial disputes, the decision that UCUE have made to take action on the dates that bring future and new students into the University is disappointing.”
Several students who spoke to The Student described frustration with university management, pointing out the principal’s salary which is reported to exceed 400 thousand pounds.
History and Politics student Armaan Iftikhar stated: “While strikes may cause disruption to student learning, I fully support the staff taking action and stand in solidarity with them.”
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