Staff at the University of Edinburgh have completed the first of six days of strike action.
Walking out on Open Day, Friday 20 June, the University and College Union (UCU) described the action as a “last resort” attempt to prevent compulsory redundancies.
Hundreds of staff and students collected on campus in an effort to change the decisions made by the University’s senior leadership team.
Claire Duncanson, a Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, said staff were “anxious, frustrated and desperate to try something new” after efforts at internal negotiations had proved ineffective.
UCU say they chose Open Day to strike as it was the only day in June where business-as-usual would be disrupted and their protests visible.
Providing prospective students and their parents with information on the strikes, striking staff’s message was: “We love [the University of Edinburgh] – don’t let senior management destroy it!”
Speaking to The Student earlier this year, Principal and Vice Chancellor Professor Sir Peter Mathieson defended the planned cuts.
“Probably 70 per cent of UK universities are in deficit. We’re not one of them.”
“…By taking actions now, we can ensure our future from a position of strength, not from a position of weakness.”
UCU have criticised the cuts as disproportionate and accused Mathieson of “manufacturing” a crisis.
While staffing costs make up 58 per cent of expenditure, wage bill reductions represent 64 per cent of the planned £140m cuts.
UCU estimates that the £90m worth of wage bill reductions could see the enforcement of 1800 redundancies at the University.
Staff are also planning to strike for the entirety of welcome week — 8 to 12 September.
“UCU balloon” by secretlondon123 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.