Staff at the University of Edinburgh have voted for further strikes over the £140m worth of spending cuts being proposed by senior management, saying that they will continue industrial action until the threat of compulsory redundancies is lifted.
Over the summer and during welcome week staff went on strike for a total of six days, but UK trade union law mandates that members must be re-balloted at least every six months for industrial action to continue.
Of the 60 per cent of University College Union (UCU) members that voted, 86 per cent backed strike action, with 94 per cent supporting action stopping short of a strike. This could include marking boycotts or refusal to cover for absent colleagues.
The re-ballot means that strikes and other industrial action could take place until the end of second semester, potentially disrupting exams and the marking of coursework.
In the past, this has meant some students finishing university without confirmation if they attained a degree or the level they had been awarded.
UCU have warned that the funding cuts, which senior management say are essential for the financial stability of the University, is putting up to 1,800 jobs at risk and hiring freezes, coupled with voluntary redundancy schemes have left staff with increased workloads.
Sophia Woodman, Edinburgh UCU branch president, said: “The hard line taken by the principal and senior managers, with courses cuts, casualised staff being forced out and the threat of thousands of further cuts and compulsory redundancies, has only led to increased disenchantment among staff.
“Their actions have directly led to this overwhelming ballot result for further industrial action including the possibility of more strikes and a marking boycott.
Students know who’s to blame with industrial action on the cards for the remainder of the academic year. It’s time for the principal to engage with staff and students, and to rule out the use of compulsory redundancies.
“The university can afford it and senior management’s continued refusal is doing nothing but extend this dispute and ensuring continued disruption for our students.”
Image by Spencer Siles for The Student