Staff at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) have begun four days of strike action in protest against planned job cuts and compulsory redundancies.
The University and College Union (UCU) Scotland stated that the dispute stems from senior management’s proposal to cut posts within the university’s executive office to save around £2 million. According to the union, ten employees have already been given redundancy notices, while two others remain under consultation.
The industrial action includes four strike days scheduled for Thursday, 5 November, 17 November, and 18 November. Alongside the strikes, UCU members have also begun continuous action short of a strike, which involves working to contract, refusing to cover for absent colleagues, and boycotting administrative duties linked to the planned cuts.
UHI branch president Conchur O Giollagáin said: “Taking strike action is always a last resort, but the strength of feeling against management’s poorly conceived plans have left staff with no choice. Staff and students both know that these proposals are harming our students and risking the future of the university.”
He added that staff are willing to work with management to resolve the issue but only if compulsory redundancies are removed from the plans.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady also urged the university’s leaders to reconsider, saying: “It’s not too late for senior managers at the university to end this strike action and let our members get back to work. They need to listen to staff and students, commit to ruling out compulsory redundancies and get back to the negotiating table.”
A spokesperson for the University of the Highlands and Islands responded: “We understand that members of UCU plan to take industrial action in response to proposed redundancies within our executive office. We recognise that this is a challenging and uncertain time for colleagues, and we have engaged in extensive and constructive dialogue to explore all possible alternatives. Unfortunately, no viable options have been identified that would deliver the level of financial sustainability the university requires.”
The university said its top priority remains protecting students’ learning experiences and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the institution. It added that measures will continue to be taken to minimise disruption caused by the strikes.
