Staff at three Scottish universities were on strike the same day as members of education unions staged walkouts in response to planned job cuts and the threat of compulsory redundancies.
Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) at Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen and the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) carried out a one-day strike after both institutions signalled plans to reduce staffing numbers. The action coincided with the start of a five-day walkout by University and College Union (UCU) members at the University of Edinburgh, who have been picketing several sites in the city since Monday in a separate dispute over budget cuts.
RGU announced on Wednesday that almost 190 roles had been lost as part of cost-saving measures, saying 188 redundancies had taken place in total, of which 18 were compulsory and the remainder voluntary. The university said it was committed to avoiding compulsory redundancies where possible and that changes would be made with "care, transparency, and a commitment to minimising impact" as it sought long-term sustainability.
EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said the planned cuts would have a "detrimental impact" on staff, students and local communities and called the job losses "short-sighted." She said both universities had failed to provide a guarantee against compulsory redundancies and that members had been left with no choice but to take strike action to defend jobs and protect education quality.
At UWS, more than 94% of EIS members who voted in a recent ballot backed industrial action. A university spokeswoman said a voluntary severance scheme was open and that the institution remained in an ongoing consultation process with recognised trade unions, adding that the approach had been transparent and the position regarding compulsory redundancies unchanged.
UCU members at Edinburgh oppose proposals to cut about £140 million from the university's budget; union figures have suggested as many as 1,800 posts may be at risk. The union said the university, which it described as having significant financial reserves, should consider alternatives such as reducing capital expenditure instead of cutting staff. The university's principal and vice chancellor, Prof Sir Peter Mathieson, said the institution faced "serious and urgent financial challenges" and had been "transparent about the impact."
The disputes reflect mounting financial pressures across the higher education sector in the UK. Universities have cited the need to adapt to changing demand, inflationary costs and other fiscal challenges, while unions have warned that staff reductions could increase workloads and harm the quality of teaching and student support.
University statements emphasised ongoing consultation and the use of voluntary measures where possible. The unions have said strikes will continue unless institutions provide firmer assurances on compulsory redundancies and engage in further negotiations. The immediate industrial action was planned as a one-day walkout at RGU and UWS and a multi-day programme of pickets at Edinburgh, with further steps dependent on talks between university management and union representatives.