Dundee University academic staff call one-day strike to protest funding cuts
Dundee University lecturers are to go on strike, uniting with students to protest the threat of compulsory redundancies.
- By Alan Wilson
- Published in the Courier : 03.03.11
- Published online : 03.03.11 @ 11.38am
The Dundee branch of the University and College Union (DUCU) claims the university will be "brought to a standstill" after announcing the one-day strike of teaching, research and academic-related staff next Tuesday.
The same day, Dundee students will gather in a Day Of Action For Education, culminating in a lunchtime rally.
DUCU president Carlo Morelli said students and staff are alarmed and concerned at the threat to equality of education emerging from Scottish Government funding cuts in higher education, which they claim could severely affect the regional access centre.
He says DUCU has called on the university to rule out compulsory redundancies, but Dundee University said it is "very disappointed" at the strike as general agreement has already been reached on crucial issues such as a "redundancy avoidance policy."
Mr Morelli said, "Scottish Government cuts are already resulting in Dundee University moving towards a reduction of its provision. A review of the work of disability services at the university will, it is feared, lead to a potential closure of the regional access centre.
"This comes on top of a 4% reduction in recruitment into undergraduate admissions for 2011 as a result of the university's 'over-recruitment' and subsequent penalty imposed by the Scottish Funding Council.
"Dundee UCU has called on Dundee University to rule out compulsory redundancies. The union further calls on senior management to match the loss of a day's pay of the staff striking by giving up a day's pay for higher education.
Legal duties
"The union also calls on the Scottish Government to clearly state the university will be permitted to continue to recruit students at the same level as in 2010 and fund it sufficiently to fulfil its legal duties to disabled students and staff, including positively promoting equality through its disability services and commit to positively promoting equality."
The access centre, within the university's disability services, assesses individuals referred to it by universities and other public bodies across Scotland as well as for disabled students and disabled staff at Dundee University.
The union says the centre generates an annual £40,000 surplus that allows for delivery of high-quality services.
After the January ballot, Dundee University said 209 staff took part in the vote — fewer than 10% of all academic and related staff, with only 135 opting to strike.
A university spokesman reiterated its policy that compulsory redundancies would only be considered as a last resort. He said, "We are very disappointed that DUCU has chosen to take strike action at this time.
"There have been positive discussions with the union on a number of issues and we have reached general agreement on a redundancy avoidance policy and an associated policy on fixed-term contracts — the former of which was central to the ballot for industrial action.
"The university sees continuous and constructive dialogue with the unions as the way forward, not disruptive action. As we have worked through the strategic review we have endeavoured to keep staff and students informed of progress.
"The regional access centre in disability services is in the early stages of a review, to include full consultation with staff, students and trade unions. No decisions have been taken ... on the service's future. The university expects to teach broadly the same number of students overall next year."
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