By Grant Smith, education reporter

DUNDEE UNIVERSITY could be facing strike action by its academic staff in protest at plans for job cuts and multi-million pound savings.

Members of its University and College Union (DUCU) branch have voted unanimously to declare an industrial dispute and launch a ballot for industrial action.

DUCU president Carlo Morelli confirmed the strength of backing from members.

He added, “It’s not possible to say what form of action would occur should a vote take place.

“The thing that members have agreed on is that we would take action that would maximise support from students and the public.

“The union voted yesterday to call on the university to make a statement to commit to no compulsory redundancies.

“If they’re not prepared to do that in the next seven days then Dundee UCU will declare itself in dispute with Dundee University.”

Mr Morelli said should that dispute occur then the local union would consult its national counterpart, with members asked to vote in a ballot on industrial action.

An official statement from DUCU said members were reacting to “the cuts in educational provision, redundancies and access to the university.”

They also called for a national campaign against the closures and privatisations taking place in the higher education sector across the UK, of which Dundee was only one example.

The statement explained, “The motion was based on the unanimous view of the meeting that the union believes the university has failed to demonstrate any need for cuts in educational provision, jobs or access to the community, and that the financial deficit identified derives from senior management failures—for example the failure of the privatisation of the halls of residences.

“Dundee University management’s attempt to introduce cuts of £4.3 million has been met with a massive response of opposition by students, staff and the general public.”

DUCU said the proposals for cuts across all four colleges and central services followed in the wake of cutbacks at Glasgow, Strathclyde and Newcastle universities.

“The union resolved to support the university in finding savings, if management can demonstrate a need for savings, but not at the expense of students, staff and the wider public’s access to the university.

“It reiterated its concerns over the reliability of the university’s financial reporting and has called for an independent examination of the financial position.

“It has also written to management giving it seven days’ notice that Dundee UCU will declare itself in dispute unless it is announced that any cuts will not involve compulsory redundancies.”

The university yesterday released a formal statement to all staff members about the cuts proposals, which were accepted by the university court on Monday.

This said that it was committed to working with the trade unions, DUCU, Amicus and Unison, to try to achieve any necessary job cuts in ways that avoid compulsory redundancy “wherever possible.”

It added, “We will make every effort to achieve savings through voluntary means, but we must be honest with staff and if we are unable to reach our targets by other methods we cannot rule out redundancies.”

There has been speculation among staff that around 100 posts could be lost, but the university has insisted that the number will be lower than that.

Reacting to DUCU’s announcement, a university spokeswoman said, “The university feels that any talk of strike action is extremely premature.”

The university also released a copy of the letter it has sent to Mr Morelli in response to his official notification of the outcome of the union meeting.

In this, university secretary David Duncan explains, “The university court has not been asked to approve compulsory redundancies.

“Rather, it has given authority to proceed with a voluntary severance scheme and reductions through natural turnover.

“In keeping with this authority, and in keeping with the university and unions’ agreement of February 7, we will put forward proposals for a voluntary severance scheme which will, as agreed, be open to all staff.”