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Student’s anger at former Scots Labour leader Wendy Alexander’s bumper Dundee University salary

Eamonn Custance's poster calling out the salary of Wendy Alexander (pictured). Image: DC Thomson.
Eamonn Custance's poster calling out the salary of Wendy Alexander (pictured). Image: DC Thomson.

A Dundee University student has taken aim at Wendy Alexander’s bumper £170k a year salary with a public protest.

Eamonn Custance, 29, has put up a poster at his window at Castle Brae, facing the main street in Newport-on-Tay.

He calls out Ms Alexander for raking in an eye-watering salary while both local and international students struggle to find suitable accommodation around the city.

The university’s vice-principal for international was the leader of the Labour Party in Scotland in 2007.

Dundee student Eamonn Custance at a rally to support striking Dundee University staff. Image: Alan Richardson (www.pix-ar.co.uk)

Eamonn, who is a member of Living Rent Dundee, has previously campaigned for renters’ rights and has supported striking Dundee University staff.

Mr Custance’s sign reads: “Our international students live in hostels. Wendy Alexander lives on over £170,000. Welcome to Dundee. Failte au Dun Deagh.”

Salary increases branded ‘shocking’

News that Wendy Alexander’s salary increased by at least £10k this year sparked outrage among some of the university’s staff and Unite the Union.

Ms Alexander, alongside vice-principal of education Blair Grubb, vice-principal of research John Rowan, and the university secretary Jim McGeorge — who all receive salaries of well over £100,000 — were moved into a higher salary band with potential increases of £10,000 per year.

Mr Custance’s poster highlights the struggles international students are facing with securing accommodation. Image: DC Thomson.

Dundee University staff continue to protest regarding a new pension scheme, which could see workers lose thousands of pounds per year after retirement.

Susan Robertson, regional industrial officer at Unite, who helped organise the strike, called the huge increase in executive staff salaries “shocking”.

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