Dundee University workers have started another strike as they protest proposed job losses at the institution’s top forensic science research unit.
Angry staff members have walked out for five days starting from now as the future of the institution’s acclaimed Levenhulme Centre remains at risk.
The university’s proposals to axe the leading forensic research hub would see 24 employees losing their jobs.
The latest wave of industrial action comes after 15 days of strikes in February and March this year.
Crisis-hit university chiefs initially planned to cut up to 700 jobs to plug a £35 million deficit.
That has now been scaled down to 300 redundancies.
It’s hoped most staff who leave will do so voluntarily.
But that’s not the case for those working in the Leverhulme Centre and staff employed in the university’s educational assistive technology team (EduAT).
The strike is being spearheaded by the University and College Union (UCU).
‘Compulsory redundancies still looming’
A spokesperson for the trade union’s Dundee branch said: “The announcement at the end of April that, instead of up to 700 jobs being cut, the university is looking to lose 300 staff via a voluntary severance scheme was welcome.
“However, the threat of compulsory redundancies is still looming over staff once a voluntary severance scheme closes.
“We call on the employer to abide by the Scottish Government’s call to rule out the use of compulsory redundancies, and to commit to making any savings through voluntary methods.”
Strike action ‘extremely disappointing’
Dundee University stressed its recovery plan is separate from concerns from the concerns facing the Leverhulme Centre and EduAT.
A spokesperson said: “This action from UCU is extremely disappointing, particularly in the context of recent progress towards a revised recovery plan and the timing of a strike when we are in a critical period of the academic year for our students.
“We believe we have robust contingency plans in place to mitigate the impact of strike action as far as we possibly can, particularly for confirming marks and degree classifications for our students.
“Most marking of exams is complete and we expect Exam Boards to meet and confirm results over the coming weeks.”
We previously reported that a university press release hailed Leverhulme Centre staff as “heroes” a day before proposed job cuts were announced.
The centre’s cutting-edge work has helped to detect illicit drugs, explosives and bodily fluids at crime scenes.
It has also worked alongside the Scottish Prison Service to analyse seized drugs.
First Minister John Swinney called the research hub “fundamental” to the institution.
We revealed earlier this week that Dundee University’s chief operating officer Jim McGeorge has quit.
The troubled institution is yet to strike a final rescue deal with the Scottish Government to help fund an alternative recovery plan.
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