The Dundee branch of the University and College Union has voted “overwhelmingly” in favour of a ballot for industrial action, if Dundee University refuses to rule out compulsory redundancies.
Around 80% of members agreed a vote on strike action should be taken, if the university does not move to ensure no staff will be sacked as a result of an impending strategic review.
President of Dundee UCU, Dr Carlo Morelli, said the agenda had brought more than double the normal amount of attendees out to have their say.
He said, “It was a very serious meeting and a lot of people are very angry at what is happening at the university. An overwhelming proportion voted in favour of balloting on industrial action if the university refuses to withdraw its threat of compulsory redundancies.
“We believe the university is unnecessarily moving towards compulsory redundancies and we think the entire strategic review is unnecessary.”
It is likely that any strike action that goes ahead will be timed to coincide with national demonstrations co-ordinated by the UCU.
The Dundee University senior management team plans to cut 195 positions through a voluntary severance scheme under the wider review. However, other redundancies may have to be made if enough volunteers cannot be found.
A spokesman for Dundee University said on Tuesday night, “As we have already stated, we hope the savings identified through the strategic review can be achieved primarily through natural turnover of staff and voluntary means, and we have appealed to the campus unions to help achieve this aim.”Compulsory redundancies cannot be ruled out, but would only be used as a last resort.”