Proposals by Dundee University to close prestigious units at Duncan of Jordanstone and the university library have drawn the threat of industrial action.
It has emerged that a specialised research group of artists at Duncan of Jordanstone and the internationally recognised Book and Paper Conservation Studio are under threat.
Work on a recent project preserving the letters of the 18th century Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus led to the latter being nominated for a British Conservation Award.
Dundee University and College Union (DUCU) members in two separate well-attended branch meetings voted unanimously for industrial action.
Dr Carlo Morelli, president of DUCU, said, “The university had a relatively good financial settlement and is expected to post a surplus this year, as it did last year.
“The university does not need to do any of these things which are damaging to its research and reputation.
“We are calling for a special joint meeting next week. Unless the position is resolved, we will have to proceed to a ballot on strike action.”
He said DUCU does not accept the proposals, which it believes will damage the university’s image and is a form of “intellectual vandalism”.
Dr Morelli said a 90-day consultation period has been started with the Book and Paper Conservation Studio and the proposals affecting the Duncan of Jordanstone unit were first put forward in December.ThreatDUCU believes these two units are under threat as part of the cutbacks in higher education happening nationwide.
Staff at one unit have been offered the chance of keeping their jobs if they are prepared to take a 30% cut in salary a totally unacceptable proposition, says DUCU.
The union’s stance is wholly supported by the students’ association, DUSA, which said cuts such as those proposed would harm the students’ educational experience as well as threatening the jobs of academic and support staff.
Andrew Smith, president of DUSA, said, “We oppose any cuts that affect the quality of education for students on the campus.
“We have discussed this at the student representative council and oppose any move.
“The university has received a good settlement from the Scottish Funding Council and, bearing in mind that they have done well in student experience reviews, it seems like the wrong time to be doing this.”
Further discussion will be held to consider forms of industrial action, but members have already voted for strike action if considered necessary.
A spokesman for the university confirmed it is engaged in a 90-day period of collective consultation “to consider the future of the Book and Paper Conservation Studio.”
“This has been prompted by concerns over the financial sustainability of the studio, which is forecast to make a loss in the current financial year,” he said.
“The studio is a commercial enterprise housed with the Library and Learning Centre at the university and is operated on a commercial basis.
“No decision will be made about the studio’s future until the end of the consultation period.Explored”A number of proposals are being explored which we hope will ensure a sustainable future for the unit.
“The Library and Learning Centre’s annual budget and the university’s overall operating budget have no provision to cover sustained deficits incurred in the studio.
“Core services of the Library and Learning Centre are to support student learning and university staff and student research, areas in which the studio has no direct impact.
“This is not about the quality of work carried out by the studio, which has been widely praised.
“The conservation and preservation of books and papers across the UK is undoubtedly a worthwhile activity, but it is one that the university is not funded to support.
“Covering the deficit incurred by the Book and Paper Conservation Studio may require funds being diverted from the university’s core activities of teaching and research.”
The spokesman said that two positions, together amounting to 0.7 full time equivalent staff posts, within Duncan of Jordanstone are “likely to be made redundant.”
“As these posts are private practice contracts for two artists, this will not affect teaching or research in any way,” he said.
“Indeed, the two artists involved still hold teaching contracts with the college.
“We are operating in a difficult financial climate and it is only right that the university reviews loss-making commercial enterprises to ensure that vital resources are not being diverted away from teaching and research.
“It is unfortunate that DUCU has chosen to go public when we have a meeting to discuss these two issues scheduled for this week.”