SCOTTISH Greens MSP Maggie Chapman is set to join striking Dundee University staff on the picket line as five weeks of industrial action begins.
Chapman, who represents North East Scotland and is the university’s elected rector, will join staff and students outside the Tower Building on Perth Road on Monday.
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) are beginning 25 days of strike action over five weeks in an ongoing dispute over cuts and job losses.
Staff are due to strike every weekday from September 21 until October 23, alongside action short of a strike.
Chapman pledged her solidarity with those taking action and accused university management of inflicting “vandalism” on the institution.
She said: “Staff and students did not cause the management-inflicted chaos at Dundee University, but they are paying the price for it.
“Nobody goes on strike lightly. The fact that staff have taken this decision shows just how deep the strength of feeling is across the campus and how much anger there is at the hundreds of roles that have already been cut.
“The crisis facing Dundee University is the result of years of catastrophic leadership, failed governance and appalling decision-making at the top.”
The dispute stretches back to November 2024, when the university revealed an unexpected £30 million deficit and warned compulsory redundancies could be required.
Since then, 815 jobs have been cut, while senior management announced plans in June to axe a further 200 posts.
Chapman said she hoped the arrival of a new principal and vice-chancellor would mark a change in approach.
She added: “Some of those responsible have now gone. With a new Principal and Vice Chancellor about to take office, I hope management will turn the page, listen to staff and students, and give reassurance to everyone worried about their livelihoods.
“As both an MSP and Rector, I have heard directly from staff and students who are deeply concerned about what the future holds for the university and for Dundee.”
Chapman said some of the challenges facing Dundee were unique to the institution but argued others reflected wider pressures facing higher education.
She added: “In many respects, Dundee is the canary in the coalmine. What is happening here underlines the urgent need to listen to staff and students, learn from the failures of the past, and give this institution the brighter future it deserves.”
UCU previously said almost 80% of members backed strike action when its mandate was renewed.
A Dundee University spokesperson said: “We are disappointed by UCU’s decision to take industrial action, especially over such a long period.
“We are particularly disappointed that UCU has decided to attempt to disrupt the life of the university when our students are looking forward to a new academic term, and we call on them to suspend this action.
“This remains a profoundly difficult time for members of our community. While we recognise the right to strike, this action will do nothing to help build a sustainable future for the university.
“Most staff will be working as normal across the university and we expect most classes and student contact time to proceed as normal. We will do all we can to mitigate the impacts on our students and ensure as little disruption to their studies as possible.
“We want to work constructively with the trade unions and have been in regular discussion with them, including on the ongoing collective consultation process.
“We would encourage DUCU to continue to participate in our consultation process, during which important discussions about our proposals for change are instrumental to meaningful engagement with all of our recognised trade unions and our staff.”
