STAFF at a Scottish university are to go on strike next week amid a dispute over "unnecessary" job cuts.
Trade union Unison confirmed on Tuesday that professional services staff, such as IT teams, security and admin workers, will walk out at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) on Friday, September 4, for a week.
It comes as members voted "overwhelmingly" for industrial action after GCU announced restructuring plans in March, which Unison has argued puts up to 100 jobs at risk through compulsory redundancies.
The strikes will take place at the beginning of the academic year, which the trade union said will "have a significant impact on student services" such as registration, issuing of ID cards, timetables and accommodation.
Unison represents around 150,000 workers who provide public services in education, local government, the NHS, social care, police services, water and energy.
Unison GCU branch secretary Davena Rankin said: “Compulsory redundancies are completely unnecessary when the university is sitting on more than £90m in the bank.
"Management claims finances are squeezed, but somehow found £4.5m to buy land. That doesn't sit well with threatening the livelihoods of frontline workers who keep this campus running.
“Strike action is always a last resort, especially during the busiest time of the year. The last thing staff want to do is cause disruption to students who are finding their feet, but they feel forced to take a stand against these reckless cuts.
“Axing up to 100 jobs will severely damage student support systems and create needless anxiety for the dedicated workforce. The university must stop hoarding cash and buying up land, and instead start investing in the education and welfare of its students.”
Meanwhile, Unison Scotland regional organiser Janet Stewart said: “The Scottish Government must intervene to help settle this matter. Staff need a guarantee there'll be no compulsory redundancies. They currently face huge uncertainty and stress.
“Workers would rather not strike, but with their jobs under threat, they feel they've no choice. There's still time to get back to the negotiating table and settle this dispute."
A GCU spokesperson said: “We want to reassure prospective, new and returning students, and their families, that we are looking forward to welcoming them to Glasgow Caledonian University for our open day and the start of the new academic year. We are putting plans in place to minimise disruption and maintain services across our campuses throughout the period of industrial action.
“Like many universities across the UK, Glasgow Caledonian University is facing significant financial pressures, principally because of a reduction in international student recruitment. Against this challenging backdrop, our priority is to secure the University’s long-term financial future so it can continue to deliver a great learning experience and outcomes for our students, and research and innovation that benefits the city of Glasgow and beyond.
“We have been working with our union colleagues since the Spring and it is important that this engagement continues. We have prioritised voluntary measures for redundancy, redeployment opportunities and other mitigations throughout this process. However, at this stage, we cannot rule out compulsory redundancies.”
