STAFF at a Scottish university could go on strike amid an ongoing dispute over cuts.
The University and College Union (UCU) said staff are prepared to strike at Edinburgh University over the threat of compulsory redundancies.
The university has warned it needs to make £140 million in cuts as it was forecast to run a deficit in coming years.
On Monday, the union said 59% of members turned out for a consultative ballot, with 75% willing to strike.
Meanwhile, 85% said that they would also take part in action short of strike, which could include working to contract and refusing to cover for absent colleagues or undertake voluntary duties.
If the same vote was repeated in a statutory ballot, which could open in the coming weeks, then the university will face the possibility of strikes and other action on campus.
The union claimed that if the cuts go ahead, they would be the biggest ever seen in the Scottish higher education sector.
Edinburgh University principal Peter Mathieson said the current financial position was not sustainable.
"We have been and will continue to liaise with our joint trade unions throughout this process.
"The actions we must take now – which include a reduction of both staff and non-staff operating costs – will ensure that we remain strongly placed for the future, so that we can continue to attract the brightest minds and remain a world-leading university."
Meanwhile, Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said management needed to listen to staff.
She said: "The consultative ballot results show a clear willingness to take action against cuts and to defend jobs.
"Instead of pressing on with plans to make the biggest cuts ever seen in Scottish higher education, Peter Mathieson needs to work with UCU, use the university's reserves and rule out compulsory redundancies.
"Politicians need to up their game as well and make clear that cuts of this scale are completely unacceptable, unnecessary and will cause lasting harm to one of Scotland's most respected universities."
UCU branch president, Sophia Woodman, added: “This is a strong vote for industrial action by members in this consultative ballot. Senior managers at the university should be under no illusion about the strength of feeling of staff.
“Instead of manufacturing a crisis, senior managers should be sitting down with the union for talks and looking to resolve this dispute before it escalates further.
“Members have been clear that they strongly oppose compulsory redundancies and we expect the principal to heed that message.”
