STAFF at a Scottish university have accused bosses of using the financial crisis engulfing higher education to justify “ideological” job cuts despite the institution having almost £90 million in cash reserves.
Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) is pushing ahead with a programme of compulsory redundancies prompting ongoing strike action.
However, staff and union representatives have questioned the financial justification for the cuts, pointing to GCU's recent surpluses and arguing its position is markedly different from universities facing more acute financial difficulties.
GCU's latest published accounts show it recorded an underlying operating surplus of £12.6m in 2024/25 and had £88.9m in cash at the end of July 2025.
The university's income did fall from £178.3m in 2023/24 to £170.9m the following year, amid pressures facing the higher education sector including a decline in international student recruitment.
It comes amid a wider financial crisis across Scottish higher education, with a new report showing the majority of Scottish universities are in financial deficits.
But staff facing redundancy told The National they believe compulsory job losses are an ideological choice and not an immediate financial necessity.
One lecturer, who asked to remain anonymous amid fears about speaking publicly during the redundancy process, said: “None of us dispute that higher education is facing serious financial challenges as a whole.
“We know international student numbers have fallen and we know universities are facing difficult decisions, including our own.
“But the real problem for us and our concern is that GCU isn't currently in the financial crisis that it's presenting that to the wider world as part of its narrative.”
She added: “From where we stand as staff, compulsory redundancy is not simply something that's inevitable, that needs to be done. It's a choice.
“It's a political choice that's being made about how to respond to future financial pressures.”
The academic accused GCU of benefiting from a wider perception that universities across Scotland are facing the same degree of financial difficulty.
She contrasted its position with the University of Dundee, which required government support after falling into severe financial difficulties.
“We're not Dundee,” she said. “We don’t need a bailout from the Government.
“Yes, we've got to look forward and assess our risks. Yes, international markets have changed.
“But these are all things within GCU's current financial context that could be addressed in partnership with the staff and it doesn't need the brutality of compulsory redundancies at this moment.”
Asked whether the difficulties experienced by other Scottish universities had made it easier to justify cuts at GCU, she said: “Absolutely.”
“They're using that to their advantage at the moment in terms of how it's being presented to the wider world – people assume GCU must be in crisis too.
“We're not in a financial black hole, we're in a strong financial position".
The claims were echoed by UCU representatives at the university.
Gregor Clunie, Branch Secretary of GCU UCU, told The National he believed the approach was both “ideological and strategic”.
He said university management had responded to the prospect of future financial difficulties with “very early and aggressive action”.
Clunie said: “Certainly at GCU, management have not so far presented evidence establishing a reasonable financial rationale for compulsory redundancies.”
GCU had recorded a surplus of £12.6m in their latest published accounts to July 2025, with cash reserves of £88.9m. The union also told The National that the university's as-yet unpublished figures for the financial year ending July 2026 were expected to show another significant surplus and an increase in reserves.
Clunie also said management figures showed 222 roles had already been lost since March 2024 through voluntary severance and vacancy management.
He argued that if further reductions were necessary, they could be achieved gradually without compulsory redundancies.
The anonymous lecturer said staff were already working under intense pressure and warned further reductions could make providing a quality education almost impossible.
GCU already ranks bottom of The Guardian's UK university rankings for its student-to-staff ratio, with 26 students for every member of teaching staff.
“We're already running on skeleton staffing in terms of teaching,” she said.
“Staff are working morning, noon and night, weekends, to try to do their best for the students.
“Ultimately, who suffers the most? The students.”
Clunie criticised the university's financial forecasting, claiming projections shared with unions had repeatedly forecast deficits which, in the end, failed to materialise.
He said: “They basically just take the worst-case scenario, and then they refuse to think about alternatives.”
The anonymous lecturer also argued there was scope for the university to respond differently to future pressures.
She said: “Nobody's disputing that the university has got to evaluate its risk, it's got to assess the future, it's got to think ahead.
“But with £90-whatever million in reserves that they've got, there's a little bit more scope to play with before you make the decision to put people out of work.”
The anonymous lecturer, who is among those at risk of redundancy, said: “Nobody wants to be on strike.
“We just want to do our jobs. We just want to do our best for our students.
“People are genuinely fearful for their livelihoods, for their families, for their futures and for what's going on at the university.”
A spokesperson for Glasgow Caledonian University previously said: “We are disappointed that our campus trade union members have voted to strike. The University is experiencing a significant reduction in recurring income, and alongside the challenging and unpredictable financial climate, it would be irresponsible for the University to draw on our reserves as the unions suggest.
“If we are to continue to deliver for our students, we must remain on a sound financial footing, which unfortunately means making difficult decisions now.
“Our door remains open and we are willing to continue discussions with the trade unions where there is a realistic prospect of resolving the dispute. In the meantime, we are putting plans in place to minimise disruption to students.”
