Professional services staff – including IT, administrative, cleaning, security and facilities staff – at the University of Dundee are to be balloted for strike action over jobs cuts, says UNISON today (Tuesday).
University employees are still in the dark about their futures two months after the former principal and vice-chancellor resigned and the university admitted it had serious financial problems, says the union. Staff are working under threat of redundancy, but have yet to learn any details.
The union says the workforce is looking for assurances from the senior managers that they’ve still got jobs and that their working environment will improve.
UNISON Scotland regional organiser Mo Dickson said: “This is a terrible time for university staff and their families. They still are none the wiser as to what’s going on and haven’t received any assurances jobs won’t be cut.
“Employees are trying to find out how Dundee university has ended up with a £30m deficit. All staff hear are rumours, the facts are in short supply. And all the while they’re having to cope with additional work pressures as a result of numerous unfilled job vacancies. It’s a stressful environment and morale is at an all-time low.”
UNISON Scotland area organiser Steve McLellan said: “Going on strike is a last resort. Staff understand this is a complicated situation but they feel they’re not being listened to.
“University employees need concrete proposals they can believe in and a leadership team that will work with them. It would be entirely wrong if hard-working staff who have done everything that’s been been asked of them ended up losing their jobs.”
Notes to editors:
-UNISON has formally notified the University of Dundee today (Tuesday) that it is issuing ballots. Ballot will run from 25 Feb to 18 March
-Professor Iain Gillespie announced he would be stepping down as principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Dundee on 4 December 2024. Professor Gillespie had written to staff in November 2024 warning jobs may need to be cut to help plug a deficit of up to £30m.
-UNISON is Scotland’s largest union, with more than 150,000 members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police services, water, and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.