Universities in Dundee and Fife have responded to plans for thousands of lecturers and other staff to strike.
University and College Union (UCU) members at 150 universities across the UK will walk out later this month over pay, working conditions and pensions.
More than 70,000 people are expected to take part – including more than 8,000 members in Scotland – which UCU says is the biggest strike to hit the country’s universities.
Staff will strike on November 24, 25 and 30 – but industrial action gets under way on November 23 as employees work to rule.
The UCU says 2.5 million students could face disruption during the strikes.
Universities respond to strike plans
The strikes will affect Dundee, Abertay and St Andrews universities.
The Courier has asked the institutions how the strikes will impact students.
A spokesperson for Dundee University said: “We will not know the impact until the days of the strike action but we will do everything we can to mitigate any impact on students.
“The majority of activity across the university will most likely continue as normal.”
The strikes are taking place just a week after more than 1,000 Dundee University students will celebrate winter graduations.
A spokesperson for Abertay University said: “We are aware of the UCU decision on the industrial action planned for later this month and can confirm the university will remain open as usual during this period.
“We respect colleagues’ right to go on strike and are committed to maintaining a positive dialogue with local UCU members.”
A spokesperson for St Andrews University said: “We hope that colleagues who choose to take industrial action do so in ways which minimise the effects on students after two years disrupted by the pandemic and previous strikes.
“The university will not be closing.”
A spokesperson for UCU says workers at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Perth are not involved.
Why are UCU members going on strike?
The union is asking for a “meaningful pay rise” from universities to deal with the cost of living crisis.
It also wants action to end the use of insecure contracts, saying a third of academic staff are on some form of temporary contract.
UCU is also asking employers across the country to restore benefits relating to pensions amid claims that average workers will lose 35% from their pot, and those at the beginning of their careers will see losses worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said: “This is not a dispute about affordability – it is about choices.
“UCU members do not want to strike but are doing so to save the sector and win dignity at work.”
Conversation