The Dundee University branch of the University and College Union (UCU) will today begin balloting members on strike action over the university’s plans to cut up to 120 staff posts.
The union says it had agreed to a voluntary severance scheme on the condition that it did not target specific posts.
However, the UCU says that at the most recent meeting of the university court, senior management pushed ahead with plans for a programme of targeted job losses.
The union say the university’s job loss plans sat awkwardly alongside the principal’s praise for staff and students last week as he accepted the credit for Dundee’s proud showing in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey.
Janice Aitken, Dundee UCU branch representative, said while strike action was always a “last resort”, they had “exhausted all other avenues”.
“We have offered to support efforts to increase income and suggested alternative ways forward that do not involve staff being made redundant,” she added.
“However, the university seems intent on rushing through plans to cut posts, which risk damaging the university’s reputation and students’ education.
“Last week the University of Dundee was named the best in Scotland for student experience and, when accepting the tribute, the principal said the award was a credit to all staff.
“With that in mind, it is extremely surprising that he is in the process of cutting around 10% of staff, but still presumably expects the same quality of experience.”
Mary Senior, a UCU Scotland official, said: “A number of staff at the university have approached us to say that they are losing confidence in the current management team to lead the university.
“We have real concerns about the timing of consultation that has been undertaken by the senior management team.
“We understand that the cuts were being planned as early as September 2013, yet the trade unions were only made aware of them in February.”