Staff members of the Dundee Branch of the Universities and Colleges Union (DUCU) have staged two consecutive days of strike action outside Tower Building.

Staff are striking after the University Executive Group (UEG) have failed to rule out compulsory redundancies, amid fears that the current round of voluntary severance will not be the last. This comes after a recent vote of no confidence in the University Executive Group (UEG), particularly the Interim Principal and Finance Director.

A staff member, who wished to remain anonymous said:

“We are on strike today and tomorrow because we are fighting against compulsory redundancies as we did almost a year ago when we were told that 632 jobs were on the line for compulsory redundancies. That hasn’t changed.”

This round of strike action marks the 27th walkout in just 16 months. The last strike action was held in January.

A voluntary severance scheme has recently closed, which the University estimates will save £10m. The scheme aims to reduce staff numbers, and subsequently reduce costs, without compulsory redundancies. This is the second round of voluntary severance.

They anonymous staff member continued:

“Dundee UCU estimates that by the end of April, we will have lost 700 staff in the space of a year. And that’s FTE, (full-time equivalent) staff from the core staff of the university.”

Staff members reported feeling burnout and stressed.

When asking a DUCU members how they as staff are feeling, they said,

“We’re still standing. We’re still fighting.”

Another responded, “solidarity within the branch and union is very important.”

Voluntary Severance Scheme(s)

Applications for the voluntary severance scheme closed last week.

Staff who have succesful applications are expected to leave at the end of April. The rapid turnaround will place more pressure on already stretched staff.

Staff members raised concerns over how assesment proccessing, marking, and graduation preperation will be completed without severe disruption.

One staff member said,

“This is really going to affect level 4 students, because all of those marks have to be processed in that one-month period before marks have to go to registry at the beginning of June, and then you have graduation. It’s just going to be a complete chaos.”

What Students Should Know.

Staff are striking in protest against severe budget cuts to the university, which means staff cuts.

The consequences will be felt by students. One staff member said this may be felt “in terms of programs that are not going to run or reduce number of module choice.”

“In terms of the VS Schemes it is all the secretaries that are leaving, the indispensable support staff.”

Staff gave examples of how their students have already been impacted from being placed in the wrong module and receiving module grades before even starting the module. All as a result of overworked and understaffed secretary staff.

Staff have called for student solidarity. They remain adimant about protecting students from the worst affects of the financial crisis. The message to students is clear:

“Our working conditions are your learning conditions” one member said, urging students to challenge senior management and refuse “platitudes” at face value.