The University Court approved Voluntary and Compulsory Redundancies at its meeting today, which sets out a staff reduction of 154.
Almost two years after the University’s financial issues were made public, Court has approved the third round of Voluntary Redundancies. The University is now close to losing 1000 staff over the last two years, either through Voluntary Redundancies or through staff leaving and not being replaced.
Members of Parliament, Scottish Parliament, Union Heads, Univesity staff and students had all voiced concerns on consultation period preceding todays decision. A large presence of anti redundacy protesers gathered outisde Bonar Hall where court met to make the decision.
This round of staff cuts was announced in the Strategy to Recovery, which aimed to save £20 million annually for the University by cutting around 190 full time equivalents (FTE). That number was later reduced to 154 after the consultation period.
The University is also offering staff in the voluntary redundancy pools the chance to apply for 38 new posts created during the consultation period.
The University has said it will aim to make all redundancies on a voluntary basis, but it will use compulsory redundancies if necessary. Compulsory redundancies would only be needed if not enough people come forward from each voluntary redundancy pool.
Staff from DUCU have said that if the University fails to rule out compulsory redundancies then they will strike for five weeks from the start of semester. The strikes will run from 21 September to 23 October.
A University spokesperson gave a statement when the strike action was announced, saying: “Most staff will be working as normal across the University and we expect most classes and student contact time to proceed as normal.”
A message from Esther Roberton, Chair of Court stated that “The period since the launch of the Strategy to Recovery has been one of the most challenging in the University’s recent history.”
Also stated was “Throughout this process, feedback has helped strengthen and refine the proposals now being taken forward. Dawnne Mahmoud, Chief People Officer, will be writing to colleagues before the end of this week regarding the next steps following Court’s decision today.”