Staff at the University of the Highlands and Islands have begun voting on possible strike action, as tensions grow over plans to cut jobs at the university’s Executive Office.
The ballot, which opened today (Wednesday 10 September), will ask members of the University and College Union (UCU) whether they are prepared to take part in strike action or action short of a strike, in response to what the union calls a “devastating” plan to axe 16 roles.
The vote will close on Tuesday 7 October.
The university’s senior management announced the cuts last month, aiming to save £2 million.
But union representatives say the plans are short-sighted and risk doing lasting harm to both the staff and students across the Highlands and Islands.
UCU UHI branch president, Professor Conchúr Ó Giollagáin, warned that the job losses would impact far more than the individuals affected.
“Obviously redundancy has a huge impact on the people who lose their jobs, but it also leaves other staff with increased workloads and the university itself less able to deliver the education students and communities across the Highlands and Islands deserve,” he said.
“Times are hard just now across higher education, but the answer isn’t to cut staff who deliver vital services running the university and who ensure its future.
“By announcing these job cuts, university management are showing they’ve not learnt from the mistakes they’ve made in the past.”
The union has made clear that the use of compulsory redundancies is a red line.
Despite calls to move to a voluntary-only approach, Principal Vicki Nairn and the university’s senior team have refused, prompting the union to launch the ballot.
The UCU argues that this is not the first time the Executive Office has faced job losses.
The last round of redundancies came only two years ago, and union leaders fear this could be the beginning of yet another cycle.
“We’re calling on the principal and senior managers to engage with the union, to go through the numbers with us to make sure we’re not back here again in a year’s time,” Ó Giollagáin added.
“We want to work together to identify alternative savings and, crucially, to stop using compulsory redundancies.”
UCU general secretary Jo Grady echoed that message, recalling her own presence on the UHI picket line just two years ago.
“Almost two years ago I stood on the picket line alongside UHI members fighting job losses and trying to secure the university’s future,” she said.
“To be back here again shows management is repeating the same mistakes.
“Sadly, we’re back having to ballot for industrial action, but I’ve no doubt members will do the right thing to save jobs and secure the university’s long-term future by voting ‘yes’.”
