University of Dundee staff begin five-week strike over job cuts

Staff at the University of Dundee have commenced a five-week strike action lasting from September 21 to October 23. The industrial action, organized by the University and College Union (UCU), covers the first five weeks of the academic semester.

The dispute centers on the university's decision to use compulsory redundancies to address financial pressures. Following the announcement of a £30m deficit, the institution has already cut 815 jobs, with plans to remove an additional 200 posts. The union argues that savings from staff cuts and Scottish Government funding should be sufficient to avoid compulsory redundancies.

In addition to weekday walkouts, union members may engage in action short of a strike, such as refusing to cover for absent colleagues, which could lead to a boycott of marking and assessments. The university has advised students to continue attending scheduled classes unless notified otherwise and stated that the 'No Detriment' process will account for disruptions regarding assessments and examinations.