During the third week of action by UCU members, it was announced that 632 posts are to be cut at the University of Dundee (Click here for article University principal says it could close if jobs aren't cut ). The long awaited recovery plan will see University cut staff by 20%.
Professional services, the people that actually run the organisation, look set to bear the brunt of the cuts.
And sadly the future of the institution is not assured. One member of staff leaving today’s meeting spoke for many when they said, 'this crisis was created by the current management'. The problems go back years.
Seeing picket lines outside higher education institutions as part of national campaigns is not unusual. Localised actions are less frequent. But the University of Dundee has seen significant campus-initiated action over recent years. Unions blew the whistle a number of years ago now. Unfortunately mainstream politicians failed to grasp the serious portent of what unions were sharing at the time ( Dundee University branded ‘rogue employer’ | Morning Star). Whilst there are sectoral issues today, there remain specific issues at Dundee.
After March 11th's announcement Unison, UCU and Unite will again make their voices heard again. Management and governance at University of Dundee needs overhauled ( Dundee University Principal Gone ). Those that have taken the University to the brink are proposing massive cuts as the means to save it.
Published 12 March 2025