Management push for yet more cuts - Dundee University

The strategy of those that manage Scotland’s higher education institutions appears to be to cut to the point of threatening institutional sustainability. 

With a few exceptions, strike action has been the forced response of university trades unions to the ongoing imposition of ‘strategies for recovery’ across the country. Glasgow Caledonian was the latest to see picket lines, and we recently reported on the situation at the University of Aberdeen.

The University of Dundee (UoD) has long been at the frontline of this management approach; the degree to which the Dundee situation is distinct has long been discussed by Democratic Left Scotland and others. The millions of pounds bail-out which has come from the Scottish Funding Council to UoD underlines the veracity of this position. But management are not done yet. A further 250 job cuts are now in line.

That is 250 jobs on top of the recently announced 125 redundancies and the hundreds of jobs culled in recent years. This situation is one that impacts the city as well as the institution.

Many of the jobs that have been cut are ones that have been traditionally done by people from the local area. The further withdrawal of jobs will have an impact on local areas and on the availability of quality work for young people. Unsurprisingly, given the threat of compulsory redundancies, 79% of UCU members have again voted for strike action. 

The question now for the city, and the exhausted staff and students, is will these further cuts go ahead? Given the bail out from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), the decision to implement university management’s recovery strategy will need to go before the SFC for a decision. 

Maggie Chapman MSP is highlighting in Parliament the need for institutions like Dundee university and bodies like the Scottish Funding Council to adhere to Fair Work Principles.

Dundee Trades Union Council and those involved with Speak Oot are planning a public meeting to highlight to the city what is again happening. Renewed strike action, civil society and parliamentary action are all being employed to try and force management to listen and consider another course. 

We need a sustainable future for Scotland’s higher education sector. Those gambling with the sector’s future need to be exposed to the anger of those looking to safeguard critical thinking, research and jobs in a city that has been acutely exposed to austerity. 

Published 11 June 2026

Image: Maggie Chapman MSP speaking at an event organised by Dundee Trades Union Council