UCU strike against job cuts at Glasgow Caledonian University

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After 11 days of strike action at GCU so far, the University & College Union (UCU) members will strike again from tomorrow until Thursday and another six days in November — unless bosses change course.

In March, they announced their intention to slash up to 100 jobs to close a forecast deficit.

But fury among staff has grown as bosses refuse to rule out compulsory redundancies despite a £7.1 million improvement in finances that could see the university turn a surplus by the end of the year.

UCU branch president Karen Lorimer said: “By the end of this action, UCU members at GCU will have been on strike for 20 days in a dispute which doesn’t need to happen and is driven wholly by management’s intransigence.  

“On October 15, every union at the university was out on strike, which was unprecedented in GCU history. Rather than recognising the seriousness of that moment and engaging meaningfully with the unions, the principal was overseas while hundreds of staff were demonstrating their opposition to compulsory redundancies.  

“We remain ready to negotiate a settlement. The principal and executive must now take responsibility for ending this dispute, protecting jobs and allowing staff and students to get back to the work of the university.”

UCU general secretary Jo Grady, who joined the October 15 picket, said: “I saw for myself the resolve of UCU members at GCU and the incredible support from students.  

“Given that, I have no doubt that the unions will win this dispute.”

A spokesperson for Glasgow Caledonian University: “It is disappointing that the unions continue with strike action rather than coming to the table to negotiate.

“We are serious about protecting the future of the University and are ready to hear from the unions once they have a serious counter-proposal for us to consider.

“In the meantime, our priority remains supporting our students and non-striking colleagues who have been affected by strike action as best we can.”