LECTURERS at Robert Gordon University (RGU) have taken strike action as they fight compulsory redundancies.

Managers at the Aberdeen institution have brought forward two voluntary severance schemes since November 2023 in a bid to slash costs. 

Affected staff members — up to 60 — could now face compulsory redundancy.

The university’s principal and vice-chancellor, Professor Steve Olivier, said “the actions that have been taken so far have been difficult but necessary and the university will continue to make every effort to mitigate compulsory redundancies which will always remain a last resort.” 

But lecturers remained unconvinced, with 83 per cent of Educational Institute of Scotland University Lecturers Association (EIS-ULA) members voting last month to reject the plans and for strike action to stop redundancy plans in their tracks.

Today, as lecturers took to the picket line, EIS-ULA said its members had no alternative but to take industrial action in the face of the “alarming” cuts plans, and called on management to return to the negotiating table and rule out compulsory redundancies.

Otherwise, they warned, further strikes pencilled in between May 1 and 7 and September 8 and 12 will go ahead in earnest.

A spokesperson for the EIS-ULA said it is “prepared to take action until a satisfactory resolution is found.”

EIS national officer for higher education Garry Ross said: “Our members have been left with no other option but to take strike action.

“They are fighting to protect their jobs, the jobs of their colleagues and to safeguard the future of quality education at the university.

“The proposed cuts will have a devastating effect on both staff and students, and the EIS-ULA will not stand by and allow this to happen.”

Professor Olivier meanwhile insisted that “the university will remain in regular and constructive dialogue with the EIS, and other trades union bodies.”

Offering the lecturers the support of allied trade unions across the city, joint secretary of Aberdeen TUC Kate Ramsden said: “We stand in solidarity with EIS-ULA, taking action today at RGU against the threat of compulsory redundancies in the workforce. 

“We are watching a crisis unfolding in higher education, with universities across Scotland facing severe financial hardship.

“This has a knock-on effect on students and also the university-based research sector and needs the urgent intervention of the Scottish government.”