UCU union members at Queen Margaret University Edinburgh (QMU) have walked out over management’s £4 million plan to cut jobs, research and scholarship time.

Lecturers began the two-day strike action on Monday, picketing the university’s graduation services at the city’s Usher Hall to both congratulate their students and urge them and their families to join the fight against the cuts.

The plan to cut £4m has so far seen a raft of voluntary redundancies, but bosses have so far refused to rule out compulsory redundancy, leaving five jobs in jeopardy.

Pointing to plans to also cut research and scholarship time for academics at the institution, UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “QMU staff don’t deserve to be treated the way they are by management.  

“Students thinking of applying to study at the university also deserve clarity on who’ll be there to teach them next year and that they’ll be joining a university with research-informed teaching for the duration of their degree.”

QMU UCU branch co-president Judith Lane said: “Management’s refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies, despite the relatively low number affected, shows that these cuts and their brutal nature are a choice rather than a financial necessity.  

“Strike action is always a last resort, but we’ll continue to defend all jobs as well as research and scholarship time at the university.”

A QMU spokesperson responded: “The UCU’s action arises out of the university’s carefully considered programme of action to protect the institution’s long-term financial sustainability. 

“We have been consulting with trade unions throughout this programme and are fully committed to ensuring that all consultation is genuine and meaningful. 

“With the aim of keeping redundancies to the absolute minimum, this consultation has already delivered positive outcomes.”