UWS lecturers to be balloted on strike action over job cuts

The university, which has campuses in Paisley, Ayr, Dumfries, Hamilton and London, had a deficit of £14.4m in 2023/24 and is expected to post an £8.4m deficit for the current financial year.

The EIS union is looking to secure a guarantee that there will be no compulsory redundancies as part of the process, with a consultative ballot showing support for strike action if that guarantee is not made.

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The union said it has held "unproductive discussions with university management" over the changes and the announcement of job cuts.

It has now announced that its members will be balloted on a strike, opening on Monday, June 23, and to close at 12:00 PM on Tuesday, July 22.

Garry Ross, EIS National Officer for Higher Education, condemned the university’s approach, stating, "It is deeply regrettable that the University of the West of Scotland has chosen to make this large number of job cuts and pushed staff to the point of balloting for strike action. The proposed redundancies are a short-sighted and a damaging strategy that will have a devastating impact on the livelihoods of dedicated staff, many of whom have worked at UWS for years.

"Furthermore, it will inevitably lead to a decline in the academic provision, research capacity, and overall student experience at the university. We urge UWS to step back from this path and engage meaningfully with the EIS ULA (University Lecturers Alliance) to secure a no compulsory redundancy guarantee.

"The EIS ULA branch at UWS has a strong mandate from its members to move to this statutory ballot, with a previous consultative ballot showing overwhelming support for strike action if a no compulsory redundancy guarantee was not secured.

"Members are resolute in their commitment to protect jobs and ensure the continued excellence of UWS as a vital institution within the Scottish higher education landscape.

"The EIS ULA calls upon UWS management to reconsider its position on any planned redundancies and enter into negotiations aimed at achieving a fair and equitable resolution to their dispute that safeguards jobs and protects the future of the university.

"The union remains committed to finding a negotiated settlement but is determined to win the ballot and will not hesitate to take industrial action if necessary to defend its members and the integrity of academic provision at the University of the West of Scotland."

A UWS spokesperson said: "We have sought to engage with our recognised trade union representatives ahead of and throughout this process, including the invitation to participate fully. Having been disappointed previously when the recognised trade unions withdrew their engagement, we provided an open invitation to return and contribute to shaping the future of UWS. We are pleased that this week they returned to the table to join the University in identifying approaches to avoiding compulsory redundancy, with a number of proposals having already been tabled.

“Our approach has been transparent from the outset and we have actively sought to co-create, with colleagues and trade union partners, a business case to address ongoing student population pressures, the challenging external funding environment and the resultant financial consequences being felt across the entire sector. The aim throughout this University-wide process is to put UWS on a more sustainable financial footing to enable an even better student experience and enhanced graduate outcomes.

“In common with the rest of the higher education sector across the UK, the University is operating in a very challenging financial environment exacerbated by external factors that have driven a significant change in the size and shape of our student population, and the associated funding.”