Staff at the University of Aberdeen will strike for eight days after failing to strike an agreement with the establishment.
The University and College Union (UCU) said it had put an offer to the management of the university which would have seen the action suspended.
The union said it had proposed no redundancies for six months, with the University of Aberdeen to instead seek savings by voluntary means such as running a voluntary severance scheme and seeking savings from non-staff budgets.
The branch said it would have called off the strike and not proposed any further industrial action in return.
A source previously told The Herald that as many as 200 people could lose their jobs, which represent 140 FTE (full-time equivalent) positions and the university seeks to save £12million.
Read More:
- Aberdeen University pauses 21 postgraduate courses
- Here's when University of Aberdeen staff will be on strike
- Fears of job losses amid Aberdeen University restructuring bid
Dan Cutts, UCU Aberdeen co-chair, said: "By rejecting our proposal to guarantee job security for six months, senior management have put staff livelihoods and the student experience at risk. Although the proposal was submitted last week, UCU were required to wait a further week for a response due to the Principal’s absence in the United States.
"Throughout this period, we have consistently demonstrated our willingness to engage constructively and resolve this dispute.
"We will oppose these destructive plans at every stage, using every means available to defend our members, protect jobs, and safeguard the student experience.
Mike Williamson, official with the UCU union, said: “Last week UCU put a proposal to University of Aberdeen senior management to call off our industrial action in exchange for a guarantee that nobody would be placed at risk of redundancy for six months. Yesterday we learned that they have rejected this proposal, to the great disappointment of staff and students.
"University court meets next week and will be asking questions about why this strike action could not be avoided. From UCU’s perspective it is clear who is to blame.”
A University of Aberdeen spokesperson said: "We met with UCU representatives yesterday but disappointingly fell short of mutual agreement.
"We remain unable to rule out compulsory redundancy, however have committed to prioritising every possible voluntary measure in seeking to avoid these."
Share