Striking staff at Edinburgh University have been essentially “locked out” of their jobs amid growing tensions over a proposed £140m in cuts at the institution.
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) began a marking and assessment boycott (MAB) this week in response to plans they say could result in 1,800 jobs being lost.
In kind, senior managers at Edinburgh have vowed to deduct 100% of staff wages from those participating in the boycott, which could result in students facing delays in receiving their final marks and not being able to graduate on time.
Speaking to The Herald, Sophia Woodman, president of Edinburgh UCU, said the “punitive” decision had resulted in “lockout” conditions.
“Management is responding to the MAB in a really punitive way that further harms students,” she said.
“100% pay cuts is essentially a lockout. And they've said to people who go on the MAB that they are not obliged to do any work. They cannot require people to work without pay. So it is good that they've made that explicit.
“But that means the other work we would be doing, like supervising master's students over the summer, preparing for teaching next year, and many other essential tasks, may not happen. Because if staff are not being paid, should they be doing that work out of the goodness of their hearts?”
A lockout occurs when the managers of a company refuse to let their employees work during a labour dispute.
While university bosses have not forced striking staff to stop working, Dr Woodman contended that the 100% pay cuts nevertheless have resulted in the same outcome.
Dr Woodman, a senior lecturer in sociology, said that UCU leaders are ready to negotiate with university management on the deductions.
In 2023, staff at the university refused to mark exams amid a nationwide dispute over pay and pensions. At the time, a negotiated agreement between the union and managers resulted in 50% of wages being deducted from staff involved in the MAB.
However, three years later, management has little desire to soften the blow of the 100% pay cuts, Dr Woodman claimed.
She said: “If you do a lockout, people are not going to be doing lots of other things that are important and student-facing. But this year they don't want to talk about that.”
An email sent to staff last week laid out the scope of the pay deductions.
University human resources officials said that participating in the boycott constitutes a “breach of contract of employment”.
In response, the letter stated that 100% of pay would be deducted from participating staff “due to the potentially significant impact on students”.
“Staff who are participating in the boycott will not be obliged to carry out any other work (including non-marking and assessment work) while they are participating,” it added.
An Edinburgh University spokesperson declined to add to public comments made by principal and vice chancellor Professor Peter Mathieson last week.
At the time, Professor Mathieson accused the UCU of “purposefully targeting” via the MAB, which he said was “completely unjustifiable".
He added: “[This] will add unnecessary strain on our students during an already challenging and important time.”
Professor Mathieson, who is believed to be paid more than £400,000 for his role as the university’s top executive, continued:“Students will understandably have very real concerns about the disruption this boycott will cause, given that for some this may impact receiving awards or outcomes on progression.
“We will take all practical steps to keep exams and coursework submissions on track to support our students’ ability to progress and graduate.
“The University will continue to offer consultation with union representatives and continue to uphold our commitments under the agreement reached in December 2025, as we believe this is in the best interests of our staff.”
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The December agreement saw the UCU call off industrial action in exchange for greater staff and trade union consultation, as well as a pledge that no staff be placed at risk of redundancy because of cost savings until 28 April.
The principal's most recent statement comes several weeks after he was accosted by anti-cuts and pro-Palestine campaigners while sitting in Black Medicine Coffee Company on Drummond Street.
Footage shared on social media showed crowds gathering outside the coffee shop, clutching signs and banners and shouting ‘Shame on you”.
A university spokesperson later said that Professor Mathieson had been “subjected to harassment and personally threatening behaviour” by the protestors.
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