Latest news with #KatrinaCurrie
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dundee University staff vote for strike action
Members of the Unite union at Dundee University have backed strike action as the institution tackles a financial crisis that has put up to 700 jobs at risk. The university faces a £35m deficit and previously announced that hundreds of positions would be cut. It is understood that union members voted 70 to 31 in favour of strike action, with a turnout of almost 61%. Unite said it would support its members "every step of the way in defence of their jobs," while the university said it would wait to hear from the union about any potential strike action. The union said a rally and march involving trade unionists, community activists, students and workers would take place in Dundee City Centre on Tuesday. Katrina Currie, Unite industrial officer, said: "We need every tool in defence of jobs and livelihoods which is why this industrial action mandate is vital." A Dundee University spokesman said: "We have had notification from Unite of the ballot result and we will wait to hear more from the union on any action. "We will continue to engage with all of our campus unions as we work towards a financial recovery." Dundee University cuts to be 'worse than expected' Independent probe into Dundee University finances Dundee University job cuts 'horrific' - Lorraine Kelly Staff were informed of plans to cut 632 posts - about 20% of the workforce - by interim principal Shane O'Neill at a meeting last month. However, in a subsequent letter to Holyrood's education committee, Prof O'Neill said the figure could be as high as 700 posts. Dundee University currently employs 3,259 people on a full-time basis, with 271 jobs currently unfilled. Former Dundee University principal Alan Langlands was recently announced as the chairman of a new taskforce set up to help the university. The taskforce comprises a group of experts from academia, industry and local and national government who will "advise on the future success" of the university. The Scottish Funding Council (SFC), an arms-length body of the Scottish government, recently approved a £22m support package for Dundee University. It said the package would be a mix of low-cost loans and capital grant. The SFC has also launched an independent investigation into the reasons for the "deterioration" in the institution's finances and will attempt to understand "how this came as a surprise to the university leadership". Members of the University and College Union (UCU) Scotland carried out a three-week strike at the university in February.
The National
25-04-2025
- Business
- The National
Scottish university staff set to strike at troubled institution
HUNDREDS of professional services workers at a Scottish university have backed industrial action in a fight for jobs and the institution's future, a union has said. Unite said on Friday staff at Dundee University had called for strikes, after the employer said there could be up to 700 redundancies as it struggles to deal with a £35 million deficit. Affected workers represented by Unite include technicians and student support roles. As part of the initial discussions, the union has welcomed the removal of an 'immediate' redundancy threat for workers, but warned the possibility of job cuts in future remains 'very real'. The union said it is backing demands for the Scottish Government's external taskforce involving unions and other key stakeholders to implement measures to protect the hundreds of jobs and to sustain the future of the university. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham (below) said: 'Unite is totally committed to protecting the livelihoods of hundreds of our members at Dundee University. 'Unite will support our members every step of the way in defence of their jobs.' A rally will be held outside the city's Caird Hall on Tuesday, involving trade unionists, community activists, students and university workers. It will come following an emergency motion on the threat to jobs being tabled by Unite at the STUC annual conference at the venue next week. READ MORE: SNP win by-election with more than double Labour vote as Reform UK surge A march will assemble at 12pm outside the university's Tower Building, which will join with STUC delegates at 12.30pm outside the Caird Hall. Katrina Currie, Unite industrial officer, said: 'Unite welcomes recent steps to remove an immediate redundancy threat to hundreds of workers. 'The threat to our members' jobs however remains very real. (Image: PA) 'We need every tool in defence of jobs and livelihoods which is why this industrial action mandate is vital.' The Scottish Government has provided £22m in liquidity support to the university. The news comes after Edinburgh University announced around 350 staff have taken voluntary redundancy. It came after the university announced it would have to cut £140m from its budget to plug a black hole earlier this year, with job cuts likely. A university spokesperson said: "We have had notification from Unite of the ballot result and we will wait to hear more from the union on any action. We will continue to engage with all of our campus unions as we work towards a financial recovery.' The Scottish Government was approached for comment.
The Herald Scotland
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
University of Dundee staff back strike action over threat to jobs
Affected workers represented by Unite include technicians and student support roles. As part of the initial discussions, the union has welcomed the removal of an 'immediate' redundancy threat for workers, but warned the possibility of job cuts in future remains 'very real'. The union said it is backing demands for the Scottish Government's external taskforce involving unions and other key stakeholders to implement measures to protect the hundreds of jobs and to sustain the future of the university. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Unite is totally committed to protecting the livelihoods of hundreds of our members at Dundee University. 'Unite will support our members every step of the way in defence of their jobs.' A march will assemble on Tuesday outside the university's Tower Building, ahead of a rally at the Caird Hall (Alamy/PA) A rally will be held outside the city's Caird Hall on Tuesday, involving trade unionists, community activists, students and university workers. It will come following an emergency motion on the threat to jobs being tabled by Unite at the STUC annual conference at the venue next week. A march will assemble at 12pm outside the university's Tower Building, which will join with STUC delegates at 12.30pm outside the Caird Hall. Katrina Currie, Unite industrial officer, said: 'Unite welcomes recent steps to remove an immediate redundancy threat to hundreds of workers. 'The threat to our members' jobs however remains very real. 'We need every tool in defence of jobs and livelihoods which is why this industrial action mandate is vital.' The Scottish Government has provided £22 million in liquidity support to the university. The news comes after Edinburgh University announced around 350 staff have taken voluntary redundancy. It came after the university announced it would have to cut £140 million from its budget to plug a black hole earlier this year, with job cuts likely. The Scottish Government and the University of Dundee have been contacted for comment.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dundee University staff to be balloted over strike action
Staff at the University of Dundee are to be balloted on strike action following reports the institution could cut up to 700 jobs. The financially-stricken university is battling to overcome a £35m deficit and previously announced that 632 positions would be cut. However, interim principal and vice-chancellor, Prof Shane O'Neill, told the Scottish government's education, children and young people committee that number referred to full-time equivalent posts, and the actual number of people affected would be higher. The Unite union said it had "no option" but to consider a walkout, accusing the university of "gross financial mismanagement". The university described the announcement of the ballot, which opens on Friday and will close on 24 April, as "hugely disappointing". The university currently employs 3,259 people on a full-time basis and has 271 unfilled positions. Dundee University cuts to be 'worse than expected' Dundee University puts former principal's home on market Unite said it hoped the ballot would halt the threat of compulsory redundancies. Industrial officer Katrina Currie said: "Unite has no option but to respond to the gross financial mismanagement which has shaken Dundee University to its foundations. "Under no circumstances will we allow compulsory redundancies to take place because the workers are blameless, and they should not have to pay the price for incompetence." Ms Currie said a government-backed taskforce should be set up to deal with the issue, describing the Scottish Funding Council investigation into the cause of the crisis as "insufficient". The university's incoming rector, Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman, described the jobs losses as "worse than expected". Prof O'Neill warned some courses could have modules reduced at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Those would likely come from the Business, Life Sciences, Humanities, Geography, Art and Design, Computing, Mathematics and Physics departments. The university has put the five-bedroom home previously used by its former principal on the market in a bid to raise some funding. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Unite will do everything industrially, legally and politically possible to protect the livelihoods of hundreds of workers at Dundee University. "The situation is in danger of spiralling out of control, with the very existence of the university now at risk without government intervention. "Unite will support our members every step of the way in defence of their jobs." A spokesman for the university said: "The decision by Unite to ballot its members, while we continue to develop a revised recovery plan, is hugely disappointing. "We have continued to engage and work constructively with the campus unions throughout what is a highly complex process, dialogue that we feel has been constructive for all parties. "We will do all we can to mitigate the effects on our students of any industrial action." Independent probe into Dundee University finances Greens MSP Chapman to be new Dundee Uni rector
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Dundee University staff to be balloted over strike action
Staff at the University of Dundee are to be balloted on strike action following reports the institution could cut up to 700 financially-stricken university is battling to overcome a £35m deficit and previously announced that 632 positions would be interim principal and vice-chancellor, Prof Shane O'Neill, told the Scottish government's education, children and young people committee that number referred to full-time equivalent posts, and the actual number of people affected would be Unite union said it had "no option" but to consider a walkout, accusing the university of "gross financial mismanagement". The university described the announcement of the ballot, which opens on Friday and will close on 24 April, as "hugely disappointing".The university currently employs 3,259 people on a full-time basis and has 271 unfilled positions. Unite said it hoped the ballot would halt the threat of compulsory officer Katrina Currie said: "Unite has no option but to respond to the gross financial mismanagement which has shaken Dundee University to its foundations."Under no circumstances will we allow compulsory redundancies to take place because the workers are blameless, and they should not have to pay the price for incompetence."Ms Currie said a government-backed taskforce should be set up to deal with the issue, describing the Scottish Funding Council investigation into the cause of the crisis as "insufficient". 'University existence at risk' The university's incoming rector, Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman, described the jobs losses as "worse than expected".Prof O'Neill warned some courses could have modules reduced at undergraduate and postgraduate would likely come from the Business, Life Sciences, Humanities, Geography, Art and Design, Computing, Mathematics and Physics university has put the five-bedroom home previously used by its former principal on the market in a bid to raise some general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Unite will do everything industrially, legally and politically possible to protect the livelihoods of hundreds of workers at Dundee University."The situation is in danger of spiralling out of control, with the very existence of the university now at risk without government intervention."Unite will support our members every step of the way in defence of their jobs." A spokesman for the university said: "The decision by Unite to ballot its members, while we continue to develop a revised recovery plan, is hugely disappointing."We have continued to engage and work constructively with the campus unions throughout what is a highly complex process, dialogue that we feel has been constructive for all parties."We will do all we can to mitigate the effects on our students of any industrial action."
