by Fred Byrne, Amelia Boag McGlynn & Innes Paton.
University staff are striking over potential compulsory redundancies and plans to cut courses, foregoing their pay for four days this month.
83% of University and College Union (UCU) Aberdeen – who represent academics – voted to back industrial action in January.
Today, academics of various disciplines and some of their students are picketing at entry points to University of Aberdeen’s campus to begin four days of strike action, even as rain and winds sweep the city.
Cars passing along King Street and St Machar Drive honked to show their support while union members braved the wind and rain to hand out leaflets to students heading to campus.
Principal Pete Edwards, who has refused to rule out compulsory redundancies, was seen walking around campus, but avoided interacting with those protesting.
Staff concerned over proposals for minimum student numbers and to merge schools
Last week, the university announced proposals for minimum student-staff ratios and merging 12 schools to form four faculties as it aims to save £12 million over the next two years. This, combined with the university’s longstanding refusal to rule out the prospect of compulsory redundancies, has pushed university staff to strike.
A member of staff who preferred to stay anonymous said “there is a lot more management can do to make the savings they’re looking for. I find it hurtful that senior management have immediately gone to build headroom into their budget, which may effectively end the careers of between 100 and 200 staff members, depending on how the numbers break down. It is unacceptable. It’s time to go back to the books and look at other methods to make savings, instead of immediately jumping to the solution of cuts to staff, who ultimately are the bedrock of this university.”
An economics lecturer told us they are concerned by the proposals to merge departments. They revealed that the business, law and social sciences schools could form one large faculty to reduce administrative costs, stating: “Over time, merging these departments might mean one overarching introductory course, which would negatively impact students’ experiences and their employment prospects.”
A politics lecturer echoed concerns on restructuring: “Merging politics and economics schools means a lack of coherence in programmes and structures. Economics takes a neoliberal positivist approach but in politics we are much more critical of that.”
The last strikes at the university were in November 2022 over staff pay and pensions, with a marking and assessment boycott over pay in May 2023.
An academic in the social sciences school said: “These strikes feel more serious than previous strikes. This is not about pay conditions, it is about livelihoods. Staff at risk are people, often with families. It feels very real.”
A diverse array of staff from different disciplines joined today’s action. A biology academic told us: “Even if our department hasn’t been directly targeted, this will impact the whole university. Many biology students take courses outside the discipline, and I’m afraid that cuts will make our university less attractive.”
“We want assurance that there won’t be any compulsory redundancies,” a striking staff member said, adding: “Senior management refuse to confirm that there will be redundancies. And they won’t say there definitely won’t be compulsory redundancies. And in the meantime, there is no questioning. At yesterday’s staff meeting, senior management cherrypicked the questions they wanted to answer, and they implied all other questions are disrespectful by urging us repeatedly to stay respectful.”
Kirsty Blackman MP raised concern about the future of the university, stating: “Cost savings being made should not impact student experience, student support, or the jobs and livelihoods of staff. Our university is vital to our city. It will not continue to be unless the Senate actually listens to staff concerns.”
Staff morale low amidst unstable future
443 staff have left the University in the last two years. With striking staff being concerned that they may be next on the conveyor belt, staff worry for their mental health.
Katie Cross, lecturer in theology, shared: “A lot of us are here because morale is really low. We feel that day to day, we are not being listened to. This is not affecting us personally and financially, but also our morale.
“We see [mental health issues] very widely. I do casework for the union, and we see that mental health has been a big issue for a long time.
“We want to tell senior management that we are not only fighting for our jobs, we are fighting for each other.”
Students widely support the strikes
83% of students who voted in a Gaudie student newspaper poll of about 100 students said they support the strikes.
Several students picketed alongside staff. Ella, a theology and religion student, said: “Proposed cuts would mean less course options and academic support, and more burnout and crowded classes. I had to support the strikes to get what I want, and what the staff deserve.”
Bertie Hill, an undergraduate student, added: “Staff struggle is our struggle. There is no excuse to remain neutral.”
The Students’ Union have supported academics, backing trade union representatives’ requests, with a Student Council passing a motion in support of strikes. A Student’ Union statement read: “We acknowledge that strikes are always disruptive but we appreciate that UCU has taken measures to mitigate student impact by striking on different days of the week, to avoid affecting certain courses disproportionately.”
University management reacts
A University of Aberdeen spokesperson said: “It is disappointing industrial action has been announced while we look at ways of tackling the challenges facing the University and UK higher education sector. Every effort will be made to minimise the impact of any action on our students who will be given advice and kept updated.”
In a leaked staff memo, Principal Edwards warned staff of “inaccurate” and “unsubstantiated” media reporting about the university after The Herald reported up to 200 jobs are at risk and staff suggestions about which courses might be cut. However, the University has not confirmed the potential numbers of impacted jobs or the courses at risk of discontinuing.
Despite numerous and persistent requests, The Gaudie has been unable to schedule an interview with new Principal Professor Pete Edwards since his appointment in November.