Staff At Aberdeen University Being Balloted For Strike Action Over Job Losses

Staff at the University of Aberdeen are being balloted for strike action over recent job losses.

The ballot opens today and will run until the 8th of June.

It's all due to the university's recent plans to axe 150 jobs in a bid to save 10.5 million pounds.

The University and College Union say they are willing to work with the university to manage the situation, but that its members will not sit back and watch jobs disappear.

Staff are also being asked if they would be willing to take lesser action such as only working contracted hours.

Rachel Shanks, Aberdeen UCU branch representative, said: ‘The University of Aberdeen has a great international reputation and only last week jumped four places in the rankings of UK universities. ‘Strike action is always a last resort, but unless the university rules out compulsory redundancies we feel we will be left with no other option. Aberdeen will only maintain its reputation for offering a student experience of the highest quality and excellence in teaching and research if the staff who undertake the research and teach the students are there to do the jobs in the first place.’

On Friday, the University announced that 190 staff have expressed interest in taking voluntary redundancy.