University of Dundee to scale back job cuts after union backlash

The University of Dundee has announced new plans to cut around 300 jobs, down from the initial prediction of 700.

The institution will seek further public funding under the new plans and integrate a new operating model.

The development of an “alternative pathway” to funding comes after staff voted in favour of strike action last week.

Dundee announced last year it was facing a £35 million deficit and initial predictions made by interim principal Shane O’Neill suggested 700 jobs could be shed to make up the funding gap.

He has since announced a number of steps will be taken to avoid this, saying: “We have been continuing to have positive and constructive engagement with the Scottish Funding Council and other stakeholders to develop an alternative pathway towards financial recovery.

“We have sought to find a financially viable way forward that would mitigate substantially the immediate need for large numbers of job losses.”

The University and College Union (UCU) led a number of protests and balloted members on strike action in protest against the cuts.

Dundee UCU branch co-president, Melissa D’Ascenzio, told the BBC: “It is a relief that university management has backed away from the brutal plans to cut up to 700 jobs.

“This backtracking is in no doubt down to the relentless pressure from UCU, from all the campus unions and the support they’ve received from the city of Dundee, local communities and from across the political spectrum.”

Professor Shane added: “There are still several challenging steps to be taken in order to clear this pathway to progress. We also need to ensure that the steps we take do succeed in allowing us to access commercial lending, as that will be essential for long term sustainability.

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“The proposed route forward will require significant additional public funding. We are engaged in discussions, through the Scottish Funding Council, as we look to secure that support over the next two years, including any related conditions and assurances. Further liquidity support funding may also be required.”

The UCU continues to push the university to remove any threat of compulsory redundancies from its plans. This demand is shared with UCU branches across the country at universities also facing funding crises like The University of Edinburgh and The University of Aberdeen.

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