Edinburgh University staff to strike in June following dispute over £140m budget cuts

University of Edinburgh staff are set to strike in a dispute over proposed £140m budget cuts.

The strike will begin with a one day walk out on June 20th  and be followed by five days of strike action at the start of the new academic year in September.

The confirmed September strike dates are due to begin in the university’s welcome week on September 8th-12th 2025, BBC reports. 

This follows the £140 million budget cuts proposed by Edinburgh University. Staff have decided to take strike action due to Sir Peter Mathieson’s failing to rule out compulsory redundancies.

Staff will also take part in action short of striking including working to contract, not covering for absent colleagues, and boycotting administrative work relating to the budget cuts.

The UCU hasn’t yet announced a marking and assessment boycott but this has been under consideration.

However, this move has been held back in hopes that senior management agree to rule out compulsory redundancies and end the dispute.

Unions argue the cuts are unnecessary given the extent of the university’s cash reserves and assets in Edinburgh.

The strike dates were announced following a ballot of all members of the union. 84 per cent of members chose to back strike action. A further 93 per cent of members to back action short of strike.

Sophia Woodman, the UCU Edinburgh branch president, said: “It’s not too late for the principle of the university to stop this strike.”

She added “But we’re clear that the use of compulsory redundancies is unacceptable. With the resources and reserves held by the university it can easily afford to rule out sacking staff.”

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Additionally, Edinburgh University’s principal, Sir Peter Mathieson, was called to give evidence at an Education, Children and Young People Committee on Wednesday morning following the announcement of cuts in February.

Sir Peter Mathieson previously said that cuts of that magnitude could not be reached solely by voluntary redundancies.

This caused great deal of anxiety among university staff members and contributed to the decision in favour of industrial action.

However, at the committee meeting on Wednesday, Sir Peter stated the university “hadn’t specifically put any jobs under threat.” Yet he also admitted that they are seeking to reduce recurring costs by £140m to £90m of which £50m will come from staffing costs.

He also commented on the planned strike action saying: “We respect colleagues’ right to take part in industrial action, and will do all we can to minimise disruption to students should this take place.”

The principal also stated the university was taking “pre-emptive action” in the form of budget cuts to remain in a “sustainable position.”

He added: “I’m confident the action we’re taking now is in the best interests of the university.”

The committee also questioned the high salaries of the university senior leadership team, the chancellor himself earns over £400,000 per year,a figure he claimed he couldn’t recall off the top of his head.

He also said: “you could pay the senior team at the University of Edinburgh nothing and it would make almost no difference to the size of the expenditure challenge”.

The University of Edinburgh has been approached for comment.