More than 400 staff members at the University of Strathclyde are voting on whether to take strike action following proposals to cut almost 80 jobs as part of a £35 million cost-saving plan.
The ballot, organised by the trade union Unite, includes technicians, cleaners, maintenance workers, and security staff. It will run until February, with union leaders accusing the Glasgow-based university of “treating staff with contempt” by failing to properly consult before putting jobs at risk.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said members had been left with “no option but to look at strike action”, criticising university management for pursuing redundancies when, she argued, Strathclyde remains in a strong financial position. “Many staff are understandably fearing for their livelihoods,” she said. “The university cannot get away with treating its dedicated workers with such contempt.”
The University of Strathclyde declined to comment on the ongoing ballot but previously defended its plans, stating last month that the restructuring was part of a wider financial strategy. “This is a continuation of the approach we have taken over the past two years to manage costs and increase income,” a spokesperson said at the time. “Using a wide range of measures, we are implementing £20m of planned savings this year and £15m next year.”
While the university has not disclosed which roles are at risk, it is understood that posts within Strathclyde Business School and the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) may be affected.
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Unions warn that any strike could disrupt day-to-day operations across the campus, affecting cleaning, laboratory access, and building security. The University and College Union (UCU), which represents lecturers and other academic staff, is also balloting its members on potential industrial action and has vowed to oppose any compulsory redundancies.
Strathclyde, which was named Scottish University of the Year by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, joins a growing list of Scottish higher education institutions facing financial strain. Universities in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and the West of Scotland have each announced cost-cutting measures in recent years, prompting widespread discontent among staff and students alike.
As ballots continue across several campuses, university leaders throughout Scotland face increasing pressure to balance financial sustainability with the workforce stability vital to maintaining their academic reputations.
