Academics at Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen will begin strike action this month in protest against proposed job cuts and compulsory redundancies.
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) union announced the move after 83% of its members voted in favour of industrial action.
RGU has faced significant financial pressures, leading to the departure of 130 staff through voluntary severance schemes since late 2023.
Despite these efforts, the university plans up to 60 compulsory redundancies, which the EIS has called “alarming” due to their potential impact on teaching quality and student experience.
The first strike is scheduled for 15 April, with additional dates set for 1 May, 7 May, and the week of 8–12 September.
The union has urged RGU management to rule out compulsory redundancies and return to negotiations.
RGU Principal Professor Steve Olivier expressed disappointment over the strike decision but emphasised efforts to minimise redundancies through redeployment and voluntary schemes.
He said: “The university has, at every opportunity, done all that it can to mitigate against the potential of compulsory redundancies.
“This includes the option of staff leaving voluntarily on enhanced terms and, through our redeployment process, having the opportunity of applying for an alternative role within the university.”
EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said: “Any move to strike action is taken as a last resort, but our members at Robert Gordon have been left with no alternative as they seek to fend off the university’s cuts agenda.
“EIS will always stand in opposition to compulsory redundancies, and our members will now commence strike action as the campaign against job cuts at Robert Gordon continues.
“The move follows on from a very clear ballot result, where our members at RGU indicated willingness to take strike action to oppose the university’s programme of cuts.
“The scale of the cuts proposed at RGU is alarming, with significant job losses and a serious impact on learning and teaching across the university.”
The strikes highlight ongoing financial struggles in Scotland’s higher education sector, with staff and unions calling for alternative solutions to safeguard jobs and academic standards.
