Dundee University calls off strike as compulsory redundancies are paused

Staff at the University of Dundee have called off the final day of a planned five-week strike after the university agreed to pause the next steps in its compulsory redundancy process for two weeks.

The University and College Union (UCU) branch suspended the action following a decision by the university’s new principal and vice-chancellor, Angela Scott, to allow further discussions aimed at resolving the dispute.

The strike was part of a long-running conflict over staffing cuts and the university’s financial recovery plans. Staff had planned 25 days of industrial action between Sep 21 and Oct 23, opposing proposals to cut a further 200 jobs.

New leadership opens talks with union

Scott, who took over from Nigel Seaton earlier in October, announced the pause in a message to staff on October 22. She said the university would use the two-week period to continue discussions with Dundee University and College Union representatives.

Scott said she wanted to explore whether an agreement could reduce the number of compulsory redundancies and provide greater certainty for staff. She also acknowledged concerns raised by students about the effect of industrial action on their studies and their confidence in the university.

However, she warned that the uncertainty surrounding the dispute could not continue indefinitely. The university intends to reach a conclusion before the winter break, she said, while maintaining that financial sustainability remains essential to its future.

The pause is temporary and does not mean the university has withdrawn its proposed job cuts. The outcome will depend on the discussions between management and union representatives.

Dispute follows years of job losses

The university’s financial difficulties became public in 2024, when it announced a deficit of £35 million. Since then, 815 jobs have been lost, according to the union, which argues that further reductions could damage the institution’s ability to operate effectively.

The latest dispute centres on plans to cut another 200 roles. Union representatives have argued that the scale of the reductions could affect academic provision and professional services, while staff have raised concerns about the consequences of continued uncertainty.

Dundee University and College Union welcomed the decision to pause the redundancy process, saying the outcome followed weeks of strike action and efforts by members to press management to negotiate.

The union also highlighted concerns about the redundancy process, particularly the impact on professional services staff and some academic employees.

Resolution remains uncertain

The two-week pause provides an opportunity for both sides to seek an agreement, but compulsory redundancies remain possible. Scott has said discussions must take place within a clear and limited timeframe, with the university continuing to pursue financial sustainability.

For staff, the immediate priority is whether negotiations can reduce the number of compulsory job losses and provide clarity about their future employment. Students, meanwhile, have faced disruption during the five-week industrial action.

The next stage of talks will determine whether the pause leads to a broader agreement or whether the dispute resumes after the temporary suspension ends.