All four unions at Glasgow Caledonian University walk out on ‘historic’ strike

Four unions at a Glasgow university have walked out in a “historic” strike amid an ongoing dispute over job cuts.

Around 200 members of staff at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) are striking over job cuts and the university’s refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies.

For the first time, staff with the Unite union, alongside colleagues from the UCU, the EIS and Unison, walked out together from the institution on Thursday.

According to the union, the dispute is over plans to cut about 40 posts – which could include compulsory redundancies – in response to a £33m drop in income over the last two years.

Karen Lorimer, UCU branch president, said that management at the university moved straight to compulsory redundancies rather than considering other options.

“While we do not disagree that there has been a reduction in the income at the university, in part because of the reduction of international students, however, a reduction in income doesn’t automatically mean compulsory redundancies,” she said.

“Our management moved immediately to that option when it should be the last resort, we don’t believe we are at that point where it is required.

“Four unions standing together is unheard of, in the history of GCU it has never happened in 35 years. Management should be listening to that, but instead, we have a principal who is not even in the country today.”

In March, GCU announced plans to cut around 100 jobs as part of £10m in cost savings, due to a decline in international student numbers.

Security staff, cleaners, couriers, accommodation and registry workers at the university walked out for a 15-day period from October 1, while staggered action by different groups took place on other days.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Glasgow Caledonian University’s attack on jobs, pay and conditions is unnecessary and a vindictive choice by its management.

“Our members have been left with no option but to fight back against these unnecessary cuts.”

Alison MacLean, Unite regional co-ordinating officer, added: “This is historic. It is the first time all campus unions have collectively taken industrial action at Glasgow Caledonian, it demonstrates the strength of feeling among the workers.

“We want a guarantee that nobody will be forced out of the door, but the university’s management has refused to rule this out.

“The joint action will force the university to close its doors and lecture rooms. That is a sad position for the workers and students to be in but that’s a situation the university has brought upon itself.”

The employer said it has worked with Unite and other unions to find alternatives that can be agreed upon, including a mutual severance scheme and vacancy rationalisation.

It said no alternative proposals have been presented by Unite or any other trade unions.

A spokesperson for the university said: “The GCU campus is not set for closure, although we will regrettably have to close the library at 6pm.

“It is disappointing that the unions continue to request that we spend our finite reserves, and remove the potential for compulsory redundancies for the dispute to be resolved.

“The reduction in recurrent income means that this would be irresponsible as it fails to grapple with the long-term structural issues we need to fix.

“Like many universities, we have to make undeniably difficult decisions in the face of a challenging financial climate for higher education.

“We wouldn’t be proposing redundancies unless they were absolutely necessary for the future of the university.

“We have offered to meet union reps to resolve this dispute and find a way for us all to move forward.”

Unison Glasgow Caledonian University branch secretary Davena Rankin said the “unprecedented” sight of all four recognised unions taking strike action together for the first time in GCU’s history reflects the “depth of concern”.

“Staff don’t want to be on picket lines. They want to be supporting students, delivering services and contributing to the success of the university they care deeply about,” Ms Rankin said.

“Unison remains committed to finding a resolution and remains ready to negotiate.

“The university should rule out compulsory redundancies. Then we can begin the work of rebuilding trust, ending industrial action and securing a sustainable future for staff, students and the university.”