THE University of Dundee's existence is at risk unless urgent government action is taken, a union has urged.
Unite the Union has demanded urgent government action to protect hundreds of jobs at Dundee University after announced by the university on Tuesday revealed 632 jobs will be cut from its 3000-strong workforce.
The university said compulsory redundancies could be possible, with a collective consultation on redundancy beginning soon.
It comes as the university is struggling to reduce a £35 million deficit – a £5m increase on the original shortfall. The university said £17m of savings had already been identified.
The university has indicated that the scale of staff cuts meant that it is "very unlikely that the need for compulsory redundancy will be mitigated entirely."
Unite who represent hundreds of workers at the university in various roles such as cleaning, security, janitorial and technicians has responded by stating that compulsory redundancies "will not be tolerated" and it would consider all options available to it in order to protect jobs.
The trade union added that the "very existence" of the university is under threat following ‘gross financial mismanagement’ at the university. The union added that despite an additional £15m for the Scottish Funding Council to support universities such as Dundee by the Scottish Government more measures were necessary to protect hundreds of livelihoods.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The distressing situation unfolding at Dundee University is down to gross financial mismanagement plain and simple. It is not alarmist to say that the very existence of the university is at risk and this would have a devastating economic impact on the city.
“Unite will support our members every step of the way in defence of their jobs.”
Unite has highlighted that there are wider issues facing the further and higher education sector including a lack of funding and financial mismanagement. The union said the Scottish government needs to take action to deliver accountable, representative and credible governance structures because the entire sector is in "financial turmoil".
Alison MacLean, Unite lead officer for further and higher education said: “The proposal to axe hundreds of jobs with Dundee University openly admitting that many will be on a compulsory redundancy basis will not be tolerated by Unite in any circumstances. We will fight for every job every step of the way. Unite will immediately consider every option open to us including balloting our members for industrial action.”
“The Scottish Government need to step in to stabilise the situation at Dundee University because there are massive socio-economic dangers for the city."
"There are also deeply alarming issues unfolding across the whole further and higher education sector in Scotland including a lack of funding and financial mismanagement which is a contagion spreading from university to university. We need immediate action by government to ensure that there is investment along with accountable and credible governance structures because the entire sector is in financial turmoil.”
