Queen Margaret University (UCU) Strike Calendar

Staff at Queen Margaret University (QMU) have voted for strike action in a dispute over jobs cuts, compulsory redundancies and changes to working practices. University and College Union (UCU) Scotland members at the university voted by 92% to back strike action on a turnout of 67%. Action short of strike, which could involve working to contract, not covering for absent colleagues or voluntary activities, was also backed by 96% of members voting. Members of the branch will now decide their next steps in the dispute.

Senior managers at QMU are looking to make savings of £4million in staffing costs this academic year and in 2027/28 and have refused to rule out the possibility of compulsory redundancies. On top of the job cuts, management also proposed cutting research and scholarship time for academic staff. Research-led teaching is recognised universally as the benchmark across higher education and the union argues that any step backwards on this would harm the university. The union has called for alternative savings and said that they will work with managers to identify where else savings could be made.