University of the Highlands and Islands (UCU) Strike Calendar
Strike Type: Education
Latest University of the Highlands and Islands Industrial Action Updates (2)
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at the University of Edinburgh have made significant progress in their dispute concerning job cuts after undertaking nine strike days.
The agreement at Edinburgh includes a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies until the end of July 2026 due to cost-saving programs, the establishment of a voluntary severance scheme for academic staff, and enhanced redeployment offers.
Furthermore, the employer committed to greater transparency regarding 'protected conversations' and agreed to meaningful consultation with the UCU during the design phase of organizational change proposals.
Acceptance of this offer means the Edinburgh branch will commit to no further industrial action under its current ballot mandate ending in April 2026, though the acceptance was narrow.
UCU members at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) have resolved their dispute over compulsory redundancies, which had been ongoing since August.
The resolution at UHI involves a commitment from the employer to no compulsory redundancies at the Executive Office for one calendar year and a review of the redundancy avoidance policy.
In addition, the employer at UHI agreed to collaborate with union representatives on workload issues to prevent excessive strain on staff and to address low staff morale.
Members at UHI overwhelmingly accepted their negotiated outcome through an electronic ballot, resolving the dispute.
UCU members at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) will take four days of strike action beginning on Thursday 30 October. As well as 30 October, staff will also strike on Wednesday 5, Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 November 2025. UCU members will also take part in action short of strike which will involve staff taking actions including working to contract, not covering for colleagues or undertaking voluntary activities at the university.
The strike follows a ballot where 71% of those who voted backed strike action on a turnout of 82%. The dispute is over management pressing ahead with plans to make 16 jobs at the university's executive office redundant as part of efforts to save £2million. University senior managers are using compulsory redundancies to implement the job cuts; a move the union says is unacceptable. The union also questioned the impact cuts would have on the remaining staff who will be left with unmanageable workloads and said that these new cuts followed multiple cuts and jobs losses in recent years. The union said that the hollowing out of the university's executive office isn't sustainable long term with a functioning university.
University of the Highlands and Islands Strike Calendar
4 Strike Dates 0 Planned