Dundee University and UCU reach deal over redundancy proposals

Dundee University has reached an agreement with the University and College Union (UCU) in a long-running dispute over compulsory redundancies at the cash-strapped institution.

The union has staged a series of strikes, the most recent for five weeks in September, against compulsory redundancies at the university.

The Dundee UCU said it would it would suspend any industrial action related to the dispute for the rest of the year as a result of the agreement.

The joint agreement, external includes the implementation of a final enhanced voluntary redundancy scheme (VR2) and avoiding compulsory redundancies “wherever possible.”

The union said it would also withdraw its proposed judicial review proceedings relating to previous decisions by the university’s governing body and “associated governance matters”.

The joint agreement said that an assessment would be made by the university over its financial situation following VR2.

The union would retain its right to take strike action if the university implemented compulsory redundancies.

The agreement said: “Upon conclusion of this organisational restructure, the university will implement a moratorium on any further institution-wide voluntary redundancy or compulsory redundancy programmes until August 2028.”

In return, Dundee UCU will not “initiate, support, endorse or pursue industrial action, including action short of a strike” relating to voluntary or compulsory redundancy programmes until the same date.

The agreement was approved by the university’s governing body on Tuesday.

The dispute began two years ago when the university announced a £30m deficit.

Since then, 675 jobs have been lost through voluntary redundancy, and the university has received bailouts of £40m from the Scottish government and £22m from the Scottish Funding Council.

The latest wave of cuts was announced in June proposing to close 187 posts, but this fell to 154 job losses by August.

Both parties said the new agreement marked “an important step” towards concluding the “current organisational change programme”.

They said it would provide a basis for “greater certainty, stability, and constructive engagement across the university community.”