Over 400 hundred workers at the University of Strathclyde will be balloted over strike action

Unite can confirm that over 400 hundred workers at the University of Strathclyde will be balloted over strike action in response to proposed job cuts and a failure by the institution to consult on organisational change. 

In December, it was revealed that the university is set to slash 76 full-time posts, revealing it had a £35m funding gap. Unite has condemned the university’s failure to fully consult unions over the planned cuts to jobs and to rule out compulsory redundancies. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Strathclyde university cannot get away with treating its dedicated workers with such contempt, many are understandably fearing for their livelihoods. The university is in a strong financial position and there is no need for it to take such punitive measures. 

“Our members have been left with no option but to take a stand in defence of jobs, pay and conditions.” 

Any strike action following a successful ballot would impact on cleaning and maintenance services along with the security of buildings and student residences.  Trades staff taking any strike action would lead to a lack of joiners, electricians and plumbers who deal with leaks, lighting and gas issues in university buildings.

Technicians involved in strike action would directly impact on student learning in labs. 

The ballot opened on 16 January and will close on 16 February. 

The university remains in a fundamentally strong financial position with £478.4m of its net assets being ‘unrestricted’ in 2024-2025 which means they are not ‘locked up’ and can be used in the event of any temporary financial downturn. Total reserves stood at £528.3m. 

The former principal and vice-chancellor professor Sir Jim McDonald received a remuneration package of £428,000 in 2025 up from £417,000 in 2024, with a further £3.6 million divided between the university executive team. The newly appointed principal professor Stephen McArthur who took over the role in  September is expected to have a similar remuneration package.  

Alison MacLean, Unite regional coordinating officer, said: “The university’s management team are once again attacking some of its poorest paid workers like they did with the workers’ pension scheme, while executive pay levels remain untouched. Unite will not tolerate these shameless double standards which is why we have no option but to ballot our members.”  

Last March, strike action involving hundreds of Unite members at the University of Strathclyde took place over two weeks over what the union called a ‘shameful cash grab’ by the university to access a £85m pension surplus with university management claiming that the measure would prevent job losses. 

ENDS 

Notes to Editor 

For media enquiries please contact Andrew Brady on 07810157922. Email andrew.brady@unitetheunion.org Unite Scotland is the country’s biggest and most diverse trade union with around 150,000 members.