All four campus trade unions take action for first time at university

Unite membership at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) will take strike action on 15 October as all four campus unions are set to walk out for the first time over planned job cuts.

Over 50 Unite members will join the picket lines after overwhelmingly backing strike action in response to job cuts and the university’s failure to commit to no compulsory redundancies.

GCU management propose to cut approximately 50 posts and refuse to rule out compulsory redundancies under organisational change proposals designed to bridge a £33m drop in income over the last two years.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Glasgow Caledonian university’s attack on jobs, pay and conditions is unnecessary and a vindicative choice by its management. Our members have been left with no option but to fight back against these unnecessary cuts.”

The university has blamed a fall in international students as the primary factor in the financial challenges but the unions are identifying the substantial cash reserves and surpluses the university holds as evidence that these jobs cuts are a ‘vindictive choice' by management.

GCU's latest published accounts reported an underlying operating surplus of £12.6m in 2024/25 and £88.9m in cash at the end of July 2025.

Alison MacLean, Unite regional coordinating officer, said: “This is historic it is the first time all campus unions have collectively taken industrial action at Glasgow Caledonian, it demonstrates the strength of feeling among the workers.

“We want a guarantee that nobody will be forced out the door, but the university’s management has refused to rule this out.

“The joint action will force the university to close its doors and lecture rooms. That is a sad position for the workers and students to be in but that’s a situation the university has brought upon itself.”