STAFF at the University of Edinburgh walked out today over the institution’s plans to inflict £140 million in cuts.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) will walk out for three days this week, and hold a rally outside Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, where they will ask MSPs to join them in calling on the university to rule out compulsory redundancies.

The latest wave of industrial action follows a five-day walkout in September, with the union warning that the dispute could escalate and also see a marking and assessment boycott.

The strikes are in retaliation to plans announced in February by the university to slash its budget by £140m.

At the time, the university’s principal, Professor Sir Peter Mathieson said the university was facing “severe financial difficulty,” pointing issues such as rising utility costs and concerns about declining numbers of international students.

The UCU has suggested that as many as 1,800 jobs could be axed under the plans.

Edinburgh University UCU branch president Sophia Woodman said that senior managers have “refused to meaningfully engage to end this dispute.”

She said: “I’m angry that, nine months on from announcing these cuts, staff are no clearer to knowing their future and senior managers’ plans.

“With hundreds of staff having already left, some pushed out, and thousands more worried for their future, university senior management need to finally do the right thing; commit to no compulsory redundancies; and accept the union’s open offer of meaningful talks with a view to ending the dispute.”

The union warned that there had already been hundreds of “hidden redundancies,” with staff on fixed-term contracts not having contracts renewed, while hourly paid staff have also had their hours reduced.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “If Peter Mathieson, on £400,000 plus a year, can’t set out a way forward that doesn’t involve decimating the university and its staff, and if senior managers aren’t willing engage with the union to resolve this dispute, then we need government and politicians to intervene.”

Prof Mathieson said: “We are regularly sharing updates on how we are identifying ways to reduce outgoings to sustainable levels, while continuing to deliver world-leading research and exceptional teaching.

“We have been transparent about the savings needed to secure our financial footing.”