GLASGOW Caledonian University (GCU) staff announced today an escalation of strike action after bosses refused to rule out compulsory redundancies.

Their union EIS ULA, which had already taken seven days of strikes to oppose plans to axe 100 posts at the institution, made the announcement after talks brokered by the Acas conciliation service failed to secure a management commitment to meet the cuts target without compulsory redundancy.

Now notice has been served for a fresh wave of strike action, beginning with a three-day walkout from Monday (September 21), and a further 11 days of action stretching into October.

Urging the bosses to consider using their £95 million in reserves rather than resort to cuts, EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said: “The University’s plan to axe jobs will undoubtedly have a detrimental effect.

“GCU already has one of the UK’s worst staff-to-student ratios and further job cuts will not only exacerbate the existing workload problems caused by understaffing that members are reporting, but it will harm the student experience.”

She added: “Our members at GCU continue to work tirelessly to support students under extremely difficult conditions.

“Taking strike action is always a last resort, but staff are resolute in not only defending their jobs, but protecting academic standards and the high quality educational teaching that students deserve.”

Branding calls to draw on reserves “irresponsible,” a university spokesperson said: “If we are to continue to deliver for our students, we must remain on a sound financial footing, which unfortunately means making difficult decisions now.

“Our door remains open and we are willing to continue discussions with the trade unions where there is a realistic prospect of resolving the dispute.”