A STRIKE ballot opened at the University of Dundee today in a dispute over job cuts and compulsory redundancies amid an exodus of senior managers.

University principal Iain Gillespie resigned after announcing plans for the drastic cuts to the staff budget, claiming that the university was £30 million in deficit in November. 

This followed the departure of vice-principal Wendy Alexander and another senior manager.  

Announcing the ballot yesterday, University and College Union (UCU) Scotland accused the university of repeatedly failing to provide evidence for the need for cuts or the likely scale of job losses.

University of Dundee UCU branch spokeswoman, Melissa D’Ascenzio, said: “University senior managers need to urgently reconsider these brutal cuts and instead work with the union to rule out compulsory redundancies and to find a solution to the university’s problems.”

The university has been contacted for comment.