SCOTTISH trade unionists united today in condemning understaffing and cuts across the education sector as it dominated the first morning of the STUC Congress.

Debates on the future of Scottish education took place in Dundee, where the city’s university was plunged into chaos last year amid a £35 million funding black hole and allegations of financial mismanagement.

A wider crisis is deepening in the sector, with workers at five universities set to strike later this week over pay and a series of ongoing disputes at campuses across the country over job cuts and compulsory redundancies.

They include the University of Edinburgh, where a £140m cuts plan is the largest in the history of Scottish higher education.

Moving a composite calling for an overhaul of governance and funding in higher education, University and College Union (UCU) delegate Maria Chonorogianni told Congress: “Westminster continues Tory policies, led by the far right into anti-immigration rhetoric and including overseas students in net migration, denying the ability of attracting foreign talent to support the UK economy.

“The Scottish government does not fully fund higher education, ignoring its contribution to Scotland’s prosperity, ignoring how staff redundancies affect local economies.

“The Fair Work policy is forgotten in higher education.”

Turning to the situation at her own workplace at Dundee, she added: “Already 800 staff have left through voluntary redundancy or resignation. 

“Dundee University is one of the biggest employers in the city and yet management now want to cut a further £20m.

“In other words, they want to cut a further 300 staff, with further terrible consequences to the local economy, to the students, the sustainability of the institution and people’s livelihood.

“An injury to one is an injury to all.”

The composite, seconded by Glasgow Trades Council, was passed unanimously.