UCU lecturers at Heriot-Watt University launched strike action today as they fight management plans to axe jobs.

The action is the first of six one-day strikes planned at the Edinburgh campus over May and June, and coincided with a university court meeting considering the institution’s future strategy.

That strategy includes plans to cut jobs, and so far management have refused to rule out compulsory redundancies, raising fears that renowned language courses at the university could face the axe.

UCU Heriot-Watt branch president Kate Sang said: “Staff at the university have again been forced to strike to defend jobs and oppose these cuts.

“It’s disappointing that the university won’t commit to protecting scholar and undergraduate German and Chinese at Heriot-Watt especially as it is clear from the reaction outside the university that both are well regarded and highly valued.”

UCU general secretary Jo Grady added: “It’s not too late to end this dispute.  

“Before we move into the summer and graduations, the principal needs to meet with the union and rule out using compulsory redundancies at Heriot-Watt.”

Heriot-Watt University was contacted for comment.