STAFF at the University of Edinburgh began strike action today as they demand management ditch a £140 million-a-year cuts plan and rule out compulsory redundancies.

The UCU, which won 84 per cent backing for the strike last month, fears as many as 1,800 staff could face redundancy if the plan — the biggest in Scottish university history — is put into effect.

University bosses argue that the cuts are required to avoid a deficit, but workers say the institution is among Britain’s wealthiest, is planning record capital expenditure, and has lavished £400,000 on public relations and media consultants while principals and senior staff enjoy some of the highest pay in the sector. 

Edinburgh University UCU branch president Sophia Woodman said: “Taking strike action is the very last thing UCU members at Edinburgh want to do but the decision of the principal to press ahead with huge cuts and the refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies has simply left us no choice. 

“University staff are worried about the future and whether they’ll have a job this time next year.”

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said that principal and vice-chancellor Professor Sir Peter Mathieson has been warned about the impact his cuts will have on staff, students and the university’s reputation “but the refusal not to rule out compulsory redundancies means that the fault for this strike going ahead lies firmly at his door.”

Sir Peter said: “We have been transparent about the savings urgently needed to secure our financial footing, with forecasts showing that we will be in deficit from the next financial year should we not act now.

“Failure to take preventative steps would leave us in an unsustainable situation, requiring deeper savings.”