LECTURERS across four Scottish universities launch two days of strike action from today as they take on bosses’ plans to cut spending and slash jobs.

Bosses at Aberdeen University have slashed 440 jobs in two years and plan more, while at Dundee a voluntary severance trawl is looking to cut 180 jobs, and Strathclyde and Heriot-Watt plan to cut 76 and 41 posts respectively.

Management across all four institutions have so far refused to rule out compulsory redundancies.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “The jobs crisis in Scotland’s universities is a result of a decade of underfunding.  

“There has never been a time when so many jobs are on the line.  

“In turn this is leading to staff being forced to strike and join picket lines to defend their jobs and to oppose cuts.”

With just seven weeks until Scotland goes to the polls, she added: “We need the Scottish government to commit to fully funding our universities and university principals to rule out the use of compulsory redundancies.”