MEMBERS of the University and College Union (UCU) at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) will strike next week as they battle management’s job cuts plans.

Staff will walk out on Thursday, October 30, with three further one-day strikes planned for November 5, 17, and 18, as senior management press ahead with a £2 million cuts agenda, using compulsory redundancies in an effort to axe 16 jobs from its executive office.

UCU branch vice-president Sorcha Kirker said: “Management at UHI have been warned time after time that staff are angry at these cuts and, in particular, with the use of compulsory redundancies.  

“It’s still not too late for management to resolve this dispute, cease the unfair use of compulsory redundancies and to sit down and find a solution that saves jobs and protects the university’s future.  

“If they don’t, then UCU members are determined to see through the strike action they voted for and the only people to blame will be senior management.”

A UHI spokesperson said it understands “this is a difficult time for colleagues” and has held “constructive discussions with UCU to explore all possible alternatives,” but “no viable options have been identified.”