ACADEMIC staff began a two-day strike over job cuts and possible compulsory redundancy plans at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh yesterday.

The University and College Union (UCU) accused managers of reneging on commitments to rule-out compulsory redundancies in the department of languages and intercultural studies.

It says that there are also plans for compulsory redundancies at its long-running Scholar programme despite more staff applying for voluntary redundancy than management were looking for. 

UCU members, who have taken 10 days’ strike action since March, are balloting to extend to their strike mandate.

General secretary Jo Grady urged outgoing university principal Professor Richard Williams not to “be remembered as the leader who broke commitments made to staff and oversaw job cuts.” 

Heriot-Watt University confirmed that it “has not removed the potential of compulsory redundancy should that be necessary” and it is aiming for fewer than 10 job losses after voluntary redundancies and redeployment measures.