A STRIKE ballot was launched today at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) after cost-cutting bosses refused to rule out compulsory redundancies.

The university announced plans in January to slash £16.9 million of spending in the coming year. Since then £8m has already been cut along with 112 posts through voluntary severance and vacancies going unfilled.

But anger has grown as management press ahead with plans to axe another 75 posts this year, but refused union demands to rule out compulsory redundancies.

Now, in a ballot by the University & College Union (UCU), which runs until August 14, lecturers are being asked to support industrial action, including strikes, in an effort to force a management rethink.

UCU UWS branch president Jamie Hopkin said: “Management at UWS are pressing on with detrimental plans to make staff redundant that will do nothing other than diminish the university’s standing, and harm the students that study here.  

“I can see even in my own work that those staff that remain will be under increasing pressure with unmanageable workloads and will have less time to offer students in need of support with their studies.

“Members at UWS are genuinely angry at the actions of senior managers. Members need to return their ballots and force the principal to think again and to rule out the use of compulsory redundancies.”

UCU general secretary Jo Grady added: “Cutting staff on this scale doesn’t sit with the university’s responsibility and commitment to local communities in Paisley, Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and the South of Scotland.  

“The principal and senior managers need to change course or else they face the prospects of industrial action and strikes.”

The UWS was contacted for comment.