THE University and College Union (UCU) launched a bid to extend its mandate for industrial action at the University of Edinburgh today as the dispute over £140 million in cuts and up to 1,800 job losses continued.

Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, the university’s principal and vice-chancellor, announced the plans to slash spending in February, prompting ballots for industrial action in May after management refused to rule out compulsory redundancies.

That ballot was successful, leading to a one-day strike in June and further action earlier this month, but anti-trade union legislation demanding mandates are renewed every six months has forced the UCU to reballot.

Launching the vote, which will run until October 28, Edinburgh University UCU branch president Sophia Woodman said: “The job cuts and failure of the principal and the university’s senior managers to rule out the use of compulsory redundancies means that we have no option other than to press ahead with this reballot and the likelihood of further industrial action.  

“Staff showed earlier this year that they were willing to vote for and take strike action to save the university and I’m confident that, in the face of management intransigence, UCU members will again do the right thing for this university and our students.”  

UCU general secretary Jo Grady added: “It’s time for Prof Mathieson and his senior management team to take their heads out of the sand, meet with the union and rule out the use of compulsory redundancies.”

In response, Prof Mathieson said that “we have been transparent about the steps we are taking,” adding: “We engage regularly with the joint trade unions, staff and our students and remain firmly committed to ongoing dialogue as we take the necessary steps to safeguard the future of our university.”