MORE than 400 Unite workers at the University of Strathclyde will be balloted for strike action as bosses plan to slash costs and 76 full-time posts.

The university revealed its cuts package to bridge a £35 million funding gap last month and unions have criticised the failure to rule out compulsory redundancies and a lack of consultation.

The plans come despite the university holding £478.3m in unrestricted reserves in 2024-25, a year which saw former principal and vice-chancellor professor Sir Jim McDonald enjoy a £428,000 remuneration package and his executive colleagues rake in a total of £3.6m.

Launching the strike ballot among cleaning, maintenance and security workers, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham accused bosses of treating the workers with “contempt.”

Unite regional co-ordinating officer Alison MacLean said: “The university’s management team are once again attacking some of its poorest paid workers like they did with the workers’ pension scheme, while executive pay levels remain untouched. 

“Unite will not tolerate these shameless double standards which is why we have no option but to ballot our members.”  

The University of Strathclyde was contacted for comment.