Union to ballot lecturers over £140m cuts

NEWS of Edinburgh Univeristy principal Peter Mathieson's concerns over the financing of the institution comes as its staff are balloted on industrial action over plans to slash £140m from its budget.

- By Nick Forbes

The Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) claimed the university had refused to rule out compulsory redundancies as part of the cuts, which it said would be the "biggest ever" in the history of Scottish higher education

Assets

The union also questioned the need for the cuts, saying the university's net assets of more than £3billion made it one of the richest in the UK.

It added that if savings are necessary, then they could be achieved using reserves and by reducing capital expenditure.

The ballot will run until Tuesday, May 20, and will see members of the UCU asked whether they are willing to take part in strike action and action short of a strike.