Edinburgh University staff begin five-week strike

University of Edinburgh staff began a five-week strike on Monday, September 28, as members of the University and College Union (UCU) protested programme closures and the possibility of compulsory job cuts. The action is scheduled to run until October 30, disrupting the start of the academic year as students and staff warn of effects on teaching and support. The dispute centres on the university’s plan to teach out 90 programmes and a £140 million savings initiative. UCU estimates that up to 1,800 jobs could be lost, but the university has not confirmed that figure. Reports that about 950 staff have already left are separate from the union’s estimate and do not establish how many further jobs may be cut. The university has defended the programme changes as part of a review of its academic provision. Principal and Vice-Chancellor Peter Mathieson said the institution reviews courses against student demand and other external factors, and that some programmes had no or very low enrolment. He also argued that using reserves to cover routine costs would not provide a reliable long-term solution, and said the university needed a sustainable model.