How strike chaos and marking boycotts could engulf Aberdeen University

Employees at the ancient institution will vote on whether to strike if bosses do not completely rule out mandatory job losses.

Academics will also consider refusing to mark exams, work any overtime or cover sick leave if they do not decide to push ahead with a full-scale strike.

Aberdeen University chiefs had slashed the institution’s deficit to £4.3 million – a stark improvement on a £12.5 million black hole in 2023.

New principal Professor Peter Edwards told The Press and Journal he has ambitious ideas to ensure the university can soon break even.

But behind the scenes, trade union bosses say staff are worried about how the institution has handled its affairs.

Daniel Cutts, from the University and Colleges Union (UCU), previously said cost-cutting measures had been “short-sighted” and damaged the trust of employees.

A total of 41 staff members voluntarily left their roles in 2025.

Trade union anger

In a statement on Monday, the UCU said: “Despite over 40 staff having recently retired or left employment under a voluntary severance scheme, management at the university have refused to rule out compulsory redundancies.”

Aberdeen University workers previously threatened to strike in 2024 after 25 staff in the modern languages department were left at risk of redundancy.

The UCU warned it “showed a lack of goodwill” from management that a potential walkout may be necessary so soon after.

The future of Scotland’s higher education sector was in the spotlight in 2025 due to a major financial crisis which engulfed Dundee University.

The Scottish Government agreed in principle to a £40 million bailout for the institution after up to 700 jobs were put at risk.

However, universities like Aberdeen should not expect similar help from the SNP in Holyrood.

Speaking to The P&J on Monday, First Minister John Swinney said the support package was only agreed for Dundee University because of special powers invoked by his administration.

For those powers to be used, it had to be accepted that the university’s money woes had come about as a direct result of financial mismanagement.

“We gave a lot of detailed consideration as to whether we wanted to make that judgment about a university,” the SNP leader said.

“I don’t think that’s a route universities would particularly want to go down, that they would want to get financial support by presiding over financial management.

“That is not my experience of the university sector in Scotland.

He added: “Obviously it’s important that universities are self-governing institutions, it’s important that they engage with their staff to ensure their staff are supported.”

The UCU cited Aberdeen University’s new Adapting for Continued Success programme as a major reason for cuts being made.

A spokesperson for the university said: “There have been drop-in sessions and workshops about Adapting for Continued Success and more are taking place in January.

“It’s disappointing to see a ballot being organised when we are still at the engagement and planning phase of the programme and have yet to determine how the university will reposition for the challenging climate facing the UK higher education sector.”

[Source: Press and Journal]