The Robert Gordon University staff strike 2024 has begun as lecturers in Aberdeen walk out in protest against planned redundancies. The strike action, led by the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), follows concerns over job security after RGU announced potential compulsory job losses despite 130 staff already leaving under a voluntary severance scheme last year.
The university is now considering up to 60 additional redundancies as part of its financial restructuring strategy. The EIS claims its members were left with “no other option” but to strike, with further industrial action scheduled for May and September.
Union Vows to Fight for Jobs and Education Quality
According to EIS national officer Garry Ross, 83% of voting staff supported the strike. “They are fighting to protect their jobs, the jobs of their colleagues, and to safeguard the future of quality education at RGU,” he said.
The union has announced further strike dates on 1 and 7 May, with additional walkouts planned between 8–12 September. The EIS is calling on the university to rule out compulsory redundancies and seek alternative cost-saving measures.
University Leadership Calls Decisions ‘Difficult but Necessary’
Professor Steve Olivier, principal and vice-chancellor of RGU, acknowledged the sector-wide financial strain impacting higher education across the UK. “The actions taken so far have been difficult but necessary,” he said. “The university will continue to make every effort to mitigate compulsory redundancies, which will always remain a last resort.”
Olivier added that RGU remains committed to “regular and constructive dialogue” with EIS and other unions, but expressed disappointment over the strike action.
Growing Unrest in Scotland’s Higher Education Sector
The dispute at RGU comes amid wider industrial unrest across Scottish universities. At the University of Dundee, staff have already walked out over a £35 million deficit and plans to cut 632 jobs. Unite has also warned of potential further cuts affecting up to 700 staff.
In February, University and College Union (UCU) Scotland led three weeks of strike action at Dundee, with 74% of members voting in favour of the walkout. Meanwhile, the University of Edinburgh is also facing strike ballots over a planned £140 million budget cut and potential job losses.
With mounting financial pressures and workforce reductions across the sector, unions are warning of long-term consequences for staff morale and the quality of higher education in Scotland.
