Glasgow University rules out compulsory redundancies after protest

The decision followed a mass lobby of a meeting today of the Glasgow University Court by trade unions and students. The vuvuzela-playing demonstrators argued that as the university is running at a surplus and had already found considerable savings, there was no need for further job losses.

Members of the union had voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action and threatened to strike if the threat of compulsory job losses was not removed. The union said today that industrial action would be put on hold to allow the issue to be properly resolved without the threat of disruption.

UCU Scottish official, Mary Senior, said: 'This is a clear victory for UCU. Glasgow University management must now consult with the unions and properly consider all the options. You cannot just try and force through unnecessary and punitive job cuts.

'UCU got a clear mandate for industrial action from its members, but now that the Court has listened to staff, strike action should not be required. The university could have avoided the threat of disruption - and a vote of no confidence in the Principal - by acting reasonably from the start.'