Template Letter to MSP

Dear <insert name>

Job cuts at Glasgow Caledonian University 

I am writing to you to express my concern at the potential loss of 100 jobs at Glasgow Caledonian University, with management not ruling out compulsory redundancies through a restructure. 

GCU announced in March this year that it was seeking up to 100 redundancies across the university, leading the EIS ULA branch at GCU to enter in to dispute with the University. 

Since then, the EIS alongside other trade unions, has in good faith engaged in two collective consultation processes, submitted detailed alternative proposals that would remove the need for compulsory redundancies and most recently engaged in ACAS conciliation talks to attempt to resolve the dispute. 

During the ACAS negotiations the trade unions proposed pausing all industrial action on the basis that the University remove the threat of compulsory redundancy until October 2027.

The purpose of this proposal was not to avoid addressing any financial challenges, but to provide a defined and reasonable period in which the trade unions, staff and the University can work collectively and constructively to identify sustainable alternatives to compulsory job cuts.

 Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the recognised trade unions, University management has rejected all proposals in their entirety and pushed ahead with their planned compulsory job cuts.

 This is all against the backdrop of GCU management prioritising infrastructure by committing to spend £4.5m + VAT on land purchases and the University holding one of the largest cash reserves of any post-92 university in Scotland, with the latest figures showing cash reserves of £90.7m as of July 2026, and an anticipated surplus of £5.6m for 2025/26.

The University’s financial circumstances provide an opportunity for a more measured and long-term approach in managing financial pressures.

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Options: delete the one that does not apply to you:

1. As a member of staff who could be directly affected by this threat, I am not only concerned about my own job security, but also about the impact this will have on GCU’s ability to continue its work for the common good, which is why I support the joint trade unions’ campaign.
2. Although I am unlikely to be immediately directly affected by the plans, as a member of staff I am worried about colleagues and the University’s ability to continue its work for our students and the common good in general. This is why I support the joint trade unions’ campaign.

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 After reducing the number of staff significantly through several rounds of a voluntary severance scheme, which is reflected in the staff-student ratio being the worst in the UK according to the most recent Guardian University Guide, I am concerned that further reduction on staff will significantly affect our students and will reduce GCU’s ability to continue its excellent work. Some examples of this are:

1. Students’ learning at GCU plays an important part in their professional trajectory: 78% of our graduates are employed in highly skilled occupations (HESA 2025).
2. We are outstanding in recruiting and teaching non-traditional students from across Scotland: currently over 20% of our Scottish UG entrants come from backgrounds that count as MD20.
3. Numerous collaborations with colleges and being the leading provider of Graduate Apprenticeships help us lower barriers to HE for non-traditional students. 

The opportunities GCU students enjoy depends on the hard work of many colleagues who give their best to deliver excellent teaching and support to them. 

I cannot see how reducing educational opportunities for students and threatening members of staff who delivered these with redundancies can be acceptable for a university working ‘for the common good’. Even less so when accountability for strategic decisions that seemed clearly less oriented towards this motto is severely lacking.

The threat of compulsory redundancies will not only impact GCU’s ability to deliver programmes that create opportunities for Scottish students and contribute to Scotland’s economy. It is also deeply unfair.

As my elected representative, I would appreciate if you could share your position on the stance GCU’s management is taking.

With GCU management failing to offer a no compulsory redundancy guarantee, the strike action called by the EIS over the coming four weeks will now go ahead.

The strike dates are as follows:

• Monday 21st, Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd September;
• Tuesday 29th, Wednesday 30th September and Thursday 1st October;
• Monday 5th, Tuesday 6th, Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th October;
• Tuesday 13th, Wednesday 14th, Thursday 15th and Friday 16th October 

Picket lines are organised for the Cowcaddens entrance from 8-11am on the above dates. We would greatly appreciate a visit from our elected representatives.

Yours sincerely

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