Created on: 28 Jan 2026
Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland University Lecturers Association at Edinburgh Napier University are to commence strike action in an escalation of a dispute over job cuts and redundancies at the university.
A recent ballot, organised by the EIS, resulted in an overwhelming majority vote in favour of strike action, with 92.5% of those voting backing strike action.
The EIS has now notified the university of the move to strike action and again urged the ENU management to return to the negotiating table with a promise to rule out compulsory redundancies.
EIS members at ENU have expressed their grave concerns over the negative impact of the planned cuts on their and their colleagues’ jobs and workloads as well as the detrimental repercussions to academic provision and educational experience for students.
Commenting, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, “Any move to strike action is taken as a last resort, but our members at Edinburgh Napier University have been left with no alternative as they seek to fend off the University’s cuts agenda. The move to strike action follows on from a very clear ballot result, where our members have indicated their willingness to take strike action to oppose the University’s programme of cuts.”
Ms Bradley continued, "The EIS will always stand in opposition to the threat of compulsory redundancies, and our members at ENU will soon commence strike action as part of their campaign against compulsory redundancies.”
Ms Bradley added, “The EIS is offering the University an opportunity to bring the dispute to an end by halting their programme of cuts and ruling out compulsory redundancies. It is in the best interests of ENU, its students and staff, for an agreement to be reached that will ensure a fair resolution and prevent unnecessary damage to the University’s teaching and research capacity.”
Nick Cimini, EIS ULA Branch Secretary at the University commented "These job cuts are totally unnecessary and unfair. Edinburgh Napier University remains financially sound, with healthy reserves and no debt. The crisis in Scottish higher education funding is caused by insufficient government funding, but Edinburgh Napier University can manage this challenge without compulsory redundancies. It has the time and resources to ensure that the University’s students and staff are not forced to suffer.”
The union continues to call on the university to reconsider its position and engage in constructive dialogue to resolve the dispute and prevent disruption for students at a critical point in the academic year.
The planned strike dates at the University are as follows:
Tuesday 10th and Thursday 12th February
Monday 16th and Friday 20th February
Tuesday 24th, Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th February
Monday 2nd, Tuesday 3rd and Thursday 5th March