Created on: 18 Jun 2026
Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland University Lecturers Association (EIS ULA) at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) are to take strike action in an escalation of a dispute over job cuts and redundancies at the University.
The union’s recent ballot resulted in an overwhelming majority vote in favour of strike action, with 95.9% of those voting backing strike action.
The EIS has given notice to the University on the planned strike action and has again urged GCU management to return to the negotiating table with a promise to rule out compulsory redundancies. EIS members at GCU are greatly concerned over their future at the University, the negative impact the planned job cuts will have on the workload of those who will remain and the detrimental repercussions to academic provision and the educational experience for students.
Commenting, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, “The move to strike action follows on from a clear ballot result, in which our members indicated their willingness to take strike action to oppose the University’s programme of cuts. Any move to strike action is taken as a last resort, but our members at Glasgow Caledonian University have been left with no alternative as they seek to fend off the University’s cuts agenda.”
Ms Bradley continued, "The EIS will always stand in opposition to the threat of compulsory redundancies, and our members will soon commence strike action as part of their campaign against these redundancies at GCU. Not only are staff taking this action in defence of their jobs and the extra workload that staff who remain would be left with, they are also looking to protect the course provision, research capacity and the quality of teaching and learning at GCU.”
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 everyone for a fair resolution to be reached and avoid the need for our members to take strike action.”
Dr Nick McKerrell, EIS ULA Branch Secretary at the University commented, “The proposed loss of 100 jobs at Glasgow Caledonian University and senior management’s refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies has provoked fury across campus. On top of that a costed plan put forward by trade unions to avoid these cuts was rejected out of hand.”
Dr McKerrell continued, “This intransigence is so frustrating as GCU has significant cash reserves of £95 million, one of the highest levels in the country. A fraction of that could be used to save jobs in the short term. EIS members voted for strikes with a massive 95% vote. Taking industrial action is not something any member of staff takes lightly but we will not let our colleagues at risk of redundancy stand alone and we will use our collective strength to make management see sense.”
Dr McKerrell added, “To make the biggest impact in the summer months we will take strike action across all graduation days at the University. We have received great support from our students in our campaign against redundancies. On a day to celebrate their academic achievements we hope that they, along with their family and friends, will show support for their lecturers who helped them get to the point of graduation.”
“The EIS voice will be loud and clear on these strike days - stop these needless cuts and save the 100.”
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 follow:
GCU Planned Strike Dates
Tuesday 30th June, Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd July
Tuesday 4th August
Monday 7th, Tuesday 8th and Thursday 10th September