ENU Dispute

EIS ULA is taking action over Edinburgh Napier University’s plans to cut jobs and make members compulsorily redundant.

Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) has announced plans to cut approximately 70 FTE lecturing and academic-related posts. Members are deeply concerned about these proposals, particularly given the University’s strong financial performance in recent years. ENU has consistently reported healthy income growth, maintains significant financial reserves, and last year recorded a break-even financial position with no bank borrowing utilised.

Despite this, the University is pressing ahead with proposals that will have a significant impact on staff and students. These cuts appear driven by a desire to maintain surpluses at the expense of jobs, workloads and the quality of education.

The EIS ULA branch believes ENU intends to rely on compulsory redundancies to deliver these staffing reductions. The EIS does not accept compulsory redundancies in any circumstances. Joint trade unions have repeatedly sought a no compulsory redundancy guarantee, but ENU has refused to provide this assurance to staff.

The EIS also objects to voluntary redundancy schemes where they result in increased workload and stress for remaining staff, or where members feel pressured into applying as a way to avoid the threat of compulsory redundancy.

The recent consultative ballot organised by the EIS resulted in a clear majority in favour of strike action, with 92% of those voting supporting strike action. This demonstrates that members will not accept these cuts or the negative impact they will have on jobs, workload and fairness.

ENU, EIS ULA members are now taking part in a statutory industrial action ballot which run until 9th Jan 2026.

A strong mandate in this ballot is essential to maintaining pressure on ENU management and securing a commitment to halt cuts to academic staff numbers.

Members are encouraged to complete and return their ballot paper as soon as possible.