Staff at the University of Edinburgh are taking strike action in a dispute over job cuts, according to major media reports. UCU Scotland members walked out on Monday claiming management has pulled back from commitments given in December, according to major media reports. UCU claims management has breached the agreement and members are taking strike action this week with a rally planned for Wednesday, according to major media reports. The union said that all its members at the university are striking on Monday and some will also be taking strike action on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday if they have teaching or administrative duties on those days, according to major media reports.
The dispute began in February last year when the university announced plans to slash its budget by £140 million, according to multiple reports. The University and College Union warned the budget cuts could result in the loss of up to 1,800 jobs, according to major media sources. UCU members walked out for a total of nine days in 2025 over the plans, according to major media sources. The union described the scale of cuts proposed as 'unprecedented', according to major media sources. The strike on Monday marks the 10th day of action in the dispute after UCU members walked out over nine days last year, according to major media reports.
The union has questioned whether the cuts are needed given the university has reserves of more than £3 billion, according to major media reports. The UCU pointed out that the university’s financial accounts for 2024-25 confirmed it was not in deficit, according to major media sources.
In December 2025, management agreed to rule out compulsory redundancies until the end of July 2026, according to major media reports. UCU members narrowly agreed to suspend industrial action during the existing industrial action mandate, which lasts until the end of April, according to major media reports. UCU Scotland members at the institution voted in December to suspend strike action until at least April, after the university agreed to rule out compulsory redundancies during the current academic year, according to major media reports.
The university strongly refutes any suggestion that it has not upheld the terms of the agreement it reached with UCU Edinburgh in December, according to major media sources.
Lecturers at the University of Edinburgh are being balloted on further industrial action, according to major media reports. The union is balloting members on a fresh mandate, which if passed would last for 12 rather than six months due to changes in employment law introduced in the Employment Rights Act 2025, according to major media reports.