University lecturers may take strike vote over redundancies at Glasgow University

LECTURERS at Glasgow University have voted for a ballot on industrial action if threats of compulsory redundancies are not withdrawn.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at a packed emergency meeting yesterday backed the move in protest at the proposed job cuts.

More than 80 jobs are under threat in the archaeology, biomedical and life sciences and education departments at the prestigious institution in the west of the city.

The union says the job losses are unnecessary and that there is no economic case for them because the university is financially sound with a surplus of more than 5 million last year.

Certain departments appear to have been targeted for having apparent deficits, the union claims.

Sources in the science faculty have told The Scotsman that academics who have secured less research funding than other colleagues are most at risk.

Dave Anderson, the Glasgow UCU president, said: "The support for industrial action against targeted redundancies was overwhelming, with a huge turnout."