University of Stirling staff strike

Staff at the University of Stirling are staging industrial action from today.

Workers were deducted pay during a recent marking boycott. 

Some reported deductions of up to 50%.

They will walk out every weekday for the next three weeks.

Staff will also walk out later this month as part of five days of national strike action.

Students are returning to campus, after the summer break.

Mary Senior, Scotland official UCU, said: ‘Stirling university management has brought an unprecedented 15 days of strike action at the start of the new academic year on the university and our students by taking a hardline stance on relations with their own workers.

Other employers have limited deductions, but Stirling University’s belligerent approach is deeply disappointing.

Staff want to be welcoming new students. 

The last thing we want to be doing is taking strike action now.’ 

A spokesperson for the University of Stirling said: “The University is disappointed that industrial action is taking place. Our focus is on ensuring our new and returning students are warmly welcomed to the University over the coming days and disruption is minimal. 

“Marking and the facilitation of assessments form part of the contractual duties of teaching staff and are fundamental to the progress of our students. The small number of staff who participated in the marking and assessment boycott, as part of sector-wide industrial action, were advised prior to the action that part of their pay would be withheld if they chose not to mark or assess work.”