Heriot-Watt University Staff Strike Over Job Cuts

0:00Staff at Harriet Watt University are striking again over planned job cuts and program closures. The main targets include positions in the languages and intercultural studies department, which could end undergraduate teaching in German, Chinese. Cuts are also hitting the Scholar Online Learning Program for school pupils. The action kicked off on Tuesday, March 17th, paused briefly, then resumed on Wednesday, March 25th. It continues through Thursday, March 26th, Friday, March 27th, and into next week on Monday, March 30th through Wednesday, April 1st. Union members from the University and College's Union say this reflects a national crisis in higher education job losses. They're urging the Scottish government to step in and are pushing hard for no compulsory redundancies, calling them unnecessary and harmful to morale. Staff and students have shown strong support for the strikes. University leaders point to tough financial pressures across UK campuses, with rising costs forcing changes for long-term survival.

1:01They've reduced 51 positions between Scotland and Malaysia sites, but over 42 left voluntarily through a paid scheme or attrition. Now, talks focus on just nine roles in one school, prioritizing voluntary options. Meanwhile, similar disputes are spreading, with recent strikes at Strathclyde, Aberdeen, and Dundee universities over cuts like 76 roles at. Strathclyde and the equivalent of 180 full-time posts at Dundee. Edinburgh staff plans to walk out next week amid a 140 million pound budget squeeze highlighting widespread tensions in Scottish higher. Education. This has been Edinburgh News Today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with The Story.