PLANNED strike action at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) has been called off after management withdrew the threat of compulsory redundancies.

The university announced its £6.2 million cuts plan in May, plunging the futures of its workers across its campuses in Paisley, Hamilton, Ayr, Dumfries and London into jeopardy with proposals to slash 75 jobs. 

Management’s refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies prompted University & College Union (UCU) members to back 12 days of industrial action from Monday, October 20, but a last-minute change of heart from UWS has led to the strike being called off.

UCU UWS branch president Jamie Hopkin said: “This is a massive relief to workers at the University of the West of Scotland who were facing the loss of their livelihoods.  

“It will also be a relief to students who would have experienced larger classes and a reduction in the contact time they could have individually with lecturers and support staff on campus.  

“It is welcome that in the face the threatened 12 days of strike action from the UCU branch the employer has taken compulsory redundancies off the table.”