Lecturers at the University of Edinburgh have voted to suspend their industrial action until at least the end of April, following a breakthrough agreement that rules out compulsory job losses for the current academic year.
A Deal to Halt the Walkouts
The decision brings a temporary halt to a bitter dispute over the institution's plans to make £140 million in budget cuts. Staff, who are members of the University and College Union (UCU), had already staged nine days of strike action in 2025 and were threatening further disruption, including a potential marking and assessment boycott.
The university's offer, which was "narrowly" accepted by union members, guarantees there will be no compulsory redundancies until July 2026. This key concession was the central demand of the UCU, which had a mandate for strike action lasting until 29 April.
Terms of the Agreement
Beyond the moratorium on forced job cuts, the deal includes several other important measures designed to ease tensions. These are:
- A voluntary redundancy scheme open to all academic staff and at-risk professional services employees.
- A commitment from the university to engage in "meaningful consultation" with the UCU regarding its organisational change programme.
- An improved redeployment offer for staff whose roles are at risk.
- A freeze on external recruitment in most cases.
- A promise to be more transparent in protected conversations with employees.
Union Warns Dispute 'Far From Over'
UCU General Secretary Jo Grady welcomed the progress but issued a stark warning that the underlying conflict remains unresolved. "It is clear that in Edinburgh the battle is far from over, and that members remain suspicious of their employer," she stated.
Grady emphasised that the union's position is that the university does not need to make cuts on the scale currently planned. She urged management to use the coming months of negotiation to secure a better outcome for staff. The union retains a strong mandate for further strike action or an assessment boycott should the university backslide on the agreement.
Meanwhile, Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, the University's Principal and Vice-Chancellor, said the agreement "brings stability for our students and staff, safeguarding teaching, assessments and research from disruption." He acknowledged persistent financial pressures across the higher education sector but reaffirmed the commitment to securing the university's long-term future.
Parallel Resolution in the Highlands
In a related development, UCU members at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) have also voted to end their own dispute over compulsory redundancies, which began in August. This resolution followed UHI's agreement to rule out compulsory job losses at its executive office for a calendar year and to review its redundancy avoidance policy.
Jo Grady congratulated UHI members and negotiators, noting they had "secured greater job security... along with commitments to important joint work with UCU to address excessive workload and staff morale." A UHI spokesperson confirmed the university would continue to engage constructively with the union on the raised issues.
