Motion 32
University of Dundee Governance
“That this Congress is concerned at developments at University of Dundee, including the announcement of a £30m deficit, the resignation of its Principal and a mass meeting of staff voting overwhelmingly that they have no confidence in management’s ability to tackle the crisis.
“As UCU, Unite and Unison members consider responses, ballots on industrial action take place. The unions have rejected indications from management that they will seek to address the deficit through staff cuts.
“The management’s own financial forecasts contained no hint of the deficit until its announcement. Concerns have been expressed that potential causes include deficient risk strategy, in predicting and responding to a reduction in numbers of, and income from, international students. Poor governance over the spending of publicly funded money on capital expenditure resulting in higher external contractor costs and outsourcing of locally employed labour.
“The University is one of those which has not met its quota of Scottish students, for which it is funded by the Scottish Funding Council.
“Congress is disappointed that management has rejected calls for trade union involvement on its financial recovery group, established to investigate possible restructuring to address the crisis, and calls on the Scottish Government to insist that this takes place, in line with Fair Work principles, recognising the University as a major recipient of public funds.
“Congress calls for:
- the University of Dundee to work with its staff trade unions in all areas to address these issues;
- the Scottish Government to investigate and address the issues of University governance raised by this crisis and to impose Fair Work principles on publicly funded organisations; and
- the General Council to support the workplace unions in their response to these issues.”
Mover: Dundee Trades Union Council
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