STAFF at one of Scotland's largest universities have backed strike action as leaders propose 130 redundancies.
Leaders at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh say the pandemic is to blame for the move due the "significant impact" this has had on its finances.
Compulsory losses have not been ruled out and staff at the 20,000-student institution have now voted in favour of strike action.
There was a two-thirds turnout for the University and College Union (UCU) Scotland ballot, with almost eight in ten of participants voting to strike.
The union says it "remains open to negotiation".
But it maintains that the proposed cuts are "rushed" and says alternative savings options have not been "properly explored".
Seventy staff lost their jobs to redundancies in 2017. UCU Scotland says the cumulative effect is "bound to impact on both the student experience and the university’s reputation".
UCU Scotland official Mary Senior commented: "By voting in these numbers UCU members at Heriot-Watt university have made it crystal clear today that they have no confidence in the university’s plans to cut jobs. The ballot result is a clear mandate for industrial action and to oppose job cuts.
"The employer has made good progress on seeking volunteers and should now take compulsory redundancies off the table, to give staff some job security and stability, and students the reassurances they need on the learning environment. It’s not too late for the university to avoid strike action but they need to act now."
Heriot-Watt University has been contacted for comment.
But last month, ahead of the ballot, a spokesperson said: "This financial challenge is resulting in the need to make some difficult decisions, and this includes proposals to reduce the number of roles across the university.
"We are committed to finding these through voluntary means wherever possible, either through potential redundancy or other voluntary options such as a reduction in working hours, career breaks and flexible retirement.
"We continue to consider all suggestions for cost savings, and consultation with unions and staff around the proposals for role reductions, which includes a number of externally-funded research roles coming to their natural end, is ongoing.
"No final decisions have yet been made and the programme for voluntary options is currently still open."
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