Strike action at University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) suspended as talks make progress
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The University of the Highlands and Islands says progress has been made in talks with a union over redundancy plans.
Staff employed by the UHI Executive Office have been engaged in industrial action over plans for £4 million in budget cuts, with dozens of jobs potentially at risk.
This has included strike action this month, including a two-day walkout last week.
However the university says a "constructive" meeting between employers and the UHI University and College Union (UCU) has now seen strike days planned for today, Wednesday and Thursday called off.
Vicki Nairn, UHI interim principal and vice-chancellor, said: “We are pleased to have made positive steps forward in our discussions with the UCU and are looking forward to further talks and progress.
"We hope that, by continuing to work with the UCU and our other stakeholders, we can provide a sustainable institution which is fit for our students, staff and communities of the future.”
Discussions that have taken place so far have allowed the UCU to set out its position and the views of its members to senior managers while UHI has also shared its views and positions with union negotiators, the university said.
- University chief insists they are trying to minimise job losses
- UHI staff hold first of six days of strike action
A spokesperson continued: "We have been able to agree to embark upon some important work that should help us resolve this dispute in due course.
"That agreement includes a review/enhancement of redundancy avoidance protocols, addressing certain queries on individual cases, no deductions for Action Short of Strike (ASOS), and a series of meetings with a view to entering a recognition agreement by early 2024.
"UCU and UHI agree to jointly review progress under each of these points by mid-November 2023.
"In light of the above developments UCU has called off the three strike days planned for Tuesday, October 31, Wednesday, November 1 and Thursday, November 2, 2023.
"While the UCU dispute remains live, we hope that we are able to make progress in the discussions outlined above so as it is possible to resolve the dispute later this year."
