Unison Glasgow Caledonian University

17/09/2026

A great turnout for our picket today, kicking off several weeks of industrial action by campus trade unions to and at GCU.

Our university has the second highest cash reserves of all universities in Scotland and the second highest student to staff ratio of all universities in the UK! These two facts demonstrate perfectly why cutting more staff is not the answer to any contraction in income.

Thanks to every member who came out, to University Court reps who walked out of Court to join our picket, to members of other unions who gave us their support (or bought us cakes/hot drinks) and most importantly to the students who expressed their solidarity. We will be working with other unions ( , EIS and Unite) and GCU Student Strike Solidarity over the coming weeks to show that staff and students are united in opposition to these damaging cuts.✊

10/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who took part in our industrial action ballot. 👏

The result sends a clear and powerful message to university management📢: UNISON will not accept attacks on our jobs, our terms and conditions, or the services we provide to students.

Management continues to insist there is no alternative, despite the university holding £94 million in cash reserves. At the same time, jobs are being cut, terms and conditions are under attack, and money continues to be found for other priorities. These are choices, not necessities. Falling student satisfaction should be a warning that reducing staff and services is the wrong path. Those who support students every day know what is needed to deliver an excellent student experience—and these proposals will only undermine it.

The Branch Committee will meet in the coming days to consider the options available and determine the next steps. No decisions have yet been made on the form or timing of any industrial action. Members will play a central role in deciding what happens next. We will shortly arrange a series of members' meetings to discuss the result, hear your views, and collectively decide how we move forward. This dispute belongs to the membership, and our response will be strongest when it is shaped and led by you.

We encourage all members to attend and help determine the next phase of our campaign to protect jobs, defend our terms and conditions, and safeguard the services our students rely on.

Thank you again for your support, participation, and solidarity.

Together, we are stronger.✊

30/06/2026

Have you received your ballot? Have you sent it?

If you haven't received your ballot paper for the current industrial action ballot, you have until this Friday the 3rd of July to request a new one. Request a new ballot by emailing [email protected] and providing us with your current address.

If you have received your ballot paper, you must return it by the 10th of July. Ballot papers returned after this date will not be counted. If you've posted, remind your colleagues to post theirs.

The Trade Unions put forward a detailed and practical alternative to the current TVRS proposals. This would have allowed the University to avoid compulsory redundancies. Unfortunately, senior management have decided to go ahead with their redundancy plans, have also expanded the voluntary scheme extending the uncertainty to every corner of the university and are refusing to withdraw the threat of compulsory redundancies.

This is a difficult but important moment for our branch, and every vote and action matters. A big thanks to those who attended the Joint union rally, who have helped put up posters or call and text members. Together we can

24/06/2026

Join us tomorrow in advance of the Principal's second Town Hall meeting to demand:
❗️Stop the 100 job cuts ✂️ and use some of the university's £90M+ cash reserves
❗️Remove the threat of compulsory redundancies
❗️Meaningfully consult with staff and their trade unions

Thurs 25th June, 11.30am outside the ARC. Bring your banners and your colleagues and make your voice heard📣

15/06/2026

All Unison members at GCU should have received their ballot in the post.

This is an ordinary white envelope with your ballot paper and a pre-paid envelope inside. If you have received yours, please post it as soon as you can.

If you haven't received your ballot, please email us on [email protected] and we can arrange for another to be sent. 📨

Every vote counts!

02/06/2026

Some coverage of our upcoming industrial action ballot in our dispute with GCU management over their decision to cut 100 posts at our university.

Our ballot will run from 5th June- 10th July. We need all members to vote 📬 in order to take action to and .

"It’s time the university lived up to its motto of working for the common good." ✊

12/05/2026

📣GCU Unison members!
Just one week left to vote in our consultative industrial action ballot 🗳

A strong turnout and YES vote in this ballot will show university management that trade union members are willing to fight for our jobs and to stop compulsory redundancies.

All Unison members have been sent a link to an online consultative ballot. This will take less than 2 mins to complete. You will need your membership number which is at the bottom of emails from Unison. If you can't find yours email us on [email protected].

15/04/2026

Thanks to all our UNISON members, other TU members and students who came out to the lobby of university court this morning. 📣

We heard that GCU has £94M in cash reserves, the second highest in Scotland, yet our management are pressing on with 100 job cuts. Despite their strong financial position, will they be the only scottish university to implement compulsory redundancies?

We were really happy to hear from the GCU student strike solidarity group too. They told us of how well students are supported by academic and support staff here and share our anger about the cuts.

Together we can win but we need the support of all staff and students at GCU. Join your union and get active!