University unions derecognised at Robert Gordon

Aberdeen's Robert Gordon University has ended recognition of the UCU and UNITE unions. The derecognition means that staff union representatives can no longer take part in discussions with the university over terms and conditions of service relating to their members.

The UCU feels that the unilateral decision, taken suddenly after 10 years of working in partnership, may have been taken because of the recent criticism of the university, in particular its refusal to negotiate pay locally instead of via the agreed national procedure, and the objection to the privatisation of international recruitment. “This attack is unnecessary, regressive and places the university outside the normal practices of industrial relations,” it said.