A strike ballot will be held at Aberdeen University over the threat of job cuts bosses want to make to save £1.5 million.
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) are being asked if they would consider industrial action over planned redundancies at the medical school.
Voluntary severance and early retirement schemes were launched in July., but closed in late September.
And because of the low uptake, the university was forced to place 12 posts at risk of redundancy.
However, it has now reduced the number of staff facing losing their jobs to “fewer than eight”.
Aberdeen UCU representative Derek Dawson said: “Nobody wants to take industrial action, but UCU members in Aberdeen feel they have no choice.
“The university has already made considerable savings through a voluntary severance scheme and we are dismayed that it is handing out redundancy notices at this time.
“It has broken its promise to freeze recruitment in an effort to mitigate the need for job losses.
“We believe getting rid of experienced and dedicated staff will do nothing for Aberdeen’s reputation.”
UCU said the university was still in good financial health, after achieving £8.6million of staff savings through a voluntary redundancy scheme in 2015.
A spokeswoman for Aberdeen University said: “The University of Aberdeen continues to have constructive dialogue with representatives of all of our recognised trade unions and we are disappointed to see UCU balloting its members on industrial action.
“Following the closure of a voluntary severance and early retirement scheme within the school of medicine, medical sciences and nutrition a small number of staff within the school have been placed at risk of redundancy.
“The school employs nearly 900 staff and at this stage we anticipate fewer than eight posts will be lost.
“All steps are being taken to mitigate redundancies.
“This process is part of a strategy to manage a financial deficit within the school and to enable the institution to concentrate on its strengths, so that it continues to attract research funding and make discoveries which improve medical care.”
