NINETEEN council staff members are in limbo with uncertainty over the future of their jobs because the county council and Aberystwyth University are locked in a dispute over whether the staff should be transferred to the university.

The staff members provide Welsh language courses for adults, but after the university was awarded contracts in February to provide courses from August in Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Powys, council chiefs believed the staff members would be transferred over to the university as the new provider under current regulations.

However, that has been rejected by the university which has insisted that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations are not applicable.

That has led to a stalemate between the two organisations with university managers allegedly ignoring requests from the council for meetings to discuss the issue.

Elen James, of the council’s learning services department, said: “Since the announcement in February, Ceredigion County Council officers have consistently asked to meet with the university in order to discuss the process of transferring county council staff to Aberystwyth University, but the university has not responded to these requests.

“A letter was received from Aberyswyth University on 27 April informing us, in line with the legal advice they have received, that the decision was that TUPE was not relevant.

“This is contrary to the view of Ceredigion HR department, who feel that TUPE, or at least the principles of TUPE, should apply.”

A council spokesperson said “We are currently engaging with Aberystwyth University to try to resolve the situation."

An Aberystwyth University spokesperson said: “Aberystwyth University has been offered the opportunity by Welsh Government to deliver the Welsh for Adults education programme from August 2016 within three counties and is awaiting the formal contract.

“The university is considering the offer and along with other providers has taken legal advice on the staffing implications. A final decision will be taken when the full implications have been considered.”

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