UNIVERSITY staff in Aberystwyth are considering industrial action in a dispute over pay and working conditions.

Ballots for industrial action have opened at Aberystwyth University alongside 149 other institutions across the UK in disputes over pay, working conditions and pension cuts amid a precipitously deteriorating cost-of-living crisis, confirmed the University and College Union (UCU).

The ballots opened last week (Tuesday) and will close on Friday 21 October 2022.

In the pay and working conditions dispute, UCU’s demands include a pay uplift of 12% or Retail Price Index (RPI) plus 2%, an agreed framework to eliminate insecure work practices such as zero hours contracts, and action to address dangerously high workloads.

Last month Aberystwyth University, along with other employers, have offered a standard three per cent pay increase.

In the pension dispute, UCU is demanding that employers reverse their decision that saw the introduction of severe benefit cuts and a 2.5 per cent inflation cap for staff in the USS pension scheme, and pressure the scheme’s managers to restore benefits to 2021 levels.

John Gough, President of UCU Aberystwyth Branch said: ‘Aberystwyth University has had ample warning that it would face a strike ballot over these issues.

“The current cost-of-living crisis is exposing the fact that our pay has not kept up while our pensions are being eroded by inflation. Many members will have difficulty paying rent, heating, buying essentials. Members feel that they have no alternative but to vote for strike action’

“Students know that the staff work hard to support them. However, the working conditions of staff are the learning conditions of students. We need to be paid fairly! We want to thank them for the incredible support they are giving us.”

A spokesperson for Aberystwyth University said: “We fully appreciate that the current economic climate presents significant challenges for individuals and institutions alike.

“With this in mind, the university has taken the decision to implement UCEA’s proposed 3% pay increase at an early stage, from the beginning of August this year, in line with the offer made as part of UK-wide pay negotiations.

“As a Real Living Wage employer, our lower paid employees will benefit from the recently announced 10.1 per cent increase later in this academic year.

“The university recognises fully the concerns of staff but we also have a duty to ensure we are in a financial position to fulfil any pay increase whilst protecting jobs and the excellent student learning experience for which Aberystwyth University is renowned.”

UCU general secretary Jo Grady added: “The reason for these ballots is very simple: university staff are facing the biggest cost-of-living crisis in a generation, yet bosses think they can get away with a massive real-terms pay cut and pension cuts that will leave our members facing poverty. Our demands must be met and by emphatically voting yes to strike action, UCU members will be saying enough is enough.”