ABERYSTWYTH University has hit back at a union’s claims over its use of zero-hour contracts for staff, saying it was based an old data.

Unison published a report on Monday revealing the extent to which Welsh universities use zero-hour contracts.

The union called the findings “shocking”.

The report claimed Aberystwyth University has “more than 660 members of staff on zero-hour contracts”, which the union said “deprive workers of basic employment protections, regular guaranteed earnings and trap people in poverty.”

Aberystwyth University, however said that figure is from 2015, and, as of September this year, the number of its staff on zero-hour contracts had fallen by over two-thirds to 195.

In contrast to the Unison stance, the Aberystwyth branch of UCU has said the university has “engaged” with the union on the issue of casual contracts and was “pleased” that the university “has taken positive steps towards a reduction in the use of such contracts”.

An Aberystwyth University spokeswoman said: “Aberystwyth University has been working closely with the unions to reduce the number of staff employed on zero-hour contracts and to ensure all contracts are appropriate for the purposes of the business, specifying hours of work where possible."

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