Along with dozens of other university branches the strike action by Aberystwyth University UCU has been called off.

 

Aberystwyth UCU members voted on 13th September not to organise strike action that would disrupt Welcome Week, citing the exceptional pressures on our branch that participating in an action causing maximum disruption for new students would have (most universities are in a teaching week from 24th-29th September).

 

Subsequently UCU national asked its branches to consult members about branch views on the action that would have lasted from Monday 25th September to Friday 29th September. As a result Aberystwyth University has been notified by UCU national that the action on Aberystwyth campus has been called off.

 

Forty two universities that have subjected their staff to the most draconian forms of financial penalty for engaging in lawful industrial action will be targeted with 5 days of industrial action next week.

Members of Aberystwyth UCU will be meeting with students new and old to inform them about the industrial action of the last year and what the reasons for it are and why trade unions will take action to protect and improve the rights of working people. The appalling action of some universities in deducting months of pay from university staff for industrial action will be a focal point for our discussions.

 

Meanwhile another industrial action ballot has just opened in higher education seeking a new mandate for further negotiations and if necessary industrial action later in the year.