Aberystwyth UCU branch passed the following motion at its AGM on 18th June 2026. Along with many other branches we call on our members to support a global academic boycott of Sheffield University over the actions taken against its staff.
Motion reads:
UCU Congress runs 27th to 29th May, with UCU Higher Education Sector Conference (HESC) on the 28th.
Marc Welsh (President) and Stuart McGowan (H&S Rep) are attending as delegates for Aber UCU.
We will provide a report of key decisions taken afterwards and to the Aber UCU AGM on 18th June.
Members can view the agenda and motions on the UCU website here
There are 78 motions to Congress to debate, and 29 to HESC. They range from campaigning to finance to tactical to crisis in HE motions.
Please contact Marc or Stuart if you have specific points about the Congress or HESC business to raise.
There’s been a lot going on at Aberystwyth University in recent months. And a lot happening in UCU nationally and in Wales.
Two key things to ponder:
Firstly: the UCU elections to national bodies are underway. Please pay attention. The postal ballot closes on 2nd March. Last day to request replacement ballots is Thursday 26 February 2026.
Currently Welsh representation on the HEC will be limited (there is no Welsh HEC nominee on the ballot paper to represent Wales). That makes voting for HEC posts you are eligible to vote for more pertinent given the role of HEC in deciding on industrial action and negotiations with UCEA. These posts will be identified on your ballot papers.
Secondly: the Employment Rights Act 2025. This brings some significant changes to trade union activities and your protections. This includes removing the 50% turnout threshold for industrial action ballots and electronic voting. You can read a simple summary of the main changes here.
https://www.acas.org.uk/employment-rights-act-2025
1) Dylech fod wedi cael eich papurau pleidleisio erbyn hyn.
2) Daw’r bleidlais i ben ar 28 Tachwedd.
3) Pleidlais ydyw ar ddechrau gweithredu diwydiannol ar ffurf streiciau, a gweithredu heb gynnwys streicio, ar y materion isod:
a. codi tâl yn unol â’r RPI + 3.5% o leiaf, neu £2,500, p’un bynnag fo’r uchaf, ar bob pwynt cyflog
b. gweithredu ar y cyd i amddiffyn cytundebau cenedlaethol ar delerau ac amodau cyflogaeth
c. cytundeb cenedlaethol i osgoi colli swyddi, cau cyrsiau, a thorri disgyblaethau academaidd ar draws y sector.
4) Os na chawsoch eich papurau, mae modd erbyn hyn wneud cais am gael rhai newydd – drwy’r ddolen hon here
5) Sicrhewch fod manylion eich aelodaeth yn gywir. Os bydd gweithredu diwydiannol, neu os byddwch am ddwyn achos yn erbyn y brifysgol, bydd angen i’ch manylion fod yn gywir er mwyn i’r undeb allu’ch cefnogi chi.
6. If you have already voted please use the link here Bydd hynny hefyd yn golygu na chewch fwy o negeseuon i’ch atgoffa i bleidleisio.
7) Mae croeso i chi rannu negeseuon ‘Rwy wedi pleidleisio, ydych chi?’ ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Tagiwch @ucuaber.bsky.social. Cofiwch beidio â rhannu lluniau o’r papur pleidleisio ei hun (cyn ei lenwi nac wedyn), dim ond yr amlen.
8) Os hoffech weld mwy o weithgarwch ar y campws i hybu’r bleidlais, cysylltwch : Alison Garrod AGarrod@UCU.ORG.UK; Susan Chapman scc@aber.ac.uk; Steph Jones sbj@aber.ac.uk i wirfoddoli ychydig o amser. Mae gennym bosteri a deunydd hybu o bencadlys UCU i’w rhannu.
9) Mae cynrychiolwyr cangen Aber UCU wedi’u gwahodd i gyfarfodydd ar-lein cenedlaethol ar 6, 12 a 18 Tachwedd. Rhannwch eich barn â’ch cynrychiolydd adrannol neu aelod o’r Pwyllgor Gwaith os hoffech inni godi rhywbeth yn y fforymau hyn neu os oes awgrymiadau am beth y dylai’r gangen ofyn i’r aelodau yn ei gylch.
10) Mae pencadlys UCU hefyd yn ffrydio sawl digwyddiad ‘esbonio’r bleidlais’ dros y mis nesaf. Cadwch lygad ar agor am fanylion yn eich ebyst
The motion titled: “A statement of solidarity with marginalised communities” was adopted by a quorate branch meeting on 16th September 2025
Aberystwyth University trade unions have entered a period of ‘collective consultation’ and negotiation with the employer.
As part of the process unions will have access to responses to the consultation submitted by individual staff. This will be with personal information (e.g. names, or a comment based on someone’s personal circumstance, like a health issue) redacted. Union representatives only have access on the basis of maintaining confidentiality.
This will help unions to better understand the issues raised by staff, and ideas they may have proposed to address problems resulting from the proposals to restructure.
This post is also to notify members of UCU that as representatives of staff in the collective consultation individuals are welcome to send us direct a copy of their responses to or thoughts on a specific consultation. Please email ucustaff@aber.ac.uk if you wish to do this.
The more information we have the better placed we are to engage meaningfully in this collective consultation, to understand staff concerns and to negotiate on behalf of staff with the employer.
The Professional Services Review has been underway for months. Every university service department is being reviewed and a business case (a proposal for changes in structure) being prepared.
