STAFF at Glyndŵr University are to be balloted on strike action after the branch chairman of a union was sacked.
According to the University and College Union (UCU), Hamish Murphy was dismissed from his post for carrying out trade union activities following a long-running dispute between UCU and the university.
Glyndŵr University strongly denies the claim.
UCU is now calling on vice-chancellor Prof Michael Scott to reinstate Mr Murphy.
The union say Mr Murphy was instrumental in exposing a serious problem of bullying and harassment of staff at the university.
Margaret Phelan, the leading official for UCU Cymru, said: “The dismissal of Hamish Murphy was a clear attack on him as a trade unionist and on UCU as the legitimate voice of academic staff at the university.
“His reinstatement would help both sides to draw a line under the problems of the past.
“UCU wants to move forward but we can’t do this while Hamish remains dismissed because of his trade union activities.”
A Glyndŵr University spokesman said: “The university can not comment on this case as it is still subject to the appeal process.
“The university strongly denies, however, that it has ever dismissed any member of staff for undertaking trade union activities.”