Chronicle Live reports. The University and College Union (UCU) had already declared a formal dispute with the university due to concerns and is preparing to ballot members for industrial action.The union said academics are “worried for themselves and their families, for the students, and for the community” amid rising Covid case numbers in the city.There have been major concerns about the return of more than 50,000 students to Newcastle during a resurgence of the virus, with the city having one of the highest rates of infection in the country.A spokesperson for the university told the local outlet they "fully understand the concerns of colleagues" and that there is a weekly meeting with the trade unions where concerns can be raised.It comes.