This branch notes:
UK Higher Education is in crisis, and tens of thousands of jobs have been and are at risk of being lost.
The government's Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper proposes new conditions and a tiered approach to university funding.
The ballot on the 2025/26 Joint HE Trade Union National Claim failed to reach the legal threshold to take strike action.
The SoS Dispute Motion (HE14) overwhelmingly passed at the UCU Higher Education Sector conference 2025 and resolves to open a trade dispute with the Secretary of State for Education over HE funding (wording of which can be found here).
The HE14 motion included a reference to legal advice that shows the viability of a trade dispute with the Secretary of State over the funding of HE.
This branch believes:
The strategy for the SoS Dispute is the result of a long-term, democratic, rank-and-file campaign organised by workers across higher education; and this campaigning needs to continue to make the dispute happen.
The government's Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper will further deepen the funding divide between pre and post-92 HE institutions in the sector by entrenching a tiered funding model and introducing maintenance grants based on the government's “industrial strategy” rather than educational interest.
A well-organised national-level dispute is necessary to challenge the systemic erosion of working conditions across the sector.
Collective action from all university unions is required to compel the government to reform the funding model.
This branch resolves:
To recommit to the “SoS campaign” agreed in the HE14 motion and call on HEC to: begin the process of opening the dispute with the Secretary of State for Education over HE funding; to provide regular updates on the progress of the dispute; to materially support the SoS campaign and fund related meetings in different regions.
To send members to the next cross-branch strategy workshop hosted by the University Rank-and-File Network in London on January 25th 2026.
To organise an open general meeting with other campus unions to discuss the funding model and the dispute strategy in the new year.
To call on the UCU general secretary to work with other higher education unions to establish a democratic “Higher Education Workers Conference” to plan the next steps in the dispute.
To build awareness locally by contacting the student union and other relevant student groups, the local MP, the local press and relevant community groups to discuss the SoS campaign and funding model.