This branch notes:
HE14 “Trade union dispute with Secretary of State for Education over funding” overwhelmingly passed at the UCU Higher Education Sector conference.
HE14 included a reference to legal advice that shows the viability of a trade dispute with the Secretary of State over the funding of HE.
HE14 resolves to open a trade dispute with the Secretary of State for Education over HE funding; To coordinate with other HE unions and students to build wide support for the dispute; and To campaign to build awareness and support for the dispute, highlighting the direct link between sector funding, employment conditions and student experience.
This branch believes:
HE14 was successful because it is the result of a long-term, democratic, rank-and-file campaign organised by workers in higher education
In order to make HE14 a reality in the union, rank-and-file members need to continue campaigning
A well-organised dispute at the national level 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 organise an open general meeting with other campus unions to discuss HE14 and the strategy before the start of next term.
To contact the local student union and other student groups to discuss the campaign and funding model.
To send members to the next cross-branch meeting about the strategy [Date tbc]
To contact the local MP to discuss the dispute, calling on them to raise the issue with the Secretary of State for Education.
To contact the local press to discuss the dispute and the impact on the local community of cuts and redundancies.
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 write to HEC to ask for regular updates on opening a trade dispute with the Secretary of State for Education over HE funding.
To call on national UCU to materially support the campaign, including funding dayschools in different regions
Passed by: Goldsmiths UCU, Manchester Met UCU, Queen Mary UCU, KCL UCU, UCL UCU, Southampton UCU, London College of Communication UCU, Birmingham UCU, Nottingham UCU, Sussex UCU,