Sector conference notes:
UK Higher Education is in crisis and tens of thousands of jobs have been lost;
UCU Northern Region call for urgent action on sector funding, and UCU commitment to 'defending jobs, free education';
The funding model for HE is determined by the Secretary of State for Education (Higher Education and Research Act 2017);
Recent legal advice commissioned by UCU members shows the viability of a trade dispute with the Secretary of State over the funding of HE.
Sector conference resolves:
Open a trade dispute with the Secretary of State for Education over HE funding as soon as possible;
To coordinate with other HE unions to build cross-union support for the dispute;
To campaign to build awareness and support for the dispute, highlighting the direct link between sector funding, employment conditions and student experience.
This (composited) motion was formulated by a grassroots network of members, and moved by Queen Mary, Goldsmiths and Essex UCU branches for the Higher Education Sector Conference (HESC) on Sunday 24 May 2025. Two amendments were suggested, neither of which were passed.Â