UCU Congress 2025: Higher Education Sector Conference - Trade Dispute with Secretary of State for Education over Funding
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.