Motion passed

Motion: Requisition for a Special Higher Education Sector Conference on the SoS Campaign and Electronic Balloting

The motion needs to be passed with the same wording as below. After passing the motion, please confirm the branch on this form.

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This branch notes:

1. The ongoing crisis in higher education and UCU’s lack of a national response.
2. Rule 16.11 of the UCU Rules permits the convening of a Special Sector Conference upon receipt of requisitions from quorate general meetings in 20 branches from separate institutions within the sector, provided the intended business is specified.
3. HE14, committing UCU to pursue a dispute with the Secretary of State for Education over Higher Education funding (SoS Campaign), based on legal advice establishing the viability of such a dispute.
4. The National Education Union (NEU) has announced plans to launch a ballot over school funding in October to prevent redundancies and rises in workload.
5. There are no plans for UCU to allow electronic balloting for industrial action after it is introduced under the Employment Rights Act in August 2026.

This branch believes:

6. The SoS Campaign is necessary to defend jobs, pay, conditions, and the future of public higher education.
7. Coordinating with other unions in education is key to winning this campaign.
8. The failure to progress the SoS Campaign highlights serious democratic problems within UCU.
9. UCU needs to prepare for the introduction of electronic balloting to coordinate with the NEU timeline and organise effective local disputes going forward.
10. The union requires a democratic, member-led process to debate and determine the next steps in the SoS campaign and the introduction of electronic balloting.

This branch resolves:

11. To requisition, under Rule 16.11, a Special Higher Education Sector Conference on the specific business of:
    1. Opening the dispute and progressing the SoS Campaign.
    2. Coordinating campaigning and industrial strategy with other education unions, including the NEU.
    3. Developing a democratic process for electronic balloting for industrial action, both in the SoS Campaign and other disputes.

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List of branches that have passed the motion:

1. Goldsmiths UCU
2. King’s College London UCU
3. Liverpool UCU
4. University of Southampton UCU
5. Manchester Metropolitan University UCU
6. Bath Spa University UCU
7. University of Nottingham UCU
8. University of Manchester UCU
9. Queen Mary University of London UCU
10. Sussex UCU
11. University of Essex UCU