We are UCU, Unite and UNISON local branch lay officers and representatives who support union members at all levels and in all areas of the University of Southampton.

We unequivocally support the rights of trans, non-binary, intersex and gender-nonconforming people, and believe that the best way to protect everyone’s rights is to protect everyone’s rights: an injury to one is an injury to all. We support the right to self-identification, and we support full inclusion in the workplace. We reject the divisive notion that trans rights and women’s rights are in conflict – rather, as is increasingly clear from events in other countries, we rise or fall together. The Supreme Court Judgment in For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers (16 April 2025), concerning the definition of ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010, reaffirmed trans people’s rights to protection from discrimination and harassment, but also threatens the broader rights, dignity and inclusion of trans, non-binary, intersex and gender-nonconforming people. We are dismayed that the UK Government appears to be prepared to allow this erosion of rights, rather than to legislate to avoid it.

In 2015, ILGA-Europe (the European region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association) ranked the UK 1st in Europe for LGBTQ+ rights, with a score of 86.00%; in the most recent ranking, released 14 May 2025, the UK now stands at 22nd place, with a score of just 45.65%. This steep decline in LGBTQ+ rights in the UK should be a source of great national shame.

For many years, trade unions have been at the forefront of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in employment and wider society, and we will be advocating within our unions for this to continue and intensify. Further, we call on the senior leadership of the University of Southampton to continue to do as much as possible (within the law, including considering legal action and lobbying for changes to the law) to protect trans, non-binary, intersex and gender-nonconforming staff and students, to limit as far as possible any detrimental action taken to comply with guidance that emerges following the Supreme Court Judgment, to mitigate any negative impacts, and to consult fully with trade unions, the Southampton University Students’ Union, and LGBTQ+ staff and student groups before taking any action. Finally, there should be no changes to provisions or practices until the Equality Act 2010 Statutory Codes of Practice have been updated and approved by Parliament, and full consideration must be given to other key legislation, such as the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, the Gender Recognition Act 2004, and the Data Protection Act 2018.

If any union member requires support for these issues, or any other matter, please get in touch with your branch in the usual way.

University of Southampton UCU Branch Executive Committee
Unite Southampton University Branch Committee
UNISON Southampton District Branch, University of Southampton Executive Committee

Our e-consultation on the University’s ‘Transforming the Academic Year’ project opened late on 15 May and closed at 12 noon on 21 May.

The University is considering three options, which members were asked to rank in order of preference:

• Option 1: No changes to the academic year, but workload peaks will be addressed ‘through changes to process, practices, systems and behaviours’.
• Option 2a: 12-week teaching semesters retained, but earlier start to the academic year, shorter Easter ‘break’, and the addition of an intensive marking week for staff/short break for students between Semester 1 and Semester 2.
• Option 2b: Number of Semester 1 and Semester 2 teaching weeks reduced to 11, shorter Easter ‘break’, and the addition of an intensive marking week for staff/short break for students between Semester 1 and Semester 2.

We received 76 responses, which, while low, exceeds the quoracy requirements for branch votes. The results were as follows:

Option 2b is therefore the preferred option of those members that voted, securing an absolute majority of all 1st-preference votes. Option 2a was the least-favoured option, with fewest 1st-preference and most 3rd-preference votes.

Thank you to everyone who took part, and thank you to the Regional Office for organising the vote at short notice.

We held a General Meeting at 1-2pm on Thursday 15th May 2025. The Branch President gave a brief local update, which included welcoming the new Branch Administrator and Organiser, Laura O’Brien, summarising the information shared with us so far about the NousCubane benchmarking exercise the University recently undertook, and reporting on the progress of negotiations in our two local disputes. We then moved on to the formal business outlined below.

Review of the Academic Year

The University is consulting on possible changes to the academic year (details here). We discussed the various proposals, and took an informal indicative vote, which revealed that a majority of members present favoured Option 2b. As we discussed in the meeting, the branch will hold a formal e-consultation of members, to ensure that as many as possible have a say. Note that the results of this e-consultation will supersede the informal indicative vote held in today’s meeting, which was intended as a ‘backup’ in case the e-consultation could not be launched in time.

UPDATE: The e-consultation has now launched and will remain open until 12 noon on Wednesday 21st May – check your MyUCU-registered contact email for a message from ‘yoursay@ucu.org.uk’. In this consultation, you will be asked to rate the three options (1, 2a and 2b) in order of preference, from 1, for your preferred option, to 3, for your least preferred option.

Policies and Procedures

The University is intending to ask the branch to ratify three policies and procedures at the forthcoming JJNC and UCU JNC meetings on 22nd May. Members instructed the branch executive as follows:

• To approve the University’s proposed new Volunteering Leave Policy (for 35, against 0, abstain 4).
• To approve the University’s proposed new Student Complaints and Employee Disciplinary Interaction Process (for 33, against 0, abstain 7). This process, and associated changes to Regulations Governing Student Complaints, directly responds to concerns raised by the branch – see Motion 2 from our GM of 19th November 2024).
• To approve the University’s revised Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom (for 11, against 2, abstain 25).

2025 UCU Congress/Sector Conference Motions

We discussed the Second Report of the Congress Business Committee, which contains motions that are expected to be voted on at UCU Congress/Sector Conference, 24th-26th May 2025. The Executive Committee highlighted Motions 52 (p. 31), 72 (p. 41), HE6 (p. 66) and HE14 (p. 70) as ones that members may have views on. If you have opinions on any motion that you would like to share with the voting delegates who will be representing us at Congress, please send them to ucu@soton.ac.uk by no later than 9am on 22nd May, so that we have time to pass them on.

Motions

The following motion was overwhelmingly passed by members.

Motion: Southampton UCU’s Commitment to Trans Rights

The branch notes:

• That the UK Supreme Court ruling from 16 April declares sex in the Equality Act 2010 refers to sex assigned at birth.
• That the Equality and Human Rights Commission issued guidance on 25 April that states people must use single-sex spaces according to sex assigned at birth, reflecting earlier comments by the Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson.
• That the EHRC guidance has no provision for intersex people, and is worded such that trans people could be excluded from single-sex facilities altogether.

The branch believes that the interim guidance:

• Undermines the basic human rights and dignity of trans, intersex, non-binary and gender non-conforming staff and students, including their right to privacy and to be free of harassment and discrimination.
• Contradicts current policy and practice at most post-16 institutions, including UoS, which allow all staff and students to use the gendered spaces appropriate to them (see the branch-ratified Inclusion and Respectful Behaviour policy).
• Encourages enforcement that would amount to harassment, given that a person’s sex assigned at birth and/or transition status are confidential medical information.
• Also threatens dignity at work for cis people, particularly cis women, due to its reliance on subjective assessments of gender presentation.

The branch resolves to:

• Call on the University of Southampton to maintain its existing, trans-inclusive Inclusion and Respectful Behaviour policy and to reiterate this policy to all staff and students.
• Ensure that we are consulted on any changes to policy, in line with our recognition agreement.
• Call on members to vote against ratifying any changes to policy that might weaken or dilute trans people’s right to use single-sex spaces that align with their gender identity.

For: 31
Against: 2
Abstain: 4

Motion carried.

During November and December 2024, we invited local UCU members to complete an online survey to give the branch feedback on their concerns and priorities, and what we could do to increase engagement. You can find a report on the results below (embedded document and download link), which also includes some of the actions that we have taken/will be taking in response. Thank you to everyone who took time to complete the survey.

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [140.44 KB]

We held a General Meeting at 1-2pm on 11th February 2025. After the approval of the minutes of the 19th November 2024 General Meeting and 17th December 2024 Extraordinary General Meeting, and local update from the Branch President, the following business was conducted.

University Policies, Procedures and Proposals

• By general consensus, members approved minor changes to the previously ratified Career Pathways.
• Branch gave further instruction to the Executive Committee with respect to the Whistleblowing Policy.
• Branch gave instructions to the Executive Committee with respect to the proposed changes to Engineering & Infrastructure terms and conditions.

Motions

Branch passed the following motions.

Motion 1: Solidarity with HE and FE Branches

Branch expresses its deep concern at the growing number of job losses being announced at universities and colleges across the country, and expresses its solidarity with all trade union members who are facing redundancy, pay cuts and detrimental changes to their terms and conditions.

Branch resolves:

1. To instruct the Branch Executive Committee to write, on behalf of members, to Southampton’s three MPs, to express our concern about the situation, and to ask them to do all they can to advocate for improved HE and FE funding, to protect both the global reputation of UK education and the jobs of hard-working university and college staff.
2. To instruct the Branch Executive Committee to write to the Vice-Chancellor and Chair of Council, calling on UEB and Council to continue to do all in their power to protect the jobs of staff at the University of Southampton and beyond.
3. To authorise the Branch Executive Committee to make payments from the Branch’s general funds to the strike funds of UCU branches who take industrial action to protect their members, at the discretion of the Executive Committee, but prioritising branches in the Southern Region, up to a total of £1,000.

For: 47
Against: 0
Abstain: 2

Motion carried.

Motion 2: Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism

Branch notes:

1. The adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism by the University of Southampton on 11 November 2020, following intense pressure placed on universities by then Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson.
2. That the 2021 Annual Congress expressed concerns, and resolved (‘f’ and ‘g’) to call on branches to press for the adoption of the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA) ‘as an alternative or supplement to’ the IHRA Working Definition.
3. The request of this branch’s negotiators, at an E-JJNC meeting with management on 23 July 2024, that the University of Southampton adopts the JDA.

Branch believes:

1. That antisemitism and Islamophobia are unacceptable and should be challenged.
2. That the JDA is a valuable resource for defining and combatting antisemitism.

Branch resolves:

1. To call on the University of Southampton to adopt immediately the JDA Definition of antisemitism, as an alternative or supplement to the IHRA Definition.

For: 42
Against: 2
Abstain: 5

Motion carried.

Motion 3: Israeli Arms Divestment Letter to USS

Branch notes:

• Resolves 1(c) in the motion passed by members on 10 May 2024.
• That the national position of UCU is to press for the USS pension scheme to fully divest from holdings directly or indirectly linked to Israeli’s military actions or occupation (most recently expressed in Motion 33, resolves iv, first bullet, at the 2024 Annual Congress).

Branch resolves:

• To instruct the Branch President to write to the Chair of the USS Trustee Board, to call on USS to fully divest from holdings directly or indirectly linked to Israel’s military actions or occupation.

[A draft letter was shared at the meeting, and is being revised in light of feedback received.]

For: 26
Against: 9 
Abstain: 10

Motion carried.

We held a General Meeting at 1-2pm on 19th November 2024. After the approval of previous minutes and a local update from the Branch President, the following business was considered.

Policies and Procedures

We discussed a number of proposed University policies/procedures that the branch will be asked to ratify at the forthcoming JJNC and JNC meetings with management on 28th November. Members voted as follows:

• To approve the proposed Dispute Resolution Procedure. For: 58. Against: 0. Abstain: 2. Carried.
• To authorise the Executive Committee to take a decision on the proposed Career Pathways, pending further clarification from the University. For: 49. Against: 0. Abstain: 5. Carried.*
• To approve the proposed Whistleblowing Policy. For: 2. Against: 49. Abstain: 0. Failed. 
• To approve the proposed Sabbatical Policy. For: 10. Against: 8. Abstain: 35. Carried.** 
• To approve the proposed Flexible Working Policy. For: 52. Against: 0. Abstain: 1. Carried. 

* Since the GM, the University has confirmed that the ‘placeholder text’ in some of the TAE sections will be removed, and the trade unions will be consulted if further amendments are needed.

** Following the GM, the Exec. has secured the requested reassurance that an unsuccessful sabbatical application does not reset the clock on eligibility to apply, and the policy wording has been modified to make this explicit. Further, we have secured a strengthening of the wording (‘may’ changed to ‘should’) in Section 9.1. of the policy, relating to disrupted sabbaticals.

Branch Rule Change and Changes to the Executive Committee

Members voted in favour of a local rule change to rename the ‘Black Members’ Officer’ to ‘Officer for Members of Colour’, proposed by Shmma Quraishe. This proposal passed by the required 2/3 majority, with 52 votes in favour, 0 votes against, and 4 abstentions. This change now needs to be approved by UCU headquarters.

Working on the assumption that the rule change will be accepted, branch voted overwhelmingly to co-opt Shmma Quraishe to the position of Officer for Members of Colour, and Hannah Fair to the Ordinary Member position vacated by Shmma. (These co-options will be confirmed once we know that the rule change has been accepted by UCU headquarters.)

Motions

Members voted on the two motions given below, which were tabled by the Branch Executive Committee. Both motions passed overwhelmingly, and will now be raised at the forthcoming JJNC and JNC meetings with management on 28th November.

1. Ban New Staff-Student Sexual and Romantic Relationships

Branch notes:

• The proposals from the OfS on regulating harassment and sexual misconduct in England; and
• Research showing that most students – particularly women – are not comfortable with romantic and sexual staff-student relationships.

Branch believes:

• That UCU should support policy-making that will prevent abuses of power by higher education staff; and
• That an evidence-based approach to preventing sexual misconduct reasonably involves action on regulating staff-student sexual and romantic relationships, as well as establishing professional boundaries more widely.

Branch resolves:

• To call for a ban of the formation of new sexual and romantic relationships between staff and students, where there is a teaching, assessment or pastoral component to that relationship.

For: 42
Against: 1
Abstentions: 7 

Motion carried.

2. Handling of Student Complaints of Staff Misconduct

Branch notes:

1. That at the University of Southampton, complaints raised by students about staff misconduct are considered under the Student Complaints Policy (s. 3.1c). Outcomes are reported to the student, and any ‘upheld’ complaints may be referred to the staff Disciplinary Procedure for further action.
2. That the OIAHE’s ‘Good Practice Framework’ instead recommends that ‘a complaint about alleged misconduct of a member of staff […] should normally be handled under an HR procedure’ (s. 125), that it should be ‘referred [at the outset] to the provider’s staff disciplinary process’, and that ‘[t]he outcome of the process will normally be confidential to the staff member’ (Disciplinary Procedures, s. 108 and Case Study 8).
3. That staff are afforded important protections by the Acas Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures, but that while these are incorporated into the Disciplinary Procedure, several key protections are absent from the Student Complaints Policy, including the respondent’s right to see and challenge evidence in a Hearing before a decision is taken, and the right of the respondent to appeal a decision.
4. That some student complaints about staff misconduct have been ‘upheld’ under the Student Complaints Policy, but subsequently ‘not upheld’ once the respondent had a meaningful opportunity to challenge evidence and present a defence in a Disciplinary Hearing. In such cases, there is no mechanism for the earlier decision to be rescinded.
5. That our 1973 recognition agreement commits the University to ‘consult and negotiate’ with us on matters relating to ‘conditions of service’, yet the Student Complaints Policy is not one on which we are typically consulted.

Branch believes:

1. That students have a right to complain about staff misconduct.
2. That student allegations of staff misconduct should be investigated in a manner that respects the rights afforded to staff by the Acas Code of Practice.
3. That student allegations of staff misconduct should be referred to the staff Disciplinary Procedure at the outset, and that outcomes should normally remain confidential to the member of staff, in accordance with the OIAHE’s recommendations.
4. That while some staff may find the title ‘Disciplinary Procedure’ more alarming than ‘Student Complaints Policy’, the former is nevertheless the most appropriate process to follow to ensure that their rights are protected when they are respondents to misconduct allegations.
5. That the referral of a student complaint to the staff Disciplinary Procedure should not automatically require an investigation or hearing, and that the University should avoid unnecessarily escalating complaints to the formal part of the Disciplinary Procedure.

Branch resolves:

1. To call on the University to enter negotiations with UCU on the handling of student complaints of staff misconduct.
2. To call on the University to implement the recommendations of the OIAHE ‘Good Practice Framework’ regarding complaints about staff misconduct.

For: 43
Against: 0
Abstentions: 2  

Motion carried.

Thank you to everyone who came.

[Post updated 27/11/2024]

Please find below the branch’s recent correspondence with the Vice-Chancellor regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and motions that were passed at the Southampton UCU General Meeting – 12th March 2024 and the Emergency General Meeting – 10th May 2024 (reconvened).

Following receipt of the Vice-Chancellor’s reply, the branch executive has decided:

1. To add an appropriate agenda item to the next JJNC meeting between trade unions and management, and
2. That the Branch President will contact the Associate Vice-President EDI and Social Justice to request a meeting.

We will keep members updated.

Email from Southampton UCU President to the Vice-Chancellor, 10 June 2024.

Dear Vice-Chancellor,

Following discussions at the JJNC on 16 May, I write to advise you of various resolutions passed by the Southampton UCU Branch concerning the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

At a reconvened Emergency General Meeting on 10 May, and after considerable debate, the branch passed by a large majority a motion entitled ‘Declaration of the sanctity of education and life for all and a call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire (Ceasefire now and an end to “Educide”)’. This motion, which can be viewed at https://southampton.web.ucu.org.uk/2024/05/10/emergency-general-meeting-10th-may-2024-reconvened/ and is appended below, demands that the University of Southampton takes several actions, which can be found under resolution 1. UCU members are horrified by the events in Gaza and are looking to the University to act; I therefore request that the demands in resolution 1 are given your most serious consideration.

You may also be interested to know that, at a previous General Meeting of the Branch on 12 March, members resolved to authorise humanitarian donations to the charities Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) and Friends of Birzeit University (Fobzu). As a result of the latter donation, I have been invited to represent the Branch at a conference organised by Fobzu later this month, on the topic ‘Emergency Support for Palestinian Higher Education’. I will of course be sharing what I learn at that conference with local UCU members, but I would also be very pleased to share what I learn with you and UEB too.

Yours sincerely,
[Southampton UCU President]

[A copy of the motion was appended to the email]

Reply from the Vice-Chancellor to the Southampton UCU President, 19 June 2024

Dear [Southampton UCU President],

I have now had the opportunity to discuss with colleagues on the University Executive Board (UEB) the various issues raised in the resolutions recently passed by the UCU branch. Although the JJNC meetings should continue to be a forum for these discussions, I thought it might be helpful if I set out some general points in response.

I fully understand that this continues to be an incredibly difficult time for many in our community, some of whom I know have deep personal connections with the region. I am sure all of us share a continuing horror at the October 7^th attacks on Israel and the ensuing devastating impact of hostilities on all civilian populations, and the heart-breaking humanitarian crisis that has unfolded in Gaza. All of us on UEB fervently hope for a swift and lasting cessation of hostilities on all sides.

I also fully understand and respect the passionately-held views of many in our University community, some of which are reflected in the resolutions that were passed. Equally, I accept there will always be multiple, diverse points of view and no single ‘right’ answer’ on issues such as this, and that there is often a greater complexity and nuance than is found within the current media, social media and political commentary. Some in our community have contacted me direct to explain why they strongly disagree with the resolutions that were passed by the UCU branch. This illustrates the complexity for the University when there are such opposing views held by different people, as you of course will have experienced yourself, with clear differences of views amongst the small number of members who voted.

Having different views is of course, how it should be. Universities, of all places, should provide a safe forum in which our staff and students feel they can freely and respectfully express their lawful views, and feel they are seen, safe and supported. As I have said previously, freedom of speech and academic freedom are fundamental cornerstones of our institution, which I will ensure we will continue always to uphold, and which as a sector we must robustly defend.

I know too that many in our community continue to be concerned about the rise in Antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents seen in some areas. I repeat my pledge that we will ensure that all members of our community feel safe, and that we will not hesitate to take swift and decisive action against any threats to any members of our staff and student community.

As a University, we have to balance a number of obligations and responsibilities, which is not always easy, as we have seen elsewhere. We have to balance our legal requirement to be impartial with the expectations of some for us to take a more public position. We have to balance our obligations to uphold lawful freedom of speech and academic freedom with a recognition that some may fundamentally disagree with what’s said, and find it upsetting. Lawful freedom of speech does mean that some views can be expressed that others may strongly disagree with, or be offended by.

Above all, I am most anxious that at a time of heightened tensions and emotions, we as a very diverse community – with students from more than 170 countries, and staff from more than 90 countries – remain sensitive to and respectful of each other’s perspectives, and ensure that all members of our communities feel safe, supported and included. I am very grateful to [our Associate Vice-President EDI and Social Justice] who has been talking to a number of individuals and groups on these issues, to ensure the voices of our staff and students are heard, and to actively promote inclusive behaviours and protect freedom of speech.

Whilst I understand the views of those who question the continuation of some industry relationships, partnerships and investments, I have always believed passionately in universities taking an approach of influence and change through positive engagement, not isolation or retreat, and ensuring academic freedom around research collaborations, unless prohibited by the UK Government.

I am confident that after many years of strong leadership and careful thought we have robust ethical frameworks and governance around all our decision-making relating to research partnerships, the acceptance of gifts, and our investments, and that these align with our core values as an institution. Nevertheless, universities do not exist in a bubble and to be truly values-driven our work must always be alive to real-world issues and heightened ethical concerns, and so it is of course right that we regularly review these, in discussion with our community. So, we are currently in the process of reviewing our Responsible Partnerships Statement, which sets out the principles we adopt around our research partnerships; and we have relatively recently reviewed our Gift Acceptance and Naming Policy governing our philanthropic activity across the University. Our University investment policy is governed by an Investment Committee, as an advisory committee reporting to our Council, and again this is an area we are continuing to review and reflect on.

Finally, we take our responsibilities as a Civic University very seriously, not just in respect of our place in our region, but also in respect of our place and responsibilities in the global community as a world top 100 university. We are acutely conscious of the impact on academic institutions, their staff and students, from global conflict, and I was very pleased to support our application to become a University of Sanctuary, and earlier this month I was delighted to meet and talk with the accreditation team assessing our application. I was also very pleased to see us launch two new annual Sanctuary scholarships to support UG and PGT students, and we are now actively considering doubling our support in the future, so more students from conflict areas can be supported.

I continue to be heartened that we as an inclusive community are embodying the values and behaviours that unite us, and not divide us.

With best wishes,
[Vice-Chancellor]

The following motion was passed at a quorate Emergency General Meeting of the branch on 10th May 2024 (this meeting was reconvened from 2nd May 2024).

Motion: Declaration of the sanctity of education and life for all and a call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire (Ceasefire now and an end to ‘Educide’)

Southampton University UCU notes:

• The continued massacre and brutal assault by the Israeli government and armed forces on Palestinians has targeted and killed over 35,000 people (mainly women and children) and injured over 78,000, meaning more than 100,000 civilians have now been killed or injured in Gaza and increasingly in the West Bank. (Sources: UN Office for the coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; Al Jazeera Live Tracker).
• The Israeli state’s collective punishment of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank in response to the attack by Hamas on 7th October, including cutting off water, food, power supplies and medicines and the creation of a massive refugee crisis and famine in Gaza is against international and humanitarian law. (Sources: Human Rights Watch; icj-cij.org; Amnesty International; Human Rights Watch; B’Tselem).
• The ongoing ‘educide’ or ‘scholasticide’ has targeting and systematically demolished and destroyed the educational infrastructure including more than 392 educational facilities including 281 government schools, 65 UNRWA-run schools and ALL universities in Gaza including its TWO medical schools. (Sources: Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor.org; United Nations | UN News; United Nations | OHCHR; United Nations – OHCHR Press Release ; Gaza Ministry of Education (WAFA) 2 April 2024)
• In response to the brutal military invasion of Ukraine, the UK higher education community has undertaken various actions to support our Ukrainian colleagues. This includes specific funding from UK research agencies and the establishment of multiple UK-Ukrainian institutional partnerships. This highlights what can be done to assist university staff and students under military assault and occupation. Palestinian higher education, including in the Occupied West Bank, deserves a similarly comprehensive and co-ordinated response by UK higher education institutions. (Sources: Russell Group universities’ response to the invasion of Ukraine;
  Ukraine Humanitarian Aid Appeal)

Southampton University UCU resolves:

1. To call on and lobby our VC and University leadership demanding:
   (a) A call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire an end to the blockade of Gaza the release of all Palestinian and Israeli hostages.
   (b) They seriously consider the recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings and take responsible steps to ensure that they are not risking complicity in Israel’s collective punishment and ‘plausible genocidal acts’ in light of the ICJ ruling.
   (c) Conduct a full review and disclosure of pension funds, investments, funding and partnerships. Identify and divest from companies that are complicit in genocide, apartheid, have activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel’s militarised violence and oppression of the Palestinian people and withdraw from any Israeli holdings that are linked to breaches of international law. Divestment should include but not be limited to Barclays, BAE Systems, Boeing, Airbus, Thales, Ex Libris Group and BlackRock.
   (d) Statements are made condemning the killing of over 35,000 people, including over 5800 students, and at least 261 teachers/administrators and 95 professors, with more than 9000 other students and teachers injured during the ongoing attacks in Gaza to date.
   (e) A commitment to support the reconstruction and long-term rebuilding of the Palestinian higher education sector/institutions that have been destroyed and/or severely damaged by the Israeli military in Gaza.
   – This would include establishing links and partnerships with Palestinian universities in the form of twinning, exchange programmes and establishment/expansion of scholarships and hardship funds for Palestinian students and academic fellowships for staff who have seen their universities and educational opportunities destroyed. (Sources: Rebuilding Hope for Gaza | Education Above All Foundation; PALS Travel Fellowship – FOBZU website)
   – Lobby the UK government and research bodies for specific funding to support Palestinian higher education and Palestinian refugees.
   (f) Declare support for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and their own viable state, an end to oppression and wars, and see Palestinians and Israelis mutually agree their future relations, free of all coercion, and able to live in peace and prosperity.
2. To support and promote students and UCU members in on-campus activities including sit-ins/vigils/webinars to promote information and education about the history and occupation of Palestine and demonstrate against apartheid, illegal occupation, settler colonialism and ethnic cleansing.
3. To call on all staff to carefully consider their links to Israeli universities and sever ties with those complicit in the oppression of Palestinians.
4. To call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire an end to the blockade of Gaza the release of all Palestinian and Israeli hostages and respect for and the immediate and unconditional release of the dead on both sides.
5. To support financial appeals for medical, educational, and humanitarian projects.
6. To support free speech and academic freedom and the defence of voices for Palestine on campus.

For: 39

Against: 17

Abstentions: 7

The Southampton UCU branch held an Emergency General Meeting on 2nd May 2024, to give members the opportunity to submit motions to UCU’s Special HE Sector Conference, motion amendments to UCU Congress, and to discuss the motions that have been announced for Congress. We also considered the University’s proposed new Family Leave Policy, and passed a number of motions (see below). Branch voted to suspend the meeting, to be reconvened on 10 May 2024, to allow members more time to debate and vote on a motion concerning Gaza.

Family Leave Policy

Branch unanimously voted to instruct the Executive Committee’s JJNC negotiators to ratify the University’s Family Leave Policy. The votes cast were as follows:

For: 46

Against: 0

Abstentions: 0

Motion: Probation Justice for Staff on Fixed-Term Contracts

Branch notes:

• the President’s verbal report on the issue of errors in the probation lengths assigned to many staff on Fixed-Term Contracts (FTCs);
• that excessive probation periods for FTC staff can result in detriment, including increased job insecurity, difficulties with securing housing or loans, and limited or no access to the University’s redeployment register;
• that while the University appears to be willing to address this issue for staff whose employment began on or after 1 August 2023, it has so far declined to commit to address this issue for staff who started before that date.

Branch believes:

• that excessive probation periods for FTC staff are unacceptable and incompatible with the values of the University community;
• that, while the University would be right to correct errors in probation length for FTC staff who started on or after 1 August 2023, it would be wrong to deny access to more favourable probation lengths to FTC staff who started before 1 August 2023, and whose probation periods extend well into 2025 in some cases.

Branch resolves:

• to instruct the Executive Committee and Regional Official to include this matter in our ‘Modernising the Governance’ local dispute.

For: 44

Against: 0

Abstentions: 1

Motion: Congress Motion HE27

Branch resolves to guide its Congress Delegates to be supportive of motion HE27.

[NB: HE27 is a motion to be presented at the 2024 UCU Congress regarding staff-student relationship. Planned 2024 UCU Congress motions can be found at https://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/html/ucu2122.html.]

For: 26

Against: 5

Abstentions: 9

Proposal to Suspend the Meeting

Branch resolved to suspend the Emergency General Meeting and to reconvene as soon as possible, to enable sufficient time for members to debate and vote on a motion about Gaza. The votes cast were as follows:

For: 32

Against: 2

Abstentions: 2

The following two motions were passed at our quorate Branch General Meeting on 12th March 2024. In addition, a third motion, ‘British Committee for the Universities of Palestine (BRICUP) Motion’, was voted on but was lost.

Affordable and Equitable Industrial Action (IA)

[Previously passed at our 2023 AGM for submission to an anticipated HE Special Sector Conference that did not take place, this motion was again presented to members so that they could approve its submission to the HE Conference that forms part of the 2024 UCU Congress.]

Conference notes that:

• In the 2022-23 pay dispute, UCU called more days of strike action than any other UK trade union;
• UCU confirmed limited financial compensation for punitive deductions a month after the MAB commenced;
• Lengthy, uncompensated or partially compensated IA disproportionately affects staff on part-time and fixed-term contracts, more likely to be women and ethnic minorities;
• The unsustainable cost of lengthy periods of IA creates a risk of disengagement among members.

Conference resolves that:

• UCU commits to conduct an affordability assessment before calls for IA, assessing the likely cost of proposed action to members and support available from the strike fund, and to circulate it to branches;
• UCU commits to conduct an equality impact assessment before calling IA and to plan mitigations against any disproportionate impacts on specific groups;
• HEC must consider the outcomes of affordability and equality assessments when calling IA.

For: 38 
Against: 0
Abstain: 4

Motion carried.

Gaza Humanitarian Donations

Southampton UCU Branch expresses its deep concern at the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and resolves:

1. To donate £1,500 from branch funds to the Friends of Birzeit University (Fobzu) (https://fobzu.org/donate/), and to invite members to consider making a personal donation if they can afford to do so.
2. To donate £1,500 from branch funds to the Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) emergency appeal (https://www.map.org.uk/donate/donation-details/484), and to invite members to consider making a personal donation if they can afford to do so.

For: 19
Against: 14
Abstain: 9

Motion carried.