Monthly Archives: March 2024

Southampton UCU General Meeting – 12th March 2024

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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.