This motion was passed by a GUCU Branch Meeting on Monday, 15 May 2023
This branch notes:
- The University of Brighton has proposed plans to make at least 100 academic staff redundant with approximately 400 members of staff at risk of redundancy.
- This cost cutting measure by the administration seeks to make up for the decrease in students applying for courses but will only make this situation worse.
- The proposed plans for redundancies at the University of Brighton are strikingly similar to events at Goldsmiths last year, when 16 GUCU members were made redundant. This reflects a wider pattern of targeted redundancies within so-called ‘low performing’ institutions, with universities specialising in critical and political thought and arts and humanities sub-disciplines, facing the worst cuts.
- GUCU received solidarity from branches across the sector during our campaign against the redundancies. Without that solidarity, and solidarity donations, we would not have been able to put up such a strong fight against the cuts.
This branch believes:
- We must fight against a managerial logic that believes you can cut your way to growth in a Higher Education context.
- That every effective local campaign against cuts in the sector strengthens the position of all UCU members and will dissuade university employers from taking this approach in the future.
- That cross-branch solidarity is one of the strongest resources we have in the fight against corporate managers and the erosion of our sector.
This branch resolves:
- To make a donation of 1000 GBP towards Brighton UCU.
- To publicise Brighton UCU’s campaigns against the redundancies.
- To support in any cross-branch solidarity actions Brighton UCU calls during their campaign.