This motion was passed at GUCU branch meeting on 04/10/2023
This branch notes:
- The vote for strike action by the UCU staff union, Unite UCU (Unite LE127), over job cuts impacting two staff members of the PGRs as Staff campaign with a 76% turnout and 71% yes vote for strike action.
- The union’s use of 22-month contracts to originally employ those staff members.
- That members of staff represented by Unite UCU are also in dispute with the UCU senior management over recognition, job cuts, and hybrid working.
- That the absence of an organisational stress risk assessment for staff at UCU has led to the union being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive.
- The core principles of trade unionism: job security, safe and decent working conditions, and solidarity.
This branch believes:
- That a trade union as an employer should adhere to the principles and practices it demands for its members in the workplace.
- That the treatment of the staff employed as the PGRs as staff campaign leads undermines our demands for secure contracts in the Four Fights campaign.
This branch resolves to:
- Write to the General Secretary of UCU and the Senior Management of UCU to demand that they reverse the decisions on the job cuts.
- Write to the UCU NEC and Trustees, the Regional Offices of UCU and senior lay representatives of UCU to call on them to support the demands outlined in resolves 1.
- Write to the Unite UCU branch (Unite LE127) to offer full support.
- Make a donation to any Unite UCU (Unite LE127) Strike Fund.
- Invite a Unite UCU (Unite LE127) speaker to the next meeting for an update.
- Organise with fellow trade union branches and allies to support any industrial action by Unite UCU (Unite LE127).