Solidarity and Donation Motion for Brighton UCU

Goldsmiths ucu log

This motion was passed by a GUCU Branch Meeting on Monday, 15 May 2023

This branch notes:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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:

  1. We must fight against a managerial logic that believes you can cut your way to growth in a Higher Education context.  
  2. 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. 
  3. 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:

  1. To make a donation of 1000 GBP towards Brighton UCU.
  2. To publicise Brighton UCU’s campaigns against the redundancies.
  3. To support in any cross-branch solidarity actions Brighton UCU calls during their campaign.