Motions passed at General meetings 2025

Motions passed at Branch meetings in 2025 are added to this page as they are passed by members at our Branch meetings. For motions passed in previous years, see links in the right-hand side menu. 

Motion passed at Branch meeting on Wednesday 26th March 2025 

MOTION 1 Adoption of the UCU LGBT+ Charter for Equality, Liberation, and Solidarity by the OU UCU Branch

Preamble:
The UK has made positive steps in improving LGBTQ+ rights, yet many challenges remain. At the Open University, a significant number of LGBTQ+ staff continue to express concerns about their ability to live openly and without fear of facing discrimination and exclusion within the workplace. While the Open University is actively pursuing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives, there is a perceived gap in addressing the specific concerns of LGBTQ+ staff. This highlights a wider issue within Higher Education, where the provision of intentionally inclusive environments are paramount. Institutions like the OU must ensure that, as with any minoritised group within society, LGBTQ+ staff and students feel safe, supported and included.

Objectives:

1. To show OU UCU Branch solidarity and allyship with its LGBTQ+ membership.
2. To increase and enhance inclusion amongst LGBTQ+ staff at the OU through the adoption of the UCU LGBT+ Charter and its suggested actions and commitments.
3. To leverage the OU UCU branch’s leadership and influence in seeking greater recognition and a clearly communicated commitment from the employer towards LGBTQ+ employees within institutional policy and strategy.

Action Points:

1. The OU UCU branch executive should sign up and adopt the principles of the UCU LGBT+ Charter for Equality, Liberation, and Solidarity.
2. The OU UCU branch should recognise UCU’s trans-inclusion statement.

Rationale:

By adopting the UCU LGBT+ Charter, the OU branch will have a clear framework of meaningful actions to improve the experience of LGBTQ+ members, and by extension, the broader LGBTQ+ community of employees.

Conclusion:

The principles of the UCU LGBT+ Charter provide a meaningful opportunity for the branch to demonstrate its commitment to LGBTQ+ allyship and solidarity. Formal adoption of the charter sends a clear message to both staff and the employer of the branch’s recognition of the need for safer and more inclusive working environments for OU’s LGBTQ+ staff and students.

https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/10177/Statement-reaffirming-UCUs-commitment-trans-inclusion

https://www.ucu.org.uk/LGBT+charter