Motions passed at General meetings 2026

To see the archive of motions passed in previous years, please see the sidebar (to the right on desktop, below on mobile).

Motions passed at our Branch meeting on 16 July 2026

MOTION 1 - Motion on the use of AI in courses

This branch notes that more and more courses (modules) within the OU are forced to adopt a Category 2 or a Category 3 classification in terms of AI adoption in teaching, learning and assessment.

This branch believes that a significant number of our members feel that this ignores the enormous impact AI systemic use by our OU will have on Climate Change and Environmental Pollution (due to the known and well documented AI massive energy consumption and increasing use of micro-nuclear reactors), the large exploitation of workers in developing countries (who are employed under appalling working conditions for data mining, data evaluation and AI training) and other moral and social problems on an international scale. The branch believes that most of the discussions within the faculties were carried in a top-bottom way, where decisions for the changes were communicated to course teams and course teams were "forced" to adopt them, even though they have expressed worries about the learning and teaching value of this. The branch believes that due to the nature of our university (open and transparency values), there should be a more horizontal and bottom-up deliberation and decision-making process allowing for differences in terms of discipline specific learning and teaching methodologies.

This branch proposes that there will be an allowance for Course/Module Teams to decide on their own accord whether to move to Category 2 from Category 1 or vice versa. The branch also proposes to begin a whole OU organisation discussion on the pitfalls of AI in academia with a creation of a dedicated OU webpage for this and a bottom-up consultation on the problems that AI Category 2 and Category 3 mean for the teaching and learning process in all courses conducted by the individual course teams.

Reference: Generative AI for students

MOTION 2: Motion to Regularise recent Financial Donations

Branch notes

1. Previous recent motions seeking to authorise the branch executive to make financial donations to other UCU branches taking industrial action over a specified time period. The 2026 motions (listed on this page) agreed to donations over 2026, and the 2025 motions agreed to donations over 2025. Those motions are:  
   • February 2026: “Branch motion 1 - Reauthorisation of solidarity and donations for branches taking industrial action (2026)”
   • February 2026: “Branch motion 2 - Reauthorisation of additional financial support for branches in exceptional need (2026)”
   • April 2025: “Motion 1 – Solidarity and donations for branches taking industrial action”
   • April 2025: “Motion 3 – Additional financial support for branches in exceptional need”. 
2. On the basis of the above motions the following donations were made (listed on the branch meeting agenda). All donations have been communicated to all members via the branch Friday Emails. 
3. During the recent annual financial audit, it emerged that although the intent of the motions and the subsequent reporting was clear, and there have been no complaints from members to date: 
   • Motions of this type should have a financial cap, e.g. a set maximum amount of funding, over a set time period.
   • The donations should formally be reported to the next branch meeting. Any reporting in channels such as the Friday Email are positive and transparent, but do not meet the core constitutional requirement to report back to branch meetings.
4. For reference, the branch finances, including reserves, were presented to members at the AGM (5th June). Members wishing to compare the level of expenditure with the level of reserves should refer to the papers of that meeting.

Branch Resolves:

1. To confirm that the listed donations previously authorised by the executive have been:
   • Communicated to the branch via this meeting 
   • Approved by the branch membership
2. To record understanding that the past motions listed at the beginning of this motion are no longer in operation, and so new motions will be required to enable future solidarity donations to other UCU branches.

MOTION 3: July Financial Donations 

Branch authorises the Executive to donate, on the first day of their upcoming industrial action:

1. £250 to Glasgow Caledonian University UCU
2. £1250 to London South Bank University UCU
3. and £250 to Queen Margaret's University, Edinburgh UCU (added as an amendment). 

MOTION 4: Summer Financial Donations (amended)

Branch notes: 
That the Branch Treasurer has committed to producing a Financial Strategy that will address the long-term issue of donations in a considered manner, and will produce proposals that could, if supported, allow the branch to avoid taking votes on donations in every meeting. However, there is no August branch meeting, the next is 24th September.

Branch believes: 
If other UCU branches take industrial action over the summer we should not wait until late September and/or the approval of the Financial Strategy (and associated branch policies) to support them, nor convene an exceptional or emergency Branch General Meeting solely for that topic. In interim solution is therefore required.

Branch resolves:

1. The executive committee send and publicise messages of support to branches engaged in industrial action during 2026.
2. Authorise the Executive Committee to make donations of £250 to the hardship funds of each branch that takes industrial action before the September branch meeting, up to a limit of £2,000
3. (a) Bearing in mind that the total of donations for the financial year 2024-25 was £2,000, and that £7,750 for 2025-26 has already been retrospectively authorised, the total amount of donations in the financial year 2025-26 shall not exceed £10,000. 
   (b) Any donations following the September General meeting for the 2026-27 financial year shall be made in accordance with the financial strategy being prepared by the Hon. Treasurer and as approved by a general meeting.

MOTION 5 (LATE MOTION) - Requisition for a Special Higher Education Sector Conference on the SoS Campaign and Electronic Balloting

This branch notes:

1. The ongoing crisis in higher education and UCU's lack of a national response.
2. Rule 16.11 of the UCU Rules permits the convening of a Special Sector Conference upon receipt of requisitions from quorate general meetings in 20 branches from separate institutions within the sector, provided the intended business is specified.
3. HE14, committing UCU to pursue a dispute with the Secretary of State for Education over Higher Education funding (SoS Campaign), based on legal advice establishing the viability of such a dispute.
4. The National Education Union (NEU) has announced plans to launch a ballot over school funding in October to prevent redundancies and rises in workload.
5. There are no plans for UCU to allow electronic balloting for industrial action after it is introduced under the Employment Rights Act in August 2026.

This branch believes:

1. The SoS Campaign is necessary to defend jobs, pay, conditions, and the future of public higher education.
2. Coordinating with other unions in education is key to winning this campaign.
3. The failure to progress the SoS Campaign highlights serious democratic problems within UCU.
4. UCU needs to prepare for the introduction of electronic balloting to coordinate with the NEU timeline and organise effective local disputes going forward.
5. The union requires a democratic, member-led process to debate and determine the next steps in the SoS campaign and the introduction of electronic balloting.

This branch resolves:

1. To requisition, under Rule 16.11, a Special Higher Education Sector Conference on the specific business of:
   • Opening the dispute and progressing the SoS Campaign.
   • Coordinating campaigning and industrial strategy with other education unions, including the NEU.
   • Developing a democratic process for electronic balloting for industrial action, both in the SoS Campaign and other disputes.
      

Motions passed at our Branch meeting on 24 March 2026

MOTION 1 - London Peace Conference motion

This branch notes

1. The success of the Paris Peace conference held on the 4/5 October 2025 which attracted 4,000 people and delegates from 18 different countries.
2. The considerable involvement of the French trade unions in mobilising for and assisting in the finance of the conference and the presence of trade union representatives from across Europe at the conference.
3. That the conference foregrounded opposition to renewed arms spending and the consequent attack on workers’ living standards that this requires across Europe.
4. That the conference amplified the voices of the Palestine solidarity movement.
5. The enthusiastic response of the conference to the speech of the General Secretary of the PCS and Stop the War officers.
6. That the aims of the conference are supportive of the positions taken at this year’s TUC in favour of ‘wages not weapons’ and support for the Palestine movement.
7. That a second European conference announced in Paris is planned for Central Hall Westminster, London, on 20 June 2026.

This branch believes

1. That this is an initiative wholly in line with the TUC resolution on ‘wages not weapons’.
2. That in a darkening international situation and in the face of the growth of the far right across Europe it is necessary to broaden and deepen international links between trade unionists, anti-war movements, and progressive forces.
3. That the London conference held under the banner of ‘The People of Europe Demand Peace’, and the slogans ‘Wages not Weapons’, and ‘Welfare not Warfare’ deserves the support of trade unions in the UK.

This branch resolves

1. To encourage our members to attend the conference. To encourage branches and regions to send delegates and make financial donations to assist in the building of the conference.
2. To offer leading union officers as speakers at the conference.
3. To take the branch banner to the conference
4. To make a donation of £100 towards the conference costs and fund members to take part with the purchase of a £50 + £3.50 union delegate bundle of 5 tickets.
5. To assist in the production and circulation of material advertising the conference.
6. To publicise and support the conference in the wider trade union movement.

MOTION 2 - MOTION TO AFFILIATE TO LIVING RENT

This branch notes that: 

1. Decent and affordable housing is a right that should be available to all.
2. Average rents in the Scottish private rented sector between 2010 and 2025 have increased well above the UK inflation rate of 54.7%. This is pushing people into more desperate and precarious circumstances. Rents in the public sector have also increased above the rate of inflation, with social housing tenants seeing a cumulative increase of 12.2% between 2013-2014 and 2017-2018, which is a 6.9% increase above the rate of inflation for that period, (see first and second links below).
3. The Scottish government found in 2021 that 23% of privately rented dwellings and 15% in the social sector had ‘urgent disrepair to one or more critical elements’, (see third link below).
4. As a four nations university and union branch, many OU colleagues and OU UCU members are personally affected by these circumstances in Scotland.
5. Living Rent, Scotland’s Tenants and Community Union, has successfully campaigned and organised tenants since 2014 to fight for rent controls, quality homes and greater security and flexibility of tenure, and supported tenants to resist evictions, secure vital repairs, recover illegal fees and stolen deposits and ensure that tenants have a voice in Scotland.
6. Living Rent’s mission is to ‘build a mass member-led tenant and community union in Scotland’s mainland and island communities that builds and wins power block by block, street by street, and glen by glen’, with detailed demands laid out in its Programme for Community Power, (see fourth link below). 

We believe that: 

1. Workers’ rights and housing rights are intimately linked; increasingly, workers’ incomes are swallowed up by rent, leaving little to live on. Organising for more affordable housing advances workers’ interests.
2. A collective and democratic organisation of tenants and community members is the only way to achieve a fairer and more democratic housing system which works for all. 

We resolve to: 

1. Affiliate to Living Rent, which involves an annual fee of £100.
2. Support and mobilise for Living Rent events.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/private-sector-rent-statistics-scotland-2010-to-2025  

https://www.gov.scot/publications/social-tenants-scotland-2017

https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-house-condition-survey-2021-key-findings/pages/5-housing-conditions

https://www.livingrent.org/programme_for_community_power

Motions passed at our Branch meeting on 26 February 2026

Proposed motion for UCU Congress 2026 - National Fighting Fund 

Congress notes:

• Ongoing job cuts and work intensification in FE and HE institutions,
• That branches must be in a position to mount serious industrial action in order to push back against compulsory redundancies,
• Limits on the number of strike days and conditions on fighting fund access limit the ability of branches to resist.

Congress resolves:

• That the percentage of UCU annual income going into the fighting fund should be doubled.
• That support from the fund be returned to the previous basis (of £50/£70 from day 3).

Proposed rule change motion for UCU Congress 2026

Add the following sentence to existing national rule 31.5 “While officers and sub-committees may make recommendations, decisions that affect or restrict members' eligibility for support from the fighting fund must be taken by the National Executive Committee.”

AMENDMENT – include the additional text in bold to the sentence to be added to rule 31.5.
Add the following sentence to existing rule 31.5 “While officers and sub-committees may make recommendations, decisions that affect or restrict members' eligibility for support from the fighting fund, including any required contributions from local branch funds, must be taken by the National Executive Committee in accordance with policy determined by Congress.”

Rule 31.5: There shall be a permanent fighting fund established into which shall be paid at least 1% of each subscription received in each year from members together with monies paid by voluntary donation to the union to finance any strike, lock-out or any other industrial dispute. This fund shall not be used for any other purpose except by i) decision of National Congress; or ii) an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the National Executive Committee. The National Executive Committee will determine the process by which payments from this fund are made to members and will report each year to Congress on expenditure from the fund.

UCU HE Conference motion 1 (proposed) - Keep the profit-motive out of Higher Education

Conference believes

• Privately-owned subcontractor ‘delivery partners’ and recruitment ‘agents’ in the teaching ‘franchising’ system, have motivations to maximise profit; inappropriately encouraging student enrolment and debt. 

Conference resolves UCU

1. Lobby governments for:
   1. Subcontracted teaching delivery partners and student recruitment agents’ receipt of income derived from tuition fees to be limited to use-cases that lead partner HEIs cannot reasonably meet directly, preferably under not-for-profit governance structures.
   2. Strengthened oversight of franchising, going beyond the Secretary of State’s letter to HE providers (9th December 2025).
   3. Re-evaluation of mechanisms allowing receipt of maintenance loans without tuition loans.
       
2. Via the Trades Union Congress (TUC):
   1. Campaign for the profit-motive’s exclusion from publicly-funded HE.
   2. Support UnionLearn to develop actions and materials on the risks of inappropriate franchising and student recruitment agents, addressing Union Learning Reps, employers, and potential students.
       
3. Produce materials for UCU branches to bring to Trades Councils.

UCU HE Conference motion 2 (proposed) - Demilitarising Higher Education – Welfare Over Warfare, Support Demilitarise Education and adopt dED Treaty

Conference notes:

• BAE Systems produces F-35 components used in Gaza bombings.
• Some UK universities maintain research partnerships with arms manufacturers including BAE Systems, Leonardo, the Atomic Weapons Establishment and Teledyne.
• Many institutions claim ethical investment policies prohibiting involvement with companies complicit in war crimes.

Conference believes:

• The military-industrial complex profits from human and environmental devastation.
• University partnerships with arms companies contradict stated ethical commitments and risk complicity in human rights abuses.
• As public institutions dedicated to research and the public good, universities have a civic duty to promote peace, sustainability and social responsibility.

Conference resolves to:

• Support the Demilitarise Education (dED) open letter urging adoption of the dED Treaty to end investments and partnerships with the arms trade.
• Campaign for transparency and termination of partnerships breaching ethical policies or international law; and work with all campus unions, including UNISON and Unite, to build a broad coalition for demilitarisation.

Branch motion 1 - Reauthorisation of solidarity and donations for branches taking industrial action (2026)  

This branch notes that:

• At its meeting on 29 April 2025, the branch passed a motion authorising solidarity messages and donations to the hardship funds of branches taking industrial action.
• During 2025, members enabled the branch to provide meaningful financial and moral support to sibling branches engaged in industrial action, for which the branch records its thanks.
• Ongoing pressures across the HE sector mean that further industrial action by UCU branches is likely during 2026.

This branch resolves to:

1. Reauthorise the 2025 motion on solidarity and donations for branches taking industrial action for the calendar year 2026.
2. Send and publicise messages of support to branches engaged in industrial action during 2026.
3. Authorise the Executive Committee to make donations of £250 to the hardship funds of each branch taking industrial action during 2026, subject to the branch treasurer confirming that these donations remain financially viable for the OU Branch of UCU.
4. Make best efforts to identify and support all branches undertaking industrial action during 2026.

Branch motion 2 - Reauthorisation  of additional financial support for branches in exceptional need (2026)

This branch notes that:

• At its meeting on 29 April 2025, the branch passed a motion authorising additional financial support for branches in exceptional need during industrial action.
• Members’ support in 2025 enabled the branch to act in solidarity with branches facing the greatest hardship, for which the branch records its thanks.
• Some branches engaged in industrial action may continue to face exceptional or prolonged financial hardship during 2026.

This branch resolves to:

• Reauthorise the 2025 motion on additional financial support for branches in exceptional need for the calendar year 2026, authorising the Executive Committee to make additional donations of up to £1000 to a branch deemed to be in significant need, subject to the branch treasurer confirming that the donation is financially viable for the OU Branch of UCU.

Branch motion 3 - Together against the far-right, 28 March 2026 

This union branch believes:

• That on 13 September 2025 we experienced a watershed moment when a demonstration organised by fascists such as ‘Tommy Robinson’ (aka Stephen Yaxley-Lennon), with the support of Elon Musk, was able to bring 150,000 onto the streets of London on a racist, hate filled and violent mobilisation.
• That this was the largest demonstration achieved by fascists in British history.
• That the alarming growth of support for the far-right across the country, as genuine anger around housing, jobs, living costs and the NHS are hijacked and misdirected by racist forces who attempt to pin the blame entirely on refugees and migrants.
• That while the anti-racist movement was able to bring out 10,000 on the streets to oppose the fascists, it is clear that we need a much greater level of mobilisation.

This union branch notes:

• The launch of the TOGETHER ALLIANCE www.togetheralliance.org.uk, which has called for a major unity mobilisation in opposition to the far-right on Saturday 28 March 2026. We welcome the formation of this alliance, which brings together over 50 anti-racist organisations, community organisations, NGOs and others to build the broadest possible coalition and mobilise against the far right.
• That this initiative is endorsed by figures including Lenny Henry, Paloma Faith, Fontaines DC, Kneecap, Paul Weller, Joy Crookes, Steve Coogan, Clean Bandit and many others.
• That this initiative is backed by major trade unions and campaign organisations including the TUC, UCU, UNITE, UNISON, NEU, FBU, PCS, Friends of the Earth, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stand Up To Racism and Show Racism the Red Card (See website for full list of supporters).
• That trade unions can play a key role in communities by supporting initiatives by local TOGETHER ALLIANCE groups to build for the 28 March demonstration.

This union branch resolves to: 

• Further publicise the 28 March demonstration widely through website, newsletters, socials and branch meetings.
• Bring the branch banner along on the Saturday 28 March TOGETHER ALLIANCE demonstration.
• Donate £100 to the TOGETHER ALLIANCE to support the production of promotional materials and the organisation of the Saturday 28 March TOGETHER ALLIANCE demonstration.
• Donate £150 to the local MK Together Alliance to support broader mobilisation efforts (notably, their efforts to organise a coach to the demonstration).

Branch motion 4 - OU Compliance Action under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 regarding the term 'Ancient Palestine'

This Branch notes:

1. The (now widely) reported commitments (see annex) made by The Open University to UKLFI (confirmed by an FOI) including the suggestion that: ‘We will not use the term [Ancient Palestine] again in future learning materials’; the OU ‘accept that the term is now problematic in a way that, perhaps, it was not when the [A111] materials were written in 2018’; and ‘we will caveat its [the term’s] use in existing materials with a message to students’.
2. The Open Letter of February 12th addressed to the OU Vice Chancellor Calling for Urgent Compliance Action under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 Regarding “Ancient Palestine”.
3. The widespread use of the term ‘Ancient Palestine’ in existing peer-reviewed scholarship.
4. UKLFI is a known lobbying entity under investigation for “strategic lawsuits against public participation (slapps)” [...] intended to limit freedom of expression on matters of public interest”, (see the Guardian and Cage report).
5. Existing branch policy regarding the suppression of Palestinian solidarity (31 July 2025) and academic freedom (5 March 2024), see motions archive pages 2025 and 2024. 

This Branch believes: 

• As suggested in the letter, the ‘commitments [made to the UKLFI] expose staff to harassment, set harmful precedents for further attacks on academic freedom, and make the OU complicit in the spread of disinformation and a politically motivated attempt to erase Palestine from history’.
• The commitments suggest a dangerous disregard for our work as academic and academic related staff whose knowledge, research and expertise lie at the core or the OU’s world-renowned model of distanced learning.

This Branch resolves to: 

• Endorse and share the Open Letter with members and on social media accounts.
• Publicly call and campaign for the OU to:
  • fully, publicly and urgently retract all commitments made to UKLFI;
  • issue a public defence of the historical accuracy and importance of the term "ancient Palestine";
  • reaffirm the University’s commitment to its statutory duties under the HEFSA;
  • commission a thorough, independent inquiry into how this incident occurred.

Annex: Open Letter
Open Letter to the Vice Chancellor of The Open University: Call for Urgent Compliance Action under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 regarding “Ancient Palestine”.

News coverage: 

Open University Agrees to Change Use of “Ancient Palestine” Following UKLFI Intervention – UK LAWYERS FOR ISRAEL

University claims Virgin Mary was from ‘ancient Palestine’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/10/university-claims-virgin-mary-was-from-ancient-palestine/: University claims Virgin Mary was from ‘ancient Palestine’

Open University drops ‘ancient Palestine’ reference after complaint - Jewish News

Uproar in British academia following use of the term 'Ancient Palestine' in Open Univ

Open University drops ‘ancient Palestine’ reference after receiving complaint | Israel National News

University changes wording after 'ancient Palestine' row | Evangelicals Now

Open University UK Backs Down After ‘Ancient Palestine’ Virgin Mary Row Sparks Legal Complaint | DegreeInfo

University changes wording after 'ancient Palestine' row | Evangelicals Now

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