Motions passed at General meetings 2026

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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