UCU Scotland congress 2024

(1) Support University of Aberdeen Modern Languages

Congress notes:

1. The importance of Modern Language, Translation, and interpreting degrees to the University of Aberdeen

2. The inadequate nature of the consultation where redundancy notices were issued ahead of the conclusion of the consultation process

3. The significant reputational damage caused by the University of Aberdeen SMT in their attempt to make University of Aberdeen the only ancient University in the world without languages degrees

4. The Aberdeen UCU Report 'Breaking the Silence'. Congress condemns the unjustified secrecy and swiftness with which the decision to threaten jobs in languages was made by Principal George Boyne.

Congress instructs UCU Scotland to:

1. To support members at University of Aberdeen as they take action to preserve all jobs and MLTI degrees.

2. To publish 'Breaking the Silence' on its website and alert media to it.

(2) Condemning Proposed Changes at University of Aberdeen

Congress notes:

1. The University of Aberdeen has announced a University-wide voluntary redundancy scheme, in addition to the threat of compulsory redundancies in languages. 

2. That University of Aberdeen finances are not so bad as to justify either compulsory redundancies in languages, or widespread voluntary redundancies through the rest of the University.

3. Principal George Boyne has failed to adequately consult with Aberdeen UCU on restructuring.  

4. Principal George Boyne has failed to consult the University Senate on restructuring and has repeatedly sought to sidestep the authority of Senate.

5. Principal George Boyne has repeatedly refused to share the full financial position of the University in public.

Congress instructs UCU Scotland

1. To obtain professional legal advice as to whether the actions of Principal George Boyne constitute potential grounds for judicial review, due to his failure to observe due process and the legislation governing Scottish Universities.

(3) Action on Green Issues

Congress reaffirms the importance of taking action on climate change and other environmental issues.

Congress calls on the Green officer and Green network to:

1. Obtain information on institution policy and practices on:

a. business travel and any evidence of it being applied in a discriminatory way.

b. Environmental and accessibility aspects of institutional estates and built environment, including new buildings.

c.  The use of carbon offsetting

d. Fossil fuel divestment

e. Arms divestment

2.  Members' views of the conflicts between the need to travel for research and for international students and environmental issues.

3.  Organise a hybrid workshop on the above issues.

(4) Availability and flexibility of training

UCU Scotland notes the need to train reps to support local branch activity and allow succession planning, especially in small branches. In the past, the ability of members to take up training courses has been limited by strict attendance requirements as well as number and duration of mandatory sessions.

Congress resolves:

1. To work with other regions to run shared training sessions and ensure that members have access to core training modules such as rep 1, rep 2, H&S 1, H&S 2, and introduction to casework at least twice a year.

2. To explore the feasibility of reducing the length of training sessions to half a day.

3. To explore the implementation of flexible attendance, e.g. allowing trainees to complete the course across two iterations of the same training module.

(5) UKRI timesheet requirement

Congress notes:

1. UKRI's requirement for directly incurred staff employed on less than 100% of their contract on UKRI research grants to complete timesheets. 

2. These must account for time on the grant, and remaining time not UKRI-funded. 

3. There is no clear purpose for these and no stipulation on how these should be completed. 

4. Their completion requires time away from research and other duties among directly incurred staff and PIs 

Congress believes:

1. Requiring only some staff to account for their time suggests an inequitable perspective of colleagues, not conducive to a positive research culture. 

2. Research is not easily quantifiable, making timesheet completion at best arbitrary. 

3. This administrative burden:

• places undue stress on colleagues wishing to accurately report to protect their integrity. 

• disproportionately impacts precariously employed colleagues 

Congress instructs UCU Scotland to:

1. Coordinate UCU-HEI collaboration to:

• write to UKRI with these concerns. 

• develop policy on timesheets.

(6) Campaign for a sustainable student distribution system for Scotland

Congress believes:

1. The market in student recruitment has been detrimental to Scottish HE and had a negative impact on staff and students.

2. The current over-reliance on tuition fee income distorts priorities for Scottish HE.

3. The inequality and economic fragility in the sector as reported by the Scottish Funding Council and Audit Scotland and in particular the pressures on the smaller, post-92 and specialist institutions.

4. The Scottish government, Universities Scotland, campus unions and NUS Scotland should work together towards a sustainable and equitable system of student distribution that supports HE in Scotland.

 Congress resolves to:

1. Call on UCU Scotland to commission research on models of student distribution aimed at recruitment balance in Scottish HE. Informed by this research it should:

2. Develop a campaign in Scotland to address the imbalance in recruitment across Scottish universities and ensure the viability of all Scottish institutions.

3. Call on the Scottish government to establish mechanisms to support equitable student distribution across Scottish universities.

4. Lobby the Scottish government and Universities Scotland to support the same.

(7) Protecting foreign national workers and PGR students 

Congress notes:

• In 04/15, under power granted by the Immigration Act 2014 (section 38), the immigration health surcharge was introduced, to be paid at the time of the visa application. It increased from £200/pa to £400/pa (2018) and later to £624/pa. A 66% increase was announced in 07/23 (to be implemented in 02/24); - the proposed changes to immigration salary thresholds to take place in 04/24.

Congress believes this disproportionally impacts:

• foreign national University workers and PGR students (and dependents) in receipt of UK stipends.

• the ability of UK universities to attract/retain international talent.

Congress resolves to:

• openly oppose:

1. the surcharge as being socially unjust

2. the change to the immigration salary threshold

• pressure institutions to publicly commit to topping up salaries of members that would otherwise fall short of the threshold, as well as to covering the surcharge for those affected.

(8) Future Bargaining Strategy

Congress notes the decision of the 2023 UCU Scotland Congress to explore new ways of bargaining and to engage with other campus trades unions in Scotland. We further note the success of negotiations in other sectors eg NHS, which negotiate on a Scotland as well as on a UK basis. Finally, we note the continuing failure of New JNCHES to deliver for our members and the ongoing discussions of our NEC in relation to our future bargaining strategy.

We call on UCU Scotland Executive to:

1. Pursue discussions with branches and with UCU with a view to ensuring that the possible benefits of bargaining on some matters on a Scotland basis is fully discussed

2. Pursue with UCU the necessity of ensuring that the particular political and sectoral features of the devolved nations are fully considered, and any political levers utilised, in any future bargaining strategy.

(9)   Repeal the IHRA definition of antisemitism and defend Academic Freedom

Congress notes:

1. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism (IHRA) has been adopted by the Scottish Government and many Universities in Scotland.

2. The IHRA definition conflates, in certain circumstances, antizionism and criticism of the state of Israel with antisemitism.

3. The IHRA definition is being used to silence pro-Palestinian voices on campus and is undermining the right to Academic Freedom as defined in the Scottish HE Education Act (2016)

Congress believes:

1. The International Criminal Court's (ICJ) findings that plausible evidence of genocidal actions by the Israeli Government should be investigated demonstrates the need to refuse to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism.

2. That anti-Zionism can be a protected belief in the Equality Act 2010.

Congress instructs UCU Scotland to call on the Scottish Government to:

1. Withdraw its support for the IHRA definition

2. Require Scottish Universities also withdraw support for the IHRA definition and defend academic freedom.

(10) Palestine and Military Involvement

Congress notes and affirms UCU Congress policy to support and campaign:

1. For Palestinian rights and justice
2. Against arms
3. Against arms sales and for a ceasefire.

Congress deplores and condemns:

1. Hamas attack on Israeli civilians
2. Genocidal response of Israeli Government.
3. Previous oppression of Palestinians, including land clearances.

Congress notes:

1. Several institutions and members are involved in work, particularly research and training, with links to the military, including Israeli military.
2. Lack of UCU advice and guidelines on these issues.

Congress agrees to:

1. Affiliate to the Campaign Against Arms Trade
2. Campaign actively and encourage members to write to MPs to end arms sales to Israel and for a ceasefire.
3. Support Israeli opposition groups, particularly conscientious objectors.
4. Urgently issue advice and guidelines to members and branches on military involvement and how to withdraw from it.

(11) Supporting Palestinian Scholars and Students

Congress notes:

1. Universities Scotland and the Scottish Government worked with universities to find ways to support Ukrainian students and scholars

2. The Scottish Government offered students displaced from Ukraine the opportunity to apply for free tuition and living costs and introduced a £1 million International Students' Emergency Fund.

3. Universities UK established a Twinning with Ukraine scheme offering financial and academic support

Congress believes:

These resources at a minimum should be provided to support Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and those displaced elsewhere

Congress resolves to:

1. Lobby Universities Scotland and the Scottish Government to offer financial support through the International Student Emergency Fund

2. Lobby Universities Scotland and the Scottish Government to explore ways to provide support to Palestinian scholars and students

3. Take this issue to NEC for UCU to demand that Universities UK offer support to Palestinians, at minimum matched to their Ukraine scheme.

(12) Protecting Free Tuition in Higher Education

UCU Scotland notes:

1. The debate over limiting free tuition for Scottish students in HE under the guise of a 'new funding model' (see Herald, 1st March).

2. IFS estimates suggest Scottish Students have one third of the debt of fee-paying UK students.

3. Free tuition combined with contextualised admissions policies have proven to widen participation among low income students in Scotland.

UCU Scotland believes:

1. Higher education is a public good and should be funded through general taxation.

UCU Scotland resolves to:

1. Reassert its support for universal provision of free Higher Education for students in Scotland.

2. To continue to demand improvements in student bursary and grant funding.

3. Oppose changes to funding of higher education that reinforces the influence of marketisation.

(13) Black Lives Matter in Scotland: Justice for Sheku Bayoh

Congress notes:

Sheku Bayoh died in police custody in Fife in 2015 

His family and friends have spent years fighting for justice 

The Public Inquiry (2021-) into his death started its final set of hearings February 2024 

Following Inquiry evidence, former Chief Constable of Police Scotland has acknowledged Police Scotland is institutionally racist 

The Bayoh family believes the trade union movement is crucial. 

STUC and UCU have long supported the Justice for Sheku Bayoh campaign.

Congress instructs UCUS to: 

1. Share information (including https://linktr.ee/justiceforsheku) with members and encourage them to attend vigils outside the Inquiry and to attend hearings  

2. Encourage members & branches to organise film screenings of the Bayoh film  

3. Share campaigns for members to email M(S)Ps and councillors about the Inquiry  

4. Build for and support a mass demonstration for BLM and justice in late spring 2024, outside the Inquiry in Edinburgh.

(14) Stand Up To Racism & STUC anti-racism campaigning

Congress notes:

1. The UK Tory government's Rwanda Bill seeks to utilise anti-immigrant racism to target minority communities.

2. The forthcoming Westminster election will result in racism being used to scapegoat black and ethnic minorities in order to deflect attention from the attacks on the unprecedented working class living standards.

3. Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) along with the STUC have been central to the mobilisations against racism and fascism in Scotland, including at Erskine, Elgin and in support of the Sheku Bayoh Campaign.

Congress believes:

1. Support for broad-based anti-racism campaigns is a crucial element of building solidarity within trade unions in defence of cuts and undermining of living standards

Congress resolves:

1. To reaffirm UCU Scotland support for SUTR and the STUC campaigns against racism and fascism.

2. To publicise and support financially anti-racist initiatives organised by SUTR and/or STUC.

(15) Rwanda Bill and the racist offensive

UCU Scotland notes:

1. The government's attempts to deliver the Rwanda deportation plan and their 'Stop The Boats' campaign.

2. The Sunak government's intensification of racism, scapegoating and the likelihood of this escalating as we approach a General Election.

3. Stand Up To Racism/TUC co-sponsored demonstrations have taken place in London and Glasgow on 16 March, and Cardiff on 17 March, for UN Anti-Racism Day 2024

UCU Scotland believes:

1. This divisive rhetoric has emboldened a new far right in Britain.

2. Unity is our strength. Racism divides us in the workplace and communities, and weakens our collective response to the cost-of-living crisis.

UCU Scotland resolves:

1. To make a donation of £500 to SUTR to retrospectively contribute towards the costs of coaches to the 16 March demonstration.

2. To support protests against the imposition and implementation of the Rwanda Bill.

(16) Abuse of women internationally and in Scotland

Congress notes and deplores:

1. Violence against women in Scotland. 

2. Corrupt water vendors extorting sex from women and girls for a few litres of water in Kenya, India, Mexico, Argentina and this not being illegal (in Kenya). 

Congress applauds the women's rights groups in Kenya campaigning for legislation to outlaw this abuse.

Congress calls on UCUS Executive to:

1. Make a public statement calling on Kenyan and other governments to make extorting sex for water illegal. 

2. Lobby the Scottish government to pressure the Kenyan government to outlaw this abuse. 

3. Send a message of solidarity to relevant women's organisations

4. Encourage members to sign the Avaaz petition 

5. Donate £300 to a project which always involves women on clean water projects and works with communities in the Central African Republic  

6. Organise a '16 days of action against violence against women' event and publicise and support other broad-based events.

(17) Palestine and LGBTQ+ Rights

Congress reaffirms its support for the Palestine struggle.

Congress notes and deplores:

1. The particular problems experienced by Palestinian LGBTQ+ people under the Israeli government occupation and genocide.

2. Pinkwashing, i.e. "when a state or organization appeals to LGBTQ+ rights in order to deflect attention from its harmful practices" by the Israeli government and its supporters, promoting the view that the occupation and genocide are beneficial to LGBTQ+ people.

Congress calls on UCUS Executive:

1. Identify and make solidarity links with LGBTQ+ organisations in Palestine, and the Palestinian diaspora.

2. Organise an event with Palestinian LGBTQ+ speakers, consulting with them to ensure their voices and priorities are centered.

3. Challenge pinkwashing by the Israeli government and its supporters.

4. Continue to encourage members to attend broad-based Palestinian demos and meetings; organise a UCU Scotland bloc as part of a wider trade union bloc; and encourage branches to bring their banners.

(18) Solidarity with UCU Black workers

UCU Scotland notes:

1. Two media pieces in THE plus the BSMC statement signed by 10 of 11 members, recording both individual and structural racism within UCU towards UCU members  

2. That this is not first report on racism in UCU  

3. The structural racism and institutional whiteness in UCU is unacceptable and that the organisation must actively work against this structural oppression in all its words, deeds and policies as a representative organisation  

Resolves: 

1. To reach out to all members of BMSC and offer our full solidarity  

2. To encourage branches to share the BMSC statement with their members 

3. To call on UCU National Office to appoint an external investigation into individual and structural racism within the UCU 

4. To make antiracism training mandatory for UCU Scotland officers and to call on UCU National Office to make antiracism training mandatory for UCU officers UK-wide.

(19) Military flights from Prestwick

Congress reaffirms support for the Palestinian people, calls for a ceasefire and opposition to the genocidal attacks on them. 

Congress notes and deplores the use of the publicly owned Prestwick airport by:

 1.  the US airforce for huge military transport aircraft with one landing there on 18 March.

2.  the Israeli airforce, as recently as November 2023 though the Scottish government has stated this is no longer the case.

Congress is particularly concerned these aircraft may be used to transport materials to be used in the bombing of Gaza or Yemen.

Congress asks Executive to:

1. Publicly call for an end of military flights to/from Prestwick and for a ceasefire in Gaza.

2. Lobby the Scottish government and work with sympathetic MSPs for Prestwick airport to ban all military flights.

3. Write to branches for members to write to their MSPs on this issue.

4. Support broad-based demonstrations.  

(20) Teachers' Pension Scheme

Congress expresses alarm at the UCEA / UUK letter of 18 March to the UK Government on TPS.  The suggestion that post-92 employers wish to withdraw from the Teachers' Pension Scheme is deeply worrying to university staff in Scotland.   Membership of STPS for post-92 teaching staff in Scotland is a statutory right, and ensures that these workers, who are an integral part of our public education system, have a decent, defined benefit pension, like their colleagues in schools and colleges.

We note the HE sector has little control over the scheme costs, and it was a UK Government decision that led to the employer pension contribution increases.

Congress confirms its opposition to post-92s exiting the scheme, calls on UCU Scotland to campaign against any scheme exits, and to push government to cover the increased costs for post-92 employers as they are doing for school and college employers.