Resolution: Protest is not terrorism

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

Before debating this motion the chair of the meeting read the following statement to the meeting: “Because Palestine Action is a proscribed organisation, avoid any activity that could be seen as supporting or coordinating with it, as this may carry serious legal risks. UCU advises that if you wish to express views on Gaza or Palestine, you do so through lawful, peaceful events and campaigns, and follow the law at all times.”

The branch resolved to send the following motion to Leeds Trades Unions Council.

Leeds TUC notes that: 

  • the Home Secretary’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action has drawn wide criticism from across the trade union movement, human rights organisations and wider society 
  • since proscription, thousands have been arrested under the Terrorism Act for holding signs 
  • TUC policy passed unanimously at Congress 2025 demands the repeal of the proscription of Palestine Action and condemns “the home secretary’s abuse of anti-terrorism legislation to ban a non-violent, direct action group, persecute opponents of this move and target peaceful activists.”  

Leeds TUC believes that:  

  • the proscription of Palestine Action constitutes a major assault on our democratic rights and civil liberties and must be challenged by the trade union movement  
  • the attack on the Palestine solidarity movement through court action against the national coalition for Palestine demonstration organisers is likewise a highly repressive move 
  • protest which targets property or disrupts ‘business-as-usual’ is not terrorism and has a long and proud history as part of many struggles for justice and against oppression  

Leeds TUC resolves to:  

  • sign the Protest is not terrorism open letter collectively and circulate to affiliated branches 
  • organise a public meeting with local trade unions on defending the right to protest and invite speakers from Defend our Juries, Protest is not Terrorism open letter and the organisers of the national demonstrations for Palestine.  
  • send a delegation with our banner to join the “witness circle” at any upcoming Defend our Juries actions  
  • write to our MPs expressing opposition to proscription and other attempts to repress the Palestine movement 

(250 words) proposed by Anja Komatar. Moved by Anja Komatar. The motion was carried at the extraordinary general meeting 21 January 2026.

Resolution on redundancies and precarity

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

This Branch Notes: 

  • That while VER has raised concerns regarding redundancies among senior members of staff, redundancies have persisted amongst early career researchers, most notably teaching and research fellows. 
  • The University’s current policy of someone on a fixed term contract being put on an “ongoing”/permanent contract after a third year of employment has been offered. Yet, Faculties have continued to find ways around this agreement by making these staff redundant and hiring new, fixed term staff the next year, or utilising postgraduate researchers to “keep costs down”. 
  • That no trade union can be successful in its aims if it does not prioritise its most vulnerable and precarious members. Yet, little progress has been made on issue relating to precarious, junior or minoritised staff within this branch, or nationally. This exacerbates employment issues such as the one noted above; it encourages the turn within the sector towards precarious contracts and excessive workloads. 

This branch resolves to: 

  • Refocus on redundancies at large, including a significant focus on redundancies of ECRs. This branch should not be running any campaign which does not prioritise its most vulnerable and precarious members. 
  • To pressure the University, including with potential walk-outs or strike action, if it does not comply with the spirit of previously held agreements on precarious to ongoing contracts, and make substantial changes to its redundancy policies. This includes not being able to hire new precarious staff if they are not equipped to keep current ongoing staff. 

(242 words) Proposed by Anne Caldwell. Moved by Anne Caldwell, seconded by Sinéad D’Silva. The motion was carried unanimously at the extraordinary general meeting 21 January 2026.

Branch resolution on AI

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

This Branch Notes: 

  • The University has pushed staff across the university to support the use of AI by students and staff; in some cases, putting staff in positions where they are pressured to use it in their teaching, research or administrative practice by colleagues or supervisors. 
  • Further, it does not take into account the limitations of this technology. There are legitimate ethical concerns, such as its use in producing false information, reinforcing discriminatory stereotypes, and the unauthorised use of intellectual property, to name only a few. 

This Branch Resolves to: 

  • Notwithstanding that there may be legitimate use cases that may be agreed with members of staff, ensure that the University does not mandate that any member of staff use or teach AI; nor can staff be mandated to use it by any Faculty, School or Professional Service within the University. 
  • Pressure the University to engage in legitimate and honest discussion regarding and supports research into the environmental impact of data centres.   
  • Pressure the University to engage in legitimate and honest discussion regarding and supports research into the ethical concerns of AI, as noted in the fourth bullet point above. 

(248 words before amendment) Proposed by Anne Caldwell. Moved by Anne Caldwell, seconded by Kate Hardy. The motion was carried at the Extraordinary General Meeting 21 January 2026.

Branch resolution (untitled, on AI)

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

This branch notes anecdotal evidence from academic and support staff that the university is encouraging staff to use AI across our work. We are also aware of moving goalposts in the university’s traffic light system for academic integrity. There are numerous issues with both: besides the worker’s rights issues with AI (both in terms of platform worker exploitation, and theft of intellectual property) and the environmental issues with data centres, there is a serious concern that encouraging the use of AI will degrade the work of academic and support staff by transforming teaching and marking into prompt-engineering, and will preclude students gaining crucial critical thinking skills. 

To understand both issues better, we resolve to ask school and service representatives to informally collate the issues which are arising in their schools and services, and present a compiled report back to the next branch meeting so we can understand what the issues are across the University

(154 words.) Proposed by Josh Habgood-Coote. Moved by Josh Habgood-Coote, seconded by Simon Hewitt. The motion was carried at the Extraordinary General Meeting 21 January 2026.

Branch resolution: Police presence, freedom of expression and student wellbeing on campus

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

This branch notes:

  • Three students were arrested on campus on 21st October following a peaceful protest against the inclusion of arms companies complicit in genocide at a careers fair
  • The police were ‘informed’ by SMT about the protest
  • Such a move is in line with a wider authoritarian approach currently being adopted at the University
  • A recent report on the detrimental impact of the presence of police on campus on marginalised students and staff
  • That the University of Leeds has University of Sanctuary status

This branch resolves to:

  • Write to the senior management team asking them to:
    • respect students’ right to freedom of expression, specifically in the right to express lawful views and opinions freely
    • commit to a policy of no police or armed forces on campus unless there is a meaningful, direct threat to a person(s).
    • conform with its status as a University of Sanctuary, by not allowing companies onto campus whose corporate activities are part of causing people to seek sanctuary in the first place
  • Support students in their right to freedom of expression, including peaceful protest on campus

This resolution was carried by members of the branch at the ordinary general meeting 13 November 2025. The text here is subject to approval of the minutes of that meeting. The motion was proposed by Kate Hardy and seconded by Sandy James.

Branch resolution: revitalizing our branch

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

This branch notes:

  • The HE sector faces a severe national crisis, with over 15,000 jobs lost in the past year.
  • While the University of Leeds has not initiated redundancies, management has introduced an early retirement scheme without union consultation.
  • Colleagues face growing uncertainty due to fluctuating student numbers and a turbulent international context.
  • Persistent issues around workload, casualisation, and insecurity will be worsened by the proposed scheme.
  • Following intense industrial action, branch meeting participation and local rep activity have declined.
  • A national ballot on pay, conditions, and redundancies is underway, with other campus unions balloting simultaneously.

This branch resolves to:

  • Reinvigorate committee and rep activity to boost participation and mutual support.
  • Recruit new caseworkers to manage the early retirement scheme and potential restructuring.
  • Encourage reps to hold local meetings to gather concerns and shape a renewed branch strategy.
  • Urgently request a meeting with the VC for meaningful negotiation on the scheme and future workforce plans.
  • Work closely with the other two campus unions to coordinate “get the vote out.”
  • Protect and strengthen democracy and equal voice within branch structures.

This resolution was carried by members of the branch at the ordinary general meeting 13 November 2025. The text here is subject to approval of the minutes of that meeting. The motion was proposed by Gabriella Alberti and seconded by Jane Holgate.

Branch resolution on ethical procurement and the boycott of HP

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

This Branch Notes:

  • That the university is planning a technology refresh using HP laptops.
  • That HP-branded corporations provide technology and services to the Israeli military, police, and Population and Immigration Authority, which are used to maintain a system of occupation and discrimination against Palestinians.

This Branch Believes:

  • That the university’s procurement processes should be ethically sound and not complicit in human rights violations.
  • That the use of HP products contradicts our ethical principles and established commitment to support the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS).

This Branch Resolves:

  • To urgently raise these concerns with university management.
  • To demand the University reviews its procurement policy to ensure a check for complicity in Israeli apartheid is included.

This resolution was carried by members of the branch at the ordinary general meeting 13 November 2025. The text here is subject to approval of the minutes of that meeting. The original motion was proposed by Anja Komatar and seconded by Nigel Bubb. The meeting amended the motion as proposed by Shazia Mirza, seconded by Fozia Bora. The resolution above is the text as amended.

Nominations needed for branch campaigns officer

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

Nominations are needed for a branch campaigns officer, as the post wasn’t filled at the annual general meeting.

You can find out more about the role at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/standing-for-election-to-the-ucu-committee/. The campaigns officer is also part of the branch’s negotiating team.

Please send your nominations by email to ucu@leeds.ac.uk by the close of Thursday 16 October.

(Or you can email a.j.u.smith@leeds.ac.uk if you prefer not to alert current officers to your candidacy in advance of the deadline).

You don’t need to give reasons for your nomination, just please make clear what role you are nominating someone for. For example:

Dear UCU branch administrator

I wish to nominate Maria Garcia for the role of campaigns officer.

Yours faithfully

James Smith

To be eligible for election two members must nominate you and you must confirm you accept the nomination by the deadline.

Please don’t ask large numbers of colleagues to nominate you as this creates extra work for the branch administrator; only two nominations are needed and the number of nominations is not published so there is no advantage in having many nominations.

Our branch rules go into more detail about the roles of different officers, election processes etc. If you have any question about the nomination or election process email the branch administrator or the honorary secretary at ucu@leeds.ac.uk

Department rep by-election October 2025

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

The UCU branch committee is calling a set of by-elections for where there are department rep vacancies, to ensure there are reps across the university

If there is a vacancy in your area (see list below), please think about which of your colleagues might be a good UCU rep. For example, someone that colleagues have confidence in, whose judgement they trust, and who is a good listener.

The deadline for nominations is the end of Thursday 16 October. See below for how to nominate someone.

This is a by-election, which means current reps do not need to be re-elected. The term of office will be until the next full elections in May/June.

What does a UCU department rep do?

A network of department reps across the university is crucial for maintaining and increasing the strength of the union and ensuring the branch committee learns about problems in different areas.

UCU department reps are a point of contact for union members in that school, department, service or area, and they alert the branch committee to issues concerning members in their area.

Most, but not all, department reps also support members with individual problems at work (but only outside of their own department).  Department reps don’t negotiate with local management on behalf of the union – all consultation and negotiation with UCU is done centrally by the negotiating team.

Department reps will try to welcome new staff and make sure they know about the union.

You can find out more about the roles of UCU reps at ucu.org.uk/rep

Department reps and remaining roles available

Professional services

Digital Education Service

Claudia Rogers, department rep

Remaining roles available:
1 health and safety rep

Human Resources including ODPL

Jenny Rivas Perez, department rep

Remaining roles available:
3 department reps
4 health and safety reps

IT

Andi Rylands, department rep

Louise Marr, department rep

Remaining roles available:
4 department reps
6 health and safety reps

Library

Emily Haikney, department rep
Nicola Barnett, department rep

Remaining roles available:
2 health and safety reps

Lifelong Learning Centre

Rachel Walls, department rep

Remaining roles available:
1 health and safety rep

Research and Innovation Service

Remaining roles available:
3 department reps
3 health and safety reps

Student Education and Experience (not otherwise listed)

(This covers all areas, unless listed separately, in Student Success and Educational Engagement, Student Curriculum and Operations, Student Experience and Support)

Simon Welsh, department rep

Alexa Athelstan, department rep

Remaining roles available:
3 department reps
5 health and safety reps

Professional services, except those listed separately

Remaining roles available:
13 department reps
13 health and safety reps

Facilities directorate

Remaining roles available:
3 department reps
3 health and safety reps

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures

School of Design

Eirini Boukla, department rep

Lindsey Waterton Taylor, department rep

Mark Taylor, department health and safety rep

Remaining roles available:
1 department reps
2 health and safety reps

School of English

Tony Crowley, department rep

Brendon Nicholls, department health and safety rep

Remaining roles available:
1 department reps
1 health and safety reps

Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies

Gill Park, department rep (equality)

Remaining roles available:
1 health and safety rep

School of History

Remaining roles available:
2 department reps
2 health and safety reps

School of Languages, Cultures and Societies (except Language Centre)

Corinne Painter, health and safety rep

Fabio Sarranito, department rep

Ingrid Sharp, health and safety rep

Leah Wang, department rep

Ruba Khamam, department rep

Sarah Hudspith, health and safety rep

Sarah Waters, health and safety rep

Remaining roles available:
1 department rep

Language Centre

Angela Hume, department rep

Sara Montgomery, health and safety rep

Remaining roles available:
1 department rep
1 health and safety rep

School of Media and Communication

Helen Thornham, department rep

Joanne Armitage, department rep

Miriam Kent, department rep

Remaining roles available:
2 health and safety reps

School of Music

Ewan Stefani, department rep

James Mooney, health and safety rep

Remaining roles available: none

Performance and Cultural Industries

ally Walsh, health and safety rep

Matty Elliot, department rep

Remaining roles available:
1 department rep
1 health and safety rep

School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science

Simon Hewitt, department rep

Remaining roles available:
1 department reps
2 health and safety reps

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (office / unless listed separately)

Remaining roles available:
1 department rep
1 health and safety rep

Faculty of Biological Sciences

School of Molecular and Cellular Biology

Remaining roles available:
3 department reps
3 health and safety reps

School of Biomedical Sciences

Remaining roles available:
2 department reps
2 health and safety reps

School of Biology

Chris Hassall, department rep (covering all the faculty)

Remaining roles available:
1 department reps
2 health and safety reps

Faculty of Biological Sciences (office / unless listed separately)

Remaining roles available:
1 department reps
1 health and safety reps

Faculty of Business

Faculty of Business (Leeds University Business School)

Alex Seehaus, department rep

Andreas Georgiadis, department rep

Jane Holgate, department rep

Stefan Kesting, department rep and health and safety rep

Tao Jiang, department rep

Vera Trappmann, department rep

Remaining roles available:
2 department reps
7 health and safety reps

Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

School of Chemical and Process Engineering

Remaining roles available:
2 department reps
2 health and safety reps

School of Chemistry

Lavinia Onel, department rep

Sandy James, department rep

Remaining roles available:
2 health and safety reps

School of Civil Engineering

Barbara Evans, department rep

Remaining roles available:
2 department reps
3 health and safety reps

School of Computing

Hamish Carr, department rep

Remaining roles available:
1 department rep
2 health and safety reps

School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering

Paul Steenson, department rep

Remaining roles available:
1 department rep
2 health and safety reps

School of Mathematics

Remaining roles available:
3 department reps
3 health and safety reps

School of Mechanical Engineering

Remaining roles available:
3 department reps
3 health and safety reps

School of Physics and Astronomy

Tim Moorsom, department rep

Remaining roles available:
1 department rep
2 health and safety reps

Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences (office and unless listed separately)

Remaining roles available:
1 department rep
1 health and safety rep

Faculty of Environment

School of Earth and Environment

Jonathan Busch, department rep

Natalie Kopytko, department rep

Valeria Tolis, health and safety rep

Remaining roles available:
6 department reps
7 health and safety reps

School of Food Science and Nutrition

Remaining roles available:
2 department reps
2 health and safety reps

School of Geography

Asa Roast, department rep

Remaining roles available:
2 department reps
3 health and safety reps

Institute for Transport Studies

David Watling, department rep

Paul Timms, department rep

Remaining roles available:
2 health and safety reps

Faculty of Environment (office / unless listed separately)

Remaining roles available:
1 department rep
1 health and safety rep

Faculty of Medicine and Health

Leeds Institute of Medical Research (LIMR)

Remaining roles available:
4 department reps
4 health and safety reps

Institute of Clinical Trials Research (LICTR)

Duncan Wilson, department rep

Remaining roles available:
2 department reps
3 health and safety reps

Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine (LICAMM)

Remaining roles available:
4 department reps
4 health and safety reps

Leeds Institute of Health Sciences

Dan Howdon, department rep

Remaining roles available:
3 department reps
4 health and safety reps

Leeds Institute of Medical Education

Remaining roles available:
2 department reps
2 health and safety reps

Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine (LIRMM)

Remaining roles available:
2 department reps
2 health and safety reps

NIHR RDN CC

Remaining roles available:
1 department reps
1 health and safety rep

Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (LIDA)

Remaining roles available:
1 department rep
1 health and safety rep

School of Dentistry

Nigel Bubb, health and safety rep

Remaining roles available:
3 department reps
2 health and safety reps

School of Healthcare

Remaining roles available:
Remaining roles available:
2 department reps
2 health and safety reps

School of Psychology

Remaining roles available:
2 department reps
2 health and safety reps

Faculty of Medicine and Health (office and unless listed separately)

Remaining roles available:
4 department reps
4 health and safety reps

Faculty of Social Sciences

School of Law

Amanda Keeling, department rep

Carrie Bradshaw, health and safety rep

Remaining roles available:
2 department reps
2 health and safety reps

School of Politics and International Studies

Charlie Dannreuther, department rep

Lata Narayanaswamy, department rep

Remaining roles available:
2 health and safety reps

School of Education

Richard Badger, department rep

Indira Banner, department rep

Remaining roles available:
2 health and safety reps

School of Sociology and Social Policy

Claudia Raviden, department rep
Maria Rovisco, department rep

Remaining roles available:
2 department reps
2 health and safety reps

Faculty of Social Sciences (office / unless listed separately)

Remaining roles available:
1 department reps
1 health and safety reps

Department rep roles

The committee changed the roles and boundaries changed for the 2024-2026 term of office, with the aim of members electing teams of reps to work together in their area.

The list above shows who your elected reps are and where there are still vacancies. (This is a by-election, which means you do not need to re-nominate reps who are already elected for 2024-2026.)

Instead of nominating for particular department rep roles or areas of focus (anti-casualisation, postgraduate, equality) these can be agreed later between the department reps elected. (Anyone taking a particular role is also still a general department rep.) This should give reps more flexibility if someone moves mid-term.

In a large department, if a rep wants, the website could list a specific work area to help members to find them and to decide who might best understand their issue. For example, a department rep for the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies might want to be listed with “(French)” after their name, but they would still be a rep for the whole school.

The number listed for health and safety reps includes workload reps. (You can specify “workload rep” or “health and safety rep” in your nominations if you wish but a health and safety reps can change focus to being a workload rep and vice versa, subject to appointment by the health and safety officer and appropriate training.)

Nominations

To nominate a colleague (with their agreement!) please email ucu@leeds.ac.uk, ideally include the word “nomination” in the email subject, saying, for example:

Dear UCU branch administrator

I wish to nominate James Smith for UCU department rep for the School of English

Yours faithfully

Maria García Sánchez

Each candidate needs two nominations by the deadline and to have confirmed by the deadline that they are willing to stand to be eligible for election. Nominations normally have to be from UCU members in the same department, but exceptions can be made for very small departments.

It would be helpful if candidates could arrange to be nominated by not more than two colleagues, copying you in so you know it’s been sent, as excess nominations create unnecessary work.

Respecting religious holiday observance

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

With the start of the new academic year, we would like to draw attention to the importance of respecting important religious holidays when requested, particularly those of minoritised faiths. We have a few upcoming religious holidays during teaching intensive periods. Please do make note of these and support staff and student requests.

Different people have different approaches to practicing faith, so no one is expected to know about the needs of individuals. Together, we can try to make campus more inclusive (and in my opinion, vibrant and less tokenistic). To this end, please see below a quick list of useful resources and provisions at the university.

  • One can find general information and guidance on supporting staff and students from this landing page on Religion and Belief
  • This guidance overview relates to requests for flexibility and time off on religious grounds – please pay attention to the call to accommodate requests as the immediate response. If you have authority in this regard, please be sensitive to such requests.
  • Do download or view the collaboratively compiled Faith Calendar! Please note that some days of observance have an impact on whether members of faith can work – some of these are imminent. They can be found in the Faith Calendar.
  • Relatedly, we can also expand our knowledge and learn about the specific needs during Jewish High Holidays and Ramadan.

Some festivals may not have an impact on work, however, staff and students may take time off for religious holidays. Do try to ensure that this does not disadvantage them.

Our university calendars and days off continue to reflect a bias towards (certain) Christian holidays in a supposedly secular state, which puts members of minoritised faiths/religious minorities in the uncomfortable position of needing to request days off for events of religious significance. In recognition of this, we call on those who do not practice religion and those whose religious holidays are catered to (even if serendipitously) to be considerate towards holidays of importance to others.

I hope everyone finds these resources useful to have in one place, and the knowledge shared about different religions insightful (and if you end up nerding out about different calendars, know you are not alone).

In solidarity and with care,

Sinead (on behalf of UCU Committee)

This post if from an email to branch members, 19 September 2025, from Sinéad D’Silva, equality officer.