‘Except Palestine’ event

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

Justice Without Borders: Connecting Local Activism and International Movements from Palestine to the World

PLEASE JOIN US ON THURSDAY 20 JUNE 2024 IN

BAINES WING SR (2.10)

1600-1800

Hosted by Leeds UCU

Featuring:

  • Dena Qaddumi, Fellow in City Design and Social Science, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
  • Laila Alodaat, human rights lawyer and activist
  • Anne Caldwell, Teaching Fellow in the School of History, University of Leeds whose research focuses on the intersection of Jewish Identity, Nationalism, and Colonial Agrarianism in the British Media during the Mandate Period
  • Dani Abulhawa, Lecturer in Contemporary Applied Performance, University of Leeds
Poster for Except Palestine event. Image shows stylised painting of woman hugging a white dove to her face. Text is the meeting invitation from the post and the list of other events linked to in the link in the post https://linktr.ee/exceptpalestine?utm_source=linktree_admin_share

Other ‘Except Palestine’ events at https://linktr.ee/exceptpalestine?utm_source=linktree_admin_share

LeedsUCU podcast episode 10: branch news 7 June 2024

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

In today’s episode (recorded 5 June): pay and grading review, hybrid working, anti-casualisation improvements, department rep elections, general meetings and socials

With Aisha Walker, Rachel Walls and Alan Smith.

If you prefer your union branch news direct to your ears, search for LeedsUCU wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you get notified about new episodes. 

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join

Episode links

Choosing your UCU department representatives

Direct links to the LeedsUCU podcast 

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2Ht1Iks9WPR6qbmGXXOXfS

Amazon Podcasts https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/1f16de89-30ec-444a-83ac-54bcbe0bcac6/leedsucu-podcast

Pocket Casts https://pca.st/pacoaeqd

Three union letter regarding safety of students in encampment

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

Dear Vice-Chancellor and University Secretary

We are writing with urgency with regards to the safety of the students in the University of Leeds encampment.

 As you may be aware from social media (https://www.instagram.com/p/C7SC1crsdIM/?igsh=MTl6bHR4ZzVsb3l2cQ==) or from the students themselves, over the past nights the students have faced escalating threats of violence and disturbance late at night. This culminated last night in one of the group harassing the students threatening them with weapons, including a knife.

 The students have also been subjected to aggressive sexist and racist derogatory language, which should not be tolerated by any member of the university community.

 We cannot over-emphasise the urgency or danger of this situation. We ask you to immediately:

 – Ensure that the students have sufficient support from security and that security are focused on ensuring the safety of the students

– Advise what measures have been put in place – what advice given – to ensure the safety and wellbeing of colleagues in Security at this stressful time. Including providing a ‘place / person’ they can talk to in confidence, if the nature of this work is causing more than the usual stresses for individuals

– Meet the students’ demands as soon as possible in order to avoid further escalation

 We know that you will share our urgent concerns and agree that the safety of our students and our colleagues, and protecting students’ rights to peaceful protest must be the core objective of any response to the camp.

 Please advise us as to the steps you have taken to ensure the safety of our students and ensure our duty of care to them is fulfilled.

 We look forward to hearing from you,

UCU, UNISON and Unite

** It’s UCU department rep elections time! ** (formal notice of elections)

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

It’s department rep election time for 2024 – 2026!

The roles and boundaries have changed for this electoral period, with the aim of members electing teams of reps to work together in their area. Find out all about the changes below.

Nominations (two) and confirmations of acceptance must be received by ucu@leeds.ac.uk by Thursday 13 June.

Changes to the available roles and boundaries for 2024 – 2026

The roles and boundaries have changed for this electoral period, with the aim of members electing teams of reps to work together in their area.

This page lists the number of department reps and health and safety reps you can elect in your area.

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, we 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.)

The role of a UCU department rep

Members elect UCU department reps for our area of the university every two years (even years, starting in 2022), shortly after the Annual General Meeting. The committee will also arrange by-elections in the off-years where there are vacancies. Branch rules about the election of department reps

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.

Department reps are not always caseworkers and are not expected to represent members in their area with individual problems (although many department reps are caseworkers, supporting members in other departments). 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.

Department rep roles / areas of focus

In a large department, some of the department reps might want to also focus on particular aspects. This can be decided after the elections. These roles are:

UCU department anti-casualisation rep

Focussing on issues affecting members who are casualised: members on fixed-term or fixed-funded contracts and members who are hourly paid. 

UCU department postgraduate rep

Focussing on issues affecting postgraduate students who teach or do other paid academic or academic-related (professional and managerial) work for the university.

UCU department equality rep

Focussing on issues of inequality and discrimination affecting members in the department.

UCU department workloads rep

Workloads reps are health and safety reps with a focus on workloads.

UCU department health and safety rep

Focussing on health, safety and wellbeing issues in the department

Who would be a good UCU department rep?

Try to think who would be the best person or people to be a UCU rep for your department. Challenge any stereotype you have of what union reps are like, and bear in mind that while someone who is more vocal at raising problems might be a good rep it might just be that they are already in a relatively more privileged situation so feel more able to complain. A good union rep will often be someone that colleagues have confidence in, whose judgement they trust, and who is a good listener.

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

Standing for election as UCU department rep

The deadline for nominations in Thursday 13 June.

To nominate someone, simply 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 Maria García Sánchez for UCU department rep for the School of Design

Yours faithfully

James Smith

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.

For this year’s elections you only need to specify if you are nominating someone as a “department rep” or a “department health and safety rep”. The other roles can be sorted out between the reps later. (But, for example, in a large department you might want to nominate at least one person who is a postgraduate student who teaches, so that you can have a postgraduate rep.)

If you have any questions about the department definitions or exceptions for nominations for small departments, contact me or branch membership officer Emily Haikney.

Workload and training

University of Leeds has a historically not-great record in ensuring staff have sufficient time off for trade union work, insisting it is part of ‘citizenship’ for most union reps whose workloads are calculated that way. Discussions are ongoing to try to improve the situation so that more reps have workloaded time off (or equivalent) in addition to citizenship. If you have any questions about this please contact the branch honorary secretary or branch president.

UCU provides training for UCU reps ucu.org.uk/training, and support and mentoring from more experienced union reps.

LeedsUCU podcast episode 9: branch news 10 May 2024 

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

In today’s episode (recorded 8 May, published late because: reasons): PGRs who teach, hybrid working as a flexible working request, 3-days-on-campus not-rule, pay and grading review, UCU higher education special sector conference, AGM, new starters meetings 

With Aisha Walker, Rachel Walls and Alan Smith. 

If you prefer your union branch news direct to your ears, search for LeedsUCU wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you get notified about new episodes.  

See all the episodes and transcripts at https://www.leedsucu.org.uk/about-us/podcast/ 

To join UCU go to ⁠https://www.ucu.org.uk/join  

Episode links 

Branch committee roles and standing for election 

Direct links to the LeedsUCU podcast  

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2Ht1Iks9WPR6qbmGXXOXfS 

Amazon Podcasts https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/1f16de89-30ec-444a-83ac-54bcbe0bcac6/leedsucu-podcast 

Pocket Casts https://pca.st/pacoaeqd 

Transcript 

Intro 

Rachel 

Welcome to the LeedsUCU podcast for members of the University of Leeds branch of the University and College Union. I’m Rachel Walls, one of your podcast hosts. I’m also a UCU department rep for Lifelong Learning Centre, branch committee member and saxophone or clarinet player in our occasional picket line band Orchestrike! 

Alan 

And I’m Alan Smith, co-host for this podcast, and the branch’s administrator and organiser. We thought it would be useful for members of the branch to have an alternative channel for getting your local news because reading long emails or website posts is not everyone’s first choice. 

Rachel 

So we’re here to be a friendly voice from the UCU University of Leeds branch to keep you in better touch with what is going on, such as what the elected officers are working on and what opportunities there are for you to get involved in UCU discussions, socialising, activism and decision making. 

[Brief music] 

Rachel 

Hello everyone. We’re joined by Aisha Walker, president of the University of Leeds branch of UCU, to give us the latest news. 

Alan 

Hi everyone. So the first thing we wanted to ask you about was fractional contracts for PGR’s who teach because I know that’s something we’ve raised with the university recently. 

Aisha 

Yes, we have. So one of the things that we’ve heard from our departmental reps is that in some areas there are problems with PGR’s that are doing time sheets or are hourly paid getting their pay in a timely fashion. And obviously, PGR’s are not people who are earning loads of money, they haven’t got loads of money. We really, they really, need to get that pay through. So we’re asking the university to put people onto fractional contracts rather than hourly paid. We don’t have an answer about that yet, but hopefully you know, watch this space. 

Alan 

OK. And the next thing was hybrid working, but hybrid working as a formal flexible working request. 

Aisha 

Yes. So at the moment we’ve got an anomaly in the flexible working policy in that it doesn’t talk about hybrid working because a separate hybrid working policy. We understand is in development. But both the government and Acas say that you can request hybrid working as a form of flexible working, and we have had examples of people who have put in requests for hybrid working, so for example, to be able to work from home on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but have been told that they can’t do this, that they’ve just got to make an informal arrangement with the line manager, which obviously only works as long as you’ve got the same line manager. So we have asked the university to look at this and to make sure that you can put in a request for hybrid working a formal request. So that it can be a formalised arrangement in the same way as if you were changing from full time to working four days a week. 

Alan 

So in the meantime, while their policy doesn’t say that, are we still saying to people put in those requests and you should reasonably expect them to be agreed because that’s what the law says? And if not, come to a union rep? 

Aisha 

That’s exactly right, Alan. Yes, we should be. You know, if that’s what you need. If you need to be working from home on a certain number of days, a week or on certain days, make the request. Make the request as a form of flexible working. It should be considered. It should be given reasonable consideration. And if it doesn’t meet the criteria for refusal, which it quite probably won’t, but somebody says you can’t do this as a formal arrangement, then contact the usual e-mail, ucu@leeds.ac.uk. 

Rachel 

Thank you. That’s. Sounds positive. Hopefully we can get an agreement on that soon. Sticking with the flexible working theme, I believe there’s something to discuss in relation to the three days a week on campus suggestion. 

Aisha 

There is Rachel and you know what? I am so tired of this. But so is HR. Because we are still getting instances of managers who are saying that you have to be on campus, the university rule is it should be on campus three days a week and every time we hear this, we go to HR and HR says no, that’s not a rule. It’s. It’s a suggestion that, you know, ideally you’ll be on campus more often than not, but it may not work for you. It may not work for the area that you’re working. Again, you know, there may not be enough space, there may not be any good business reasons. Whatever it is, it may not work for you. It is not a university rule. It absolutely is not a mandate. And if you’re getting this message from your line manager or your head of school, head of service, whatever, please let us know. 

Rachel 

Fantastic. That’s a good, clear message. And finally, for this section about what’s been happening, can you tell us a little bit about the pay and grading review? 

Aisha 

Well, actually the pay and grading review isn’t a what’s been happening, it’s a what’s going to happen between now and the next episode. So we have a meeting next week with university management. For the next stage of the pay and grading review. I think one of the things that concerns all three unions is the time scale of the paying grading review that we think it is planned to take too long and we would like to see it accelerated so. I’ll be able to update you more on this next time. 

Rachel 

OK. Thank you. 

Alan 

OK, so let’s look at what’s coming up. And so fairly soon, is it next week? we’ve got the UCU higher education special sector conference. Can you tell us a bit about that? 

Aisha 

Yes, so this is, I suppose it’s a kind of interim songress between and this is just for the higher education sector. And this is where the representatives from all the higher education institutions in UCU get together. We’ll have a number of motions. We haven’t got the agenda yet, so we don’t know what motions are going forward to this congress. And please have a look out for the agenda because I think there’s going to be a very short deadline for submitting amendments. Because as you said, Alan, the congress is the end of next week. But this is where really where the policy for the higher education sector will be discussed. It’ll go through to the Higher Education Committee and the National Executive Committee will make the final decisions. But this is where we’re going to make recommendations. Representatives from all the higher education institutions will make recommendations about the strategy and the policy for our sector, so it’s actually a really important meeting and please look out for the agenda, because if you have ideas for amendments, we’re going to need to submit them quickly. 

Alan 

And if members want to set what the branch’s policy is going to be in relation to that, uh, this meeting is happening the day after the AGM, isn’t it? So there’ll be an opportunity to give advice to delegates. 

Aisha 

That’s true. Yes. At the AGM, there’ll be an opportunity to think about how you would like delegates from this branch to vote. It’s not a mandate, it is advice, because when we hear the arguments presented, we may decide that the branch policy it’s not we, you know, we disagree with what was the advice that we were given. But generally speaking delegates with will go with the advice from the branch. So at the AGM there will be an opportunity to vote on the branch policy. On how you would like delegates to vote and you can advise delegates on how you think they should vote. 

Rachel 

OK. And since you’re mentioning the AGM, we have mentioned this in previous podcast, but perhaps we should just talk a little bit about that upcoming meeting, the annual general meeting.  

Aisha 

Yes, the AGM is next Thursday at lunchtime is 1245 till 2. Umm. You really we need nominations for committee and officers and those have to be in by, I think it’s noon. Is that correct, Alan? Noon on Wednesday the 15th of May? 

Alan 

It’s just at the end of the day, although if you send them by noon, that’s brilliant. It saves me having to do it all first thing on Thursday morning. 

Aisha 

Oh, the end of the day. So the end of the day is probably 5:00. So if you send it in at 7:00, it will probably be too late. But nominations have to be in by the end of the day on on Wednesday the 15th of May, you can send your nominations in now. You need 2 nominations and they can be from any members of the branch. They don’t have to be from your area, so you don’t need to worry if you don’t know who is a member in your school or your service. Just ask anybody you know that is a member to nominate you. We did talk, Emily talked quite a lot about the different roles available, the different elected officer roles. Back in was it episode seven? 

Alan 

Yep. 

Episode 7, so you can have a listen to that. And there’s also information on the LeedsUCU website leedsucu.org.uk. So I would urge you to consider standing. It’s always good to have new members of the committee. We’ll also be having departmental rep elections. I’ll probably talk about that in more in the next episode actually, but those are coming up. 

Alan 

Aisha, is there anything else coming up that you’d like to tell us about? 

Aisha 

I think the main thing is that we’ve got a number of meetings coming up for new starters. So if you’re new to the university, you should already have received an invitation. There’s meetings on the 10th of May, the 6th of June, and the 10th of July. But if there is somebody in your area who is new to the university and you think that they might not have, well, you obviously invite them to join UCU if they’re not already members, but you can also email ucu@leeds.ac.uk if they haven’t had an invitation. 

Rachel 

OK, fantastic. So I believe they’re on the Friday the 10th of May, Thursday the 6th of June and Wednesday the 10th of July at lunch times. And we really appreciate you bringing us the news. Aisha, we will see you very soon. 

Alan 

Thanks Aisha. 

Aisha 

Thank you, Rachel. Thank you, Alan. 

[Brief music] 

Outro 

Rachel 

That’s all for today’s LeedsUCU podcast. Thank you for listening. Please subscribe on whatever platform you’re listening to us on, so you’ll know as soon as we publish our next episode. 

Alan 

If you’re not yet a member of UCU, head to ucu.org.uk/join to find out more if you work at the University of Leeds in an academic or academic related, professional or managerial role, or as a postgraduate student doing paid teaching. Wherever you work, make sure you join the union for your workplace. 

Rachel 

This podcast is made on behalf of the committee of the University and College Union, University of Leeds Branch. If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail our branch offices at ucu@leeds.ac.uk. See our website leedsucu.org.uk for alternative contact details and for a transcript of this episode. 

University of Leeds UCU solidarity with the student encampment

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

Dear all,

University of Leeds UCU stand in solidarity with the University of Leeds students who have set up an encampment on campus in support of the Palestinian people and to protest the University’s complicity in the Israeli government’s apartheid and genocide. The encampment is a peaceful protest, continuing in a long tradition of protest on campus, and connecting with the current worldwide movement of student encampments for Palestine. We share the sentiments expressed by UCU last week in support of all students and staff taking a stand for Palestine.

We note with alarm that the students in the Leeds encampment have been harassed, intimidated, and attacked. We condemn hostility towards peaceful protesters and demand the University respect and uphold the students’ rights to safety and freedom of speech. 

We call on the University to engage meaningfully with the encampment’s demands, taking inspiration from the actions of the management of Goldsmiths University of London last week. We reiterate our calls from earlier this year for the University’s senior management to listen to the students and to preserve their right to protest without threat of violence, fear, or disciplinary action.

As well as publishing this statement of solidarity, the committee has made a donation to the encampment to enable them to obtain needed supplies and resources. 

What can you do to help? 

  1. Visit the students, chat with them, see how they are doing.
  1. Offer to do a Teach-Out (either go and talk to the students, or email ucu@leeds.ac.uk with the Subject line ‘Teach-Out’
  1. Donate to their PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/StudentCoalition
  1. Donate some of the following items: 
  1. High priority: hot water bottles; hand warmers; plastic storages boxes; (30cx20cmx20cm and bigger); One/Two man tents; Gazebos; Blankets; Tent pegs.
  2. Also asking for: cushions; coloured chalk; duct tape; fabric for banners; insulated shopping bags, Palestine bunting and flags
  3. If you would like to be involved in working with other UCU colleagues to support the students, please email ucu@leeds.ac.uk with the Subject line “Supporting the students”.

In solidarity

University of Leeds UCU branch committee

Branch policy: support for Sue Agazie, Newcastle University

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

The following motion was carried at the branch general meeting 29 April 2024 so is agreed collective policy (unless a more recent motion has superseded it). The text here is subject to approval of the minutes of that meeting and the approved minutes will be the correct version.

This branch notes:

  • Sue is a Black, disabled, migrant PhD student at Newcastle University who was recruited under false financial promises by a now-abusive supervisor. She formally complained in February. NU wrote that her immigration status would be unaffected during the complaint, but reneged in March, threatening a report to the Home Office (which would curtail her student visa).
  • Sue has terminal stage 5 kidney disease for which Nigeria lacks adequate treatment and aftercare. To survive, she needs a donor and to remain in the UK.

This branch believes:

  • Hostile Environment, marketised HE, and racism create carceral learning environments for racialised migrant students.
  • Students have a right to complete a complaint without migrant status/disability being weaponised against them.

This branch resolves to:

  • Support the #WeAreAllSue campaign including Actions 1 (by 22 May) and 3 (£200)
  • Invite Sue and URBC to speak to the branch about this case.

Branch policy: Cass Review final report

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

The following motion was carried at the branch general meeting 29 April 2024 so is agreed collective policy (unless a more recent motion has superseded it). The text here is subject to approval of the minutes of that meeting and the approved minutes will be the correct version.

This branch notes that:

  • The Cass Review Final Report has been widely criticised and denounced by academics and trans charities.
  • NHS England has already severely restricted support available to trans children. Their response embraces the report and its recommendations, and outlines concerning changes to adult services.
  • The waiting list for Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People is now estimated to be between 3 and 4 years.
  • There is a rising tide of transphobia and increase in cruelty of transphobic incidents in the UK and globally.
  • MPs and commentators are citing the report in their renewed push for conversion therapy for trans children.
  • The UCU Women Members’ Standing Committee unanimously passed an emergency motion to Congress condemning the report.

This branch believes that:

  • The report ignored most of the peer-reviewed evidence published in reputable academic articles.
  • The report includes claims and recommendations not based on any evidence and lining up with transphobic rhetoric and assumptions.
  • Gender affirming care is lifesaving, decreases the odds of severe depression and suicidality for children.
  • Research into gender affirming care should include relevant evidence, experienced practitioners, and evidence-based recommendations.

This branch resolves to:

  • Write to NHS England to challenge the report and request the University do the same.

Branch policy: ending arms sales to Israel

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

The following motion was carried at the branch general meeting 29 April 2024 so is agreed collective policy (unless a more recent motion has superseded it). The text here is subject to approval of the minutes of that meeting and the approved minutes will be the correct version.

This branch notes:

  1. Israel’s assault on Gaza by Israel has lasted over 6 months, killing 33,000 Palestinians and devastating Gaza’s built environment.
  2. The International Court of Justice has ruled that “acts … committed by Israel in Gaza appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the (Genocide) Convention”.
  3. Over 600 lawyers have signed a letter to the government saying arms exports to Israel must end because of a “plausible risk of genocide”.
  4. PCS members in the Department for Business and Trade have asked to cease work immediately on export licenses to Israel.

This branch believes:

  1. The UK government must immediately stop granting export licences for British arms sales to Israel.
  2. Workers who refuse to risk being party to war crimes and genocide must have the full support of the trade union movement.
  3. A halt to arms sales is important for ending Western support for Israel’s Gaza war.

This branch resolves to:

  • Call on UCU National Executive Committee to issue a statement that members refusing to undertake duties risking complicity in genocide and war crimes will be offered the union’s full legal and industrial support.
  • Support action to pressurise the British government to end arms export licences to Israel.
  • Participate in, and publicise to all of our members, the May 1st Workplace Day of Action, by hosting actions that highlight ending arms sales and calling for a ceasefire.

Motion to amend Congress 2024 motion listed as HE27, “For evidence-based staff-student policies against misconduct”

UCU University of Leeds Branch Posted on by

The following motion of amendment was carried at the branch general meeting 29 April 2024 so is agreed collective policy. The text here is subject to approval of the minutes of that meeting and the approved minutes will be the correct version. The motion is to propose an amendment to a motion from another branch that is on the agenda for UCU Congress 2024.

Add under ‘Congress believes’:

  1. UCU needs a clear stance on this issue.

Add a further section ‘Congress resolves’ between ‘Congress notes’ and ‘Congress calls branches to’

Under new section ‘Congress resolves’ add:

  1. To consult with the Equalities Standing Committees and Anti-Casualisation Committee, as well as the NUS, The 1752 Group, and other relevant specialist and survivor organizations.
  2. To oppose institution-wide registers of relationships.

(43 words)

Motion as amended would read:

For evidence-based staff-student policies against misconduct (Title 8 words)

Congress believes:

  1. UCU should support evidence-based policy to prevent abuses of power in HE.
  2. Policy must account for intersectional power relations and establish professional boundaries.
  3. UCU needs a clear stance on this issue.

Congress notes:

  1. OFS proposals on regulating harassment and sexual misconduct include implementing a register or ban on staff-student sexual and romantic relationships (https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/consultation-on-a-new-approach-to-regulating-harassment-and-sexual-misconduct-in-english-higher-education/)
  2. Most students are uncomfortable with such relationships 
  3. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0309877X.2023.2226612

Congress resolves:

  1. To consult with the Equalities Standing Committees and Anti-Casualisation Committee, as well as the NUS, The 1752 Group, and other relevant specialist and survivor organizations.
  2. To oppose institution-wide registers of relationships

Congress calls branches to:

  1. Work with employers and students’ unions, drawing on peer-reviewed research to develop professional boundaries between staff and students
  2. Seek policies to prohibit staff from entering into intimate relationships with students for whom they have current or potential teaching, learning, or pastoral support responsibilities
  3. Include in such work:
    1. Awareness raising on professional boundaries and preventing sexual harassment across academic hierarchies (including between staff)
    2. Development of training for staff handling disclosures in this area.