This motion was agreed by the branch at an extra-ordinary general meeting 14 January 2022

This branch notes that:

• Our branch has a strong mandate for industrial action relating to the USS dispute and the ‘Four Fights’
• we had an excellent response from members to the strike action prior to the Christmas holiday.
• other UCU branches who have been in local dispute have been taking sustained strike action
• we have, as yet, little information from HQ as to the next stage of the industrial dispute

This branch believes that:

• it is only through sustained strike action that the employers will be forced to concede to UCU’s demands.
• we need to ensure maximum involvement of our members in visible activity during the strike period, both in person and online
• this involves making the sustained action sustainable, and be realistic about members’ in-person participation at a time of online working and the pandemic , hence diversifying our forms of action during a long strike
• escalation including marking boycott should be considered if the employer does not come back to the negotiating table

This branch resolves that:

• we prepare for the possibility of sustained strike action (2-4 weeks) followed by action short of strike
• we hold regular organising meetings to review tactics around timing and mixing of picketing, rallies and teach outs.
• we share educational material from the UCU Strike Schools including how to engage with the public and co-workers during pickets

Proposed by G. Alberti, J. Holgate, D. Kascelan, moved by Gabriella Alberti, seconded by Alan Roe, the motion was amended during the debate to the text above, the motion was carried as amended.

This page was last updated on 31 March 2022