Before the meeting debated these motions the chair read out the following statement: “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 following resolutions were carried at the extraordinary general meeting 21 January 2026. The first is a resolution to send a motion to Leeds Trades Union Council, the second is a resolution for the branch.

Resolution: Countering repression (Leeds TUC)  

Motion to send to Leeds Trades Unions Council 

Leeds TUC notes that: 

• Heba Muraisi, held in HMP Newhall, is at grave risk of death after more than 70 days on hunger strike, while Kamran Ahmed has reached more than 60 days in HMP Pentonville.  

• that hunger strikers are all held on remand, prior to their trial, and well over the 182 day limit and have been subject to draconian and dehumanising conditions in prison following the proscription of Palestine Action including being denied access to books and activities, being restrained during hospital visits and faced non-association orders.  

• the hunger strike is believed to be the biggest such coordinated action in the UK since those by IRA prisoners in 1981, when 10 people died 

• the police violence at hunger strike protests has been escalating locally and nationally, pepper spraying and assaults of protesters at HMP Newhall on 3 January   

Leeds TUC  believes that:  

• The appalling treatment of hunger strikers and protesters is a part of the wider repression  

Leeds TUC resolves to:  

• organise a protest supporting the hunger strikers and invite affiliated branches 

• organise a Know Your Rights session for trade unionists 

• work in collaboration with affiliated branches to protect our right to protest and freedom of speech 

• write to Lammy and Starmer, to intervene and make sure the prisoners’ conditions are improved and their rights are upheld 

• write to prison governors, demanding they protect prisoners’ rights 

• write to Prisoners4Palestine sending a message of solidarity and inviting them to speak at a Leeds TUC meeting 

(246 words) Proposed by Anja Komatar. Moved by Anja Komatar, seconded by Fozia Bora. The motion was carried. 

Resolution: Countering repression 

This branch notes that: 

• Heba Muraisi, held in HMP Newhall is at grave risk of death after more than 70 days on hunger strike, while Kamran Ahmed has reached more than 60 days in HMP Pentonville.  

• that hunger strikers are all held on remand, prior to their trial, and well over the 182 day limit and have been subject to draconian and dehumanising conditions in prison following the proscription of Palestine Action including being denied access to books and activities, being restrained during hospital visits and faced non-association orders.  

• the hunger strike is believed to be the biggest such coordinated action in the UK since those by IRA prisoners in 1981, when 10 people died 

• the police violence at hunger strike protests has been escalating locally and nationally, pepper spraying and assaults of protesters at HMP Newhall on 3 January  

This branch believes that:  

• the appalling treatment of hunger strikers and protesters is a part of the wider repression  

This branch resolves to:  

• allow members to take the branch banner to protests supporting the hunger strikers 

• organise a Know Your Rights session for staff and students 

• collaborate with the campus unions and students to protect our right to protest and freedom of speech 

• write to Lammy and Starmer, to intervene and make sure the prisoners’ conditions are improved and their rights are upheld 

• write to prison governors, demanding they protect prisoners’ rights 

• write to Prisoners4Palestine sending a message of solidarity and inviting them to speak at a meeting on campus 

(250 words) Proposed by Anja Komatar. Moved by Anja Komatar, seconded by Fozia Bora. The motion was carried. 

This page was last updated on 15 September 2026