At the RUCU AGM in June, a motion to build regional solidarity in the UCU Southern region and to support UCU branches participating in the a Marking and Assessment Boycott (MAB) as part of Industrial Action over pay and pay-related conditions was proposed.
Unfortunately, the motion could not be heard as we ran out of time. We brought it to the next OGM in July, but it could not be passed then as the meeting did not reach quorum. However, there followed a lively discussion about the impact of the cost of living crisis and RUCU members were unanimous in wanting to show regional solidarity and make small donations of £100 to each Southern region branch needing it (permitted under the RUCU local rule book when members voting can’t be achieved).
In a subsequent committee meeting, committee members also voted to send solidarity donations to a few other branches facing excessive deductions.
Payments have now been made to the following branches:
Winchester – MAB
Southampton – MAB
Bournemouth – MAB
Others voted on by the committee:
York St John – MAB
Kingston – MAB
Brighton – Redundancies
RUCU is proud to show solidarity with regional UCU Southern and other branches in need of solidarity.
UCU will carry on fighting to defend pay and workers conditions in Higher Education, amidst one of the most severe cost-of-living crises faced in recent decades by education staff and the broader collective of workers.
During the June AGM a motion was passed to top the local hardship account back up to £5,000. A bank transfer of £3,050.61 has now been made. This covers hardship applications that have mainly been made by Reading members over the past year, though also includes some smaller amounts from previous years.
Solidarity!
RUCU Committee