UCU Scotland congress 2025

(1) Redundancies at Glasgow University

Congress notes:

1. Threatened close of MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit (SPHSU) on 30 June due to withdrawal of MRC Unit funding.

2. School of Health and Wellbeing proposing to retain few staff from SPHSU, despite the University declaring health inequalities a priority 'Research Pillar' and the importance of this expertise. 

3. SPHSU closure would set a precedent for future Unit closures, including the UoG Centre for Virus Research. 

Congress believes:

1. We should oppose compulsory redundancies in all cases. 

2. UCUS needs to support UCUG in putting pressure on the University to keep SPHSU open and retain all staff. 

3. SPHSU closure would set precedent for future Unit closures (CVR at UoG, and two Units/Centres at Edinburgh

Congress resolves to:

1. Actively support local action by UCUG.

2. Put pressure on the Scottish Government to make up the shortfall to retain this critical unit and expertise.

(2) MRC unit funding cuts and open-ended contracts

Congress notes:

1. The MRC has withdrawn funding from its Research Units, including SPHSU at the University of Glasgow (jointly funded by the Scottish Government), resulting in over 70 redundancy notifications already, and more jobs at risk as other units close.

2. Most universities transition research staff onto open-ended contracts occasionally, but without clear policy for how to decide who to retain, the process of protecting staff jobs is arbitrary and subject to local whims.

3. UCU has launched the Researcher Manifesto1 calling for a pooled resourcing model for research staff.

Congress mandates UCU Scotland to:

1. Investigate whether any Scottish universities have clear, open policies on how research staff move onto fully open-ended contracts.

2. Call on Scottish universities to introduce a pooled resourcing model. 

3. Call on the Scottish Government and MRC to reverse their decision and restore funding to SPHSU and other affected units.

1https://www.ucu.org.uk?mediaid=14732

(3) Pensions 

CONGRESS notes emerging areas of concern to UCU members and others in the wider union movement:

1. The base level of State Pensions

2. The level protected by the Triple Lock

3. The index used to uprate pensions and other benefits annually 

4. The shift in the winter fuel allowance to a means-tested benefit 

5. The possible erosion in value of the sector's Occupational Pensions.

 The State pension is chronically low: there is no rational basis for determining the appropriate level, or any plan for reaching that level. The whole system of pensions and benefits for pensioners is urgently in need of reform. 

 CONGRESS instructs UCU Scotland to

1. Circulate the attached paper to all members via institutional branches

2. Ensure that branches discuss this paper and put pressure on MPs and MSPs to attend to these concerns urgently.

(4) Demand transparency on the extent of casualisation in HE 

 UCU Scotland notes that:

1. In the UK, approximately 75000 academics are on casualised fixed-term or hourly contracts.

2. These numbers are underestimated as many casualised staff are employed on "open-ended contracts with review date" (OERD), which are, in all but name, fixed-term contracts. 

3. Alongside more visible redundancies, there are hidden or invisible redundancies of casualised staff whose hours are slashed and contracts are not renewed.

UCU Scotland believes that:

1. Data about the true extent of casualisation in Higher Education are necessary.

UCU Scotland resolves to request these data, covering the past five years and moving forward, from universities:

1. Number of fixed-term vs open-ended contracts per academic family.

2. Full-time equivalent and head count of staff on hourly contracts.

3. Number of Ad-hoc payments (e.g. 'Form 100') used. 

4. Number of academics and ARPS staff on OERD. 

5. Equalities data (age, gender, race, disability) for the above.

(5) Protect casualised staff amid budget cuts and redundancies 

UCU Scotland notes that:

1. Several Scottish universities have announced voluntary and compulsory redundancy schemes, alongside budget cuts.

2. Invisible or hidden redundancies of staff on fixed-term, open-ended with review dates and hourly contracts are already happening, with contracts not renewed or hours reduced, dramatically increasing the precarity of casualised staff and increasing the workload of those who remain. 

UCU Scotland believes that:

1. Threats of redundancies affect all staff independent of their contract type.

2. Solidarity means protecting all workers from redundancies.

UCU Scotland resolves to:

1. Ensure that any actions opposing voluntary or compulsory redundancies does not disproportionately affect casualised staff who could be used as "buffers" to shield others from redundancy.

2. Ensure that any campaigns against redundancies must also protect and defend the roles of casualised staff.

(6) Job Cuts

Congress notes:

• Strike action by Dundee UCU following Dundee University's failure to commit to no compulsory redundancies.

• The widespread job cuts taking place across Scottish Universities.

• A lack of transparency in relation to university finances or projections and failure to negotiate with branches.

Congress believes:

• Managements are often using the financial crisis in HE as an excuse to cut jobs and programmes

• Job cuts would inevitably lead to an increase in the already intolerable workloads of staff in the University.

Congress calls on UCU Scotland to:

• Oppose all job cuts whether voluntary or compulsory

• Demand the Scottish Government demands Universities negotiate meaningfully to avoid redundancy, including abiding by the Fair Work Agenda.

• Encourage branches to Immediately to move to ballot for industrial action, unless all job losses are taken off the agenda.

• Start a public campaign to save Scottish Higher Education to culminate in the forthcoming Scottish elections

(7) Governance in Higher Education

UCUS Congress notes:

1. The failure of governance that led the University of Dundee to declare a £65m deficit and announce more than 630 job cuts;
2. ⁠The refusal of senior management at the University of Dundee to meaningfully involve staff and Unions in the development of a recovery plan;
3. ⁠The lack of accountability of senior managers in the sector and the failure of existing structures to safeguard against financial mismanagement.

UCUS Congress believes:

1. There is a need for a more transparent and democratic governance model in HE.

UCUS Congress resolves to call for:

1. Improved oversight by staff and students over senior management's decisions;
2. A reform of governance that sees the return of democratically elected and time-limited senior management positions;
3. The introduction of a cap on senior management salaries to reduce incentives to risk taking without accountability.

(8) The Far Right and Racist Immigration Legislation

Congress deplores the:

1. Rise of the Far Right.

2. Apparent rise in support for Reform UK  

3. 'Prevent' referrals on university campuses for far right activists and activities.

4. Election of Trump, further fueling the Far Right.

5. Continuing racist immigration legislation - part of the hostile environment and a particular negative impact on international students and staff.

Congress reaffirms policy opposing the racist immigration legislation, the Far Right and Trump and support for Stand up to Racism (SUTR).

Congress instructs executive to:

1. Work with other trade unions to pressure government to overturn racist immigration legislation.

2. Support members in challenging Far Right and workplace racism, work with students and organise teach-ins.

3. Encourage members to attend broad-based anti-racist demonstrations, summits and music festivals, including those called by SUTR on 31 May and 21 June, and to bring banners.

(9)  UK Chapter of the Student Federation of India  

Congress welcomes the establishment of the UK chapter of the Student Federation of India, and congratulates Nikhil Mathew of Edinburgh University as its national secretary; notes the SFI is a major social movement of the left in India with strong links to trade unions, and the UK chapter is a significant vehicle for Indian students to stand in solidarity with many progressive issues that UCU supports; encourages UCU Scotland to support and cooperate with SFI branches in Scotland.

(10) Training to Train' programme

Congress notes that

1. UCU's established training courses for UCU representatives and officers ('Rep 1', 'Rep 2', 'H&S1', 'H&S2') are a vital part of the work of our Union

2. The building of knowledge, skills and capacities would be enhanced if branches were themselves able to offer these courses to representatives, officers, and members, accounting for local demand and conditions.

Congress proposes that

1. the relevant organisers and officers from UCU Scotland investigate and report upon the feasibility of implementing a 'Training to Train' programme;

2. that this programme would be designed to equip experienced officers and representatives in each branch to deliver 'Rep 1', 'Rep 2', 'H&S1' and 'H&S2' and other relevant courses locally, as and when needed;

3. that this programme would include formal recognition of the qualification of members that complete it to act as trainers for relevant courses.

(11) Social media/X Exit

Congress notes:

1. The degeneration of Twitter/X following its takeover by Elon Musk including the reinstatement of previously banned far-right accounts, the spread of misinformation & changes to blocking function. 

2. X is an increasingly unsafe and toxic space 

3. The decision of over 60 German universities and cultural institutions to leave Twitter/X

4. The deteriorating situation on corporate social media more generally

Congress believes:

1. Official UCU accounts should not support X financially. 

2. We have a duty of care towards staff and others who manage our social media. 

Congress instructs UCUS Executive:

1. To cancel and/or advocate the cancellation of any paid subscriptions to X at the earliest opportunity. 

2. To identify appropriate alternative platforms and an exit strategy from X including a time frame and comms supporting our exit. 

3. To send a Late Motion to this effect to UK-level Congress.

4. To encourage UCUS members to leave corporate platforms in favour of non-profit and non-corporate platforms such as Mastodon and Signal.

5. To pressure Scottish universities to dissociate themselves from such toxic platforms in favour of non-profit and non-corporate social media.

(12) Building to Win

Congress welcomes the UCU UK initiative Building to Win and notes that three Scottish branches (QMU, GCU and Glasgow) have been selected as pilots. In order to make best use of this resource, Congress welcomes opportunities for all Scottish branches to share experience on priority campaigns.

(13) Campaigning on Green Issues 

Congress notes

1. The Scottish government 2045 net zero target.

2. The UN Climate Conference (COP 30) in November in Amazonia in Brazil.

3. Insufficient progress by most countries to meeting inadequate climate targets. 

Congress agrees to work together with other trade unions. Just Transition Partnership, Campaign Against Climate Change/Trade Union Group and Climate Justice Campaign to

1. Put pressure on Scottish government to provide additional funding for 

• Just transition away from fossil fuels, including at Grangemouth, and to renewables with no loss of jobs.

• Home insulation and transition away from fossil fuel heating.

2. Campaign against the third Heathrow runway  

3. Use COP 30 to organise round climate issues. 

Congress further agrees to affiliate to Campaign Against Climate Change.

Congress notes the importance for energy justice, of the introduction of a national energy allowance and for a mass housing retrofit programme. The Energy for All manifesto and advocating better training in retrofit skills, can contribute to a just transition that addresses fuel poverty and ensures a sustainable future. Congress agrees to endorse the Energy for All manifesto launched by Fuel Poverty Action and add UCU Scotland's name to the list of supporters.

(14) Organising on Green Issues

Congress notes 

1. The results of the Green survey and  

2. The varied situation in branches with regards to having a green rep and representation on institutional green, sustainability and related committees.

3. The varying situations in institutions with regards to policy issues including on divestment, carbon offsetting, travel, environmental and accessibility aspects of estates and buildings.   

Congress agrees to call on the Green network and the executive to:

1. Circulate a summary of the results of the Green survey to all members. 

2. Increase support to branches that do not yet have green reps or representation on relevant institutional committees to achieve this. 

3. Use the survey results and other information to draw up suggested best practice for institutional green policies, circulate to branches and support them in negotiating best practice. 

4. Organise the online event agreed in Congress 2024 if it has not yet taken place.

(15) Scottish Hazards

Congress:

• Congratulates Scottish Hazards Campaign for a successful 24th conference on 27th February;

• Welcomes the work of Scottish Hazards, in promoting health and safety at work; lobbying government for improvements in workplace health, safety and environmental impact; advocating for workers whose employers have poor health and safety practices; supporting workers with work-related ill health and disabilities and families bereaved through health and safety negligence of employers;

• Notes the financial difficulties facing Scottish Hazards, announced at the 2025 conference, resulting in part through a shortfall in union affiliations;

• Welcomes UCU Scotland's ongoing affiliation to Scottish Hazards;

• Recommends branches consider affiliating to Scottish Hazards.

(16) Israeli Apartheid Week

Congress notes:

• The announcement by the BDS National Committee that this year's Israeli Apartheid Week will take place from 21st to 30th March (21st is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; 30th is Palestine Land Day).

• Congress takes place during Israeli Apartheid Week

• Congress takes this opportunity to condemn Israeli apartheid, genocide, ethnic cleansing and other crimes perpetrated by the state of Israel against the Palestinian people, and reaffirms UCU Scotland's commitment to Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel.

(17) Repression of pro-Palestine protests

Congress notes:

• The arrest, on 15th February of six peaceful BDS protesters at Home Bargains, Aberdeen, including members of Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Solidarity Societies of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon Universities. This follows the excessive custodial sentencing in August 2024 of five activists for nonviolent direct action against Thales factory near Glasgow, which supplies military equipment to Israel for use in their genocide against Palestinians.

• Congress condemns the increasing use of the Scottish justice system to penalise legitimate protest against the Israeli genocide.