Congress 2025: Business of the equality committee

Motions have been allocated to a section of the NEC's report to Congress ( UCU2173 [809kb]). Paragraph headings refer to paragraphs within this report. CBC may have added some new paragraph headings to facilitate the ordering of motions.

Section 5: Business of the Equality Committee

Paragraph 3, Anti-far right campaigning 

40  Resisting attacks on equality - National executive committee  

Congress notes:  

1. The extensive work of the Equality unit, staff and standing committees  

2. Rising threats to equality, including international conflict, violent bordering, the far right, and the threat to multiple and intersecting liberation struggles  

3. The attack on education across our sectors and its equality impact in terms of redundancy, casualisation and access to education  

4. Growing attacks on protest and activism which threaten our members and students in racialised and other ways  

UCU resolves:  

a. To continue to build our work resisting attacks on equality, supporting members and students facing silencing and intimidation in workplaces and in communities  

b. To empower member organising through work to ensure our website is accessible  CARRIED

41  Challenging the far right, defending and promoting equality - Women members' standing committee  

Congress notes:  

1. The rise of the far right is intensifying opposition to equality, driving attacks on bodily autonomy, reproductive rights, and broader social justice movements.  

2. In the UK, far-right pressure seeks to challenge implementation of buffer zones around abortion clinics, threatening hard-won protections, bolstered by US influence, following the fall of Roe v Wade and Trump's election.  

Congress believes:  

a. Defending bodily autonomy and resisting far-right influence are core trade union issues, essential to equality and workplace rights.  

b. UCU must oppose reactionary forces that seek to restrict access to abortion, reproductive and gender affirming healthcare  

Congress resolves to:  

i. Publicly campaign against the far right including its attacks on reproductive rights.  

ii. Mobilise our members, working with pro-choice and anti-fascist organisations.  

iii. Educate members on the links between far-right politics and restrictions on bodily autonomy.  

iv. Demand the government fully enforce buffer zones and protect reproductive rights.  CARRIED

42  Opposing racist and far right activity - Composite: UCU Scotland, Southern regional committee   

Congress deplores the:    

1. Rise in popularity of far right political parties in Europe 

2. the increasing activity of racist and far right groups in the UK, alongside the 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.    

6. The targeting of Muslims and refugees 

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

Congress calls on the NEC and all UCU branches to 

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

b. to proactively oppose the activities of racist and far right groups  and support members in challenging Far Right and workplace racism, work with students and organise teach-ins.    

c. Encourage members to attend broad-based anti-racist demonstrations such SUTR and Hope not Hate, summits and music festivals, including those called by SUTR on 31 May and 21 June, and to bring banners.    

43  Unite against the far right and racism, and Reform UK - Composite: South and City College Birmingham, South West retired members branch 

Congress notes:     

1. The breakthrough of Nigel Farage's far right Reform UK  

2. Fascist Tommy Robinson's efforts to build a fascist led far right and racist street movement in Britain  

3. The summer's racist riots were stoked by Robinson,   

4. Stand Up To Racism organised national demonstrations in July (5,000), October (20,000) and in February this year (over 5,000), and many successful counter protests in August and September  

5. Internationally, the far right is growing, gaining confidence from Trump's election, electoral gains of the fascist AfD, and interventions by Musk.  

Congress believes:  

a. Reform UK is malignly influencing British politics pushing anti-migrant, Islamophobic and "anti-woke" ideas  

b. We must build the biggest movement possible to unite against and expose the fascists.  Trade unions are central to this.  

Congress welcomes the recognition by the TUC that Reform UK poses a major threat to working class and cross-community solidarity by setting worker against worker and encouraging community fragmentation.  As well as having a racist and anti-migrant programme, Reform UK  

i. offers nothing for working or retired people   

ii. is run by a financier  

iii. supports the privatisation of the NHS and the Education Service as well as cuts in social welfare budgets.  

iv. opposes the extension of workers' rights.   

Congress resolves to   

A. circulate material to members from the Stand Up To Racism organisation 

B. participate in all broad-based campaigns exposing Reform UK.  

C. support campaigns against Reform UK in local elections.  

D. support future initiatives against Robinson, the far right and Reform organised by SUTR and the unions.  CARRIED AS AMENDED

43A.1 London Retired Members

After "Congress believes", add new point c:

"c. "Woke" is positive and gives voice to marginalised groups

In "Congress resolves to", in point A after "Stand Up To Racism organisation", add "and other campaigns against racism"CARRIED

44  UCU's commitment to Trans Rights - Composite: Southern regional committee, Liverpool John Moores University, University of Liverpool, Royal College of Art 

Congress notes:   

1. UCU's existing policy on trans and non-binary rights and solidarity including motions passed at Congress 2021- 2024. 

2. Supreme Court ruling 16th April declares sex in the Equality Act 2010 refers to sex assigned at birth and undefined term "biological".   

3. Bridget Phillipson stated 22nd April people must use single sex spaces according to sex assigned at birth.   

4. No guidance given for intersex people.   

5. Supreme Court ruling allows for exclusion of transmasculine, nonbinary and intersex people from all single sex spaces.   

6. EHRC Guidance 24th April is incoherent, unimplementable and discriminatory.   

7. Oppression often comes in small steps and starts with blaming a minority for violence they receive 

Congress believes:   

a. The ruling contradicts current practices at most post-16 institutions, which allow all staff to use the gendered spaces appropriate to them.   

b. The ruling contradicts human rights and dignity of trans and other gender-diverse staff and encourages discrimination, harassment, hate crimes.   

c. the category of 'Woman' is used by the Supreme Court to harass trans people  

d. UCU's trans-inclusive position should be reaffirmed, promoted and strengthened in the face of this concerted attack on trans people.  

e. to reduce the definition of women to pregnancy is reactionary and misogynist 

Congress resolves to:   

i. issue a statement to members and across social media accounts expressing concern at the Supreme Court ruling and reaffirming our steadfast commitment to defending trans people. 

ii. Call on employers to support the right to use  gendered facilities which match gender identities.   

ii. Call on employers to develop and implement trans-inclusive policies as a matter of urgency.   

iii. Support and call on members to attend all local/national protests, rallies and activities for trans rights 

iv. Support local, regional, and national groups who are mobilising against this ruling, as well as the rising persecution of trans people both nationally and internationally. 

iv. Urgently issue guidance to branches on supporting trans rights. CARRIED

45  The attacks against trans rights - King's College London 

Conference notes

1. The Supreme Court's unprecedented attack on trans and non-binary (TNB) people's human rights threatens all human rights.  

2. The EHRC threatens, with unseemly haste, to produce policy guidelines exceeding the SC judgement.  

Conference believes

a. TNB's deserve to work and study with dignity, safety and without discrimination.  

b. The UCU must involve TNB staff and students in producing guidance to maintain campus, course and facilities accessibility to TNB staff/students.  

Conference resolves

i. To immediately form a joint working group of TNB staff/students inviting representation from organisations such as FGEN and NUS.  

ii. To task said group to produce a policy for universities on defending trans rights in light of the SC judgment.  

iii. To provide funding to said group for lawyers with appropriate specialisms.  

iv. To disseminate resulting policy to all universities, FE college management and SU's.  

v. To promote the policy widely to ensure its adoption. CARRIED

46  Support for those defending LGBT+ rights - LGBT+ members' standing committee  

Congress notes with concern  

1. Populist right attacks on LGBT+ rights  

2. the impact of the Trump administration's cuts to foreign aid, particularly the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which directly funds essential HIV treatment and prevention for millions globally.  

3. attempts to create divisions between LGB and T(rans)Q(ueer)+ both in the UK and internationally  

4. attacks on people who have stood forward for LGBT+ rights including UCU members.  

Congress calls for the following in solidarity with LGBT+ people in the UK and internationally  

a. Events focused on international efforts to advocate for LGBT+ rights including in areas of difficulty and where there are models of good practice  

b. Q to be added to LGBT+ in UCU practice so that it makes clear UCU commitment to the entire LGBTQ+ work  

c. CPD series for those leading LGBTQ+ advocacy and liberation with facility for an in-person element  CARRIED

47  UCU is for They/Them, not Trump - Southern regional committee  

Congress notes:  

1. Following its explicitly transphobic electoral campaign, the 2nd Trump presidency's concerted attacks upon trans people, including youth access to healthcare, participation in sports, applications for 'X' gender marker passports, military service and incarceration in appropriately gendered facilities  

2. The Trump presidency's attempts to suspend Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, including LGBT+ programmes  

3. The Starmer government's decision to ignore the damning critiques of the Cass Review, and in December 2024 to indefinitely ban the supply of puberty blockers for trans young people  

Congress believes solidarity with trans and non-binary staff and students is paramount and instructs the NEC:   

a. To support LGBT+ migrant members and their families, particularly US citizens, in navigating bureaucratic challenges Trump's policies might pose  

b. To write to Wes Streeting condemning the findings and methods of the Cass Report and advocating an approach to trans healthcare that affirms and values trans people  CARRIED AS AMENDED

47A.1 University of Brighton

Add notes 4: The £585k fine imposed by OfS on Sussex University for its trans supportive policies.

Add notes 5: The recent UK Supreme Court judgment that trans women are not women.

Add resolves c: To advocate for the maintenance of strong policies against transphobia in universities and colleges.CARRIED

Paragraph 5, Letters to government and political campaigning 

48  Expanding and strengthening shared parental leave - National executive committee  

Congress recognises that Shared Parental Leave (SPL) is vital for gender equality and work-life balance. However, uptake remains low due to financial barriers, cultural stigma, and inadequate employer support. Many employers fail to enhance SPL pay, creating unfair disparities.  

UCU resolves:  

To campaign to replace the failed Shared Parental Leave system with a model of maternity, paternity and parental leave which is simple to administer with individual rights and decent pay for all working parents.  CARRIED AS AMENDED

48A.1 University of Westminster

Add a 'notes' and a second 'resolves' which read:

Congress notes that post-16 Education institutions offer maternity/parental leave arrangements which are inconsistent with each other and are substantially inferior to other public schemes, such as the NHS.

b. To launch a high profile UK-wide campaign for 52 weeks on FULL PAY maternity/parental leave and to work with sister unions, such as the FBU, to achieve it.CARRIED

49  Medical misogyny - UCU Cymru  

Congress notes the recent data and publicity surrounding gender disparities in medicine.  

Congress believes that UCU can play a major part in helping to improve this imbalance. We can educate our members, students and institutions, adjusting curricula and institutional policies where necessary.  

Congress calls upon the NEC to conduct a UK wide campaign in conjunction with (where possible), our employers and political representatives to ameliorate the situation as soon as possible  CARRIED

50  Supporting the end not defend campaign: Preventing workplace sexual harassment - Sheffield Hallam University

Congress notes:  

1. Recent survey evidence that 1/3 workers experience workplace sexual harassment every single year.  

2. Currently workplace sexual harassment is regulated by the EHRC, but that body - unlike the HSE - has no powers around pro-active inspection and limited powers around enforcement.  

Congress believes:  

a. That there is an urgent need for legislative reform, alongside increased campaigning on the issues by trade unions.  

Congress resolves:  

i. To affiliate to and support the 'End Not Defend' campaign by the Workers Policy Project for:  

ii. A Specialist Sexual Harassment Reporting System (SHRS) where workers can anonymously report to trained advisors, ensuring safe and supported disclosure.  

iii. Enhanced enforcement powers against organisations who fail to protect their workers from sexual harassment.  

iv. Annual published reporting to bring harassment reporting in line with gender pay gap reporting.  

v. Increased time limits for sexual harassment grievances in line with criminal complaints.   CARRIED

Paragraph 6, CPD, webinars and event 

51  Moving to an informed consent model of gender affirming healthcare - LGBT+ members' standing committee  

Congress is concerned about  

1. Cass report with its inherent flaws.  

2. Labour Government continuing to follow Cass guidance and restrict levels of gender affirming care.  

Congress notes  

a. World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) guidelines. Their Standard of Care (SOC) is the most widely used protocol for trans and gender diverse healthcare. The SOC includes recommendations for gender-affirming medical care.  

b. moves in other countries including France (2024) and Australia (New South Wales, 2024) towards informed consent models  

Congress calls for  

i. UK to adopt informed consent model  

ii. an online event to held, recorded and shared online. Focus on international models of informed consent gender affirming healthcare.  

iii. Organised opposition to measures halting provision of gender affirming care  

iv. Guidance calling out actions that discriminate against trans people, supporting trans youth and trans elders.  

v. Information about informed consent model of gender affirming healthcare. 

NOT TAKEN

52  Conference on political blackness - University of Oxford   

Congress notes:  

1. UCU uses political blackness, to "refer to people who are descended ... from Africa, the Caribbean, Asia (the middle East to China) and Latin America" who are "from a visible minority who have a shared experience of oppression".  

2. The use of political blackness in the trade union movement is unique to the UK, and the concerns around its use have increased over the last two decades.  

Congress believes:  

a. Language around race and identity is important and forever changing, as such, we should be continuously engaged with the various discussions on the topic; members should be provided with spaces to have these discussions.   

Congress resolves for UCU to:  

i. Host and facilitate a 2026 Conference on the uses, histories, and legacies of political blackness in collective organising.  

ii. Commit to the formation of a working report on the exploration of alternative terminologies. NOT TAKEN

Paragraph 7, TUC equality conference and ETUCE 

53  Disabled Workers Demand Representation and Voice - Disabled members' standing committee  

Congress notes the Family Resources Survey 2022-2023 shows that 1 in 4 of the UK's population are classed as disabled.  

Congress further notes that:  

1. In a truly representative UK Parliament there would be 136 disabled MPs, as opposed to only 9 current MPs self-identifying as disabled  

2. Only 16.1% of councillors are disabled  

3. Insufficient trade union NEC members self-identify as disabled.  

Congress calls upon the General Secretary and the NEC to:  

a. Submit a motion to the TUC Congress calling on the TUC and its affiliated unions to provide full support to disabled members to enable them to fully participate in the work of their trade union and the TUC.  

b. Ensure that the UCU provides full support to its disabled members to enable them to fully participate in the union including support to stand in all internal and external elections including the TUC and its various committees.  NOT TAKEN

54  Solidarity with disabled benefit claimants—welfare not warfare - Composite: University of Kent, Southern regional committee 

Congress notes:  

1. Government plans to remove disability benefits while shifting billions into spending on war, announced in March 2025  

2.  At least one hundred disabled people have died as a direct result of being refused disability benefits.  

Congress believes the cuts are unacceptable because:  

a. the Government seeks to comply with its fiscal targets by taking money from those who are least able to pay;  

b. disability benefit payments fall far below real additional costs of disability  

c. these cuts will rob disabled people of their dignity, increase poverty and disadvantage amongst our most vulnerable citizens, drive hundreds of thousands into poverty and further endanger the lives of disabled people.  

d. benefit cuts will not help disabled people into work. Many who will lose benefit are working & the under employment of disabled people is not a choice made by disabled people but rather caused by employer discrimination and a lack of suitably resourced employment opportunities  

e. disabled people working, or aspiring to work, in post-sixteen education will experience additional barriers to employment.  

Congress opposes the major cuts to social security support for disabled people announced in the Chancellor's spring statement in March 2025.  

Congress calls on NEC to affiliate, resource and publicise protests by DPAC, Black Triangle, other disabled people's organisations (DPOs) and other trades unions, and to use all means available to oppose these cuts together.   NOT TAKEN

55  Trade union involvement in back to work measures and coaching - Cambridge University 

In relation to PIP and other welfare cuts proposed by the government on 18MAR2025, Congress notes that the trade unions are the bodies in UK society best suited to protecting workforce entrants/returnees from indirect and direct discrimination.  

Congress therefore calls on the NEC to present to the TUC and lobby the government on the following:  

1. All work-return measures suggested by the government must be done in very close collaboration and consultation with the TUC and with workplace unions.  

2. Back to work coaches must support trainees' rights to join a union and to promote the benefits of union membership, train re-entrants to report any discrimination, ableism, presenteeism and exploitation generally and must teach whistleblower and other employee rights.  

3. Back to work coaches must receive TUC-approved training on worker and trade union rights before practicing coaching. NOT TAKEN

Paragraph 8, Resources for branches 

56  Industrial action and legal guidance for migrant members - Migrant members' standing committee  

Congress notes:  

1. since 2019, UCU has published legal guidance on migrant workers taking industrial action, which is updated as the law changes  

2. some updates happened just before, or during, industrial action.  

Congress believes:  

a. no member should be asked to take industrial action that could jeopardise their immigration status  

b. last minute changes to guidance risk confusion regarding migrant members' ability to participate in industrial action and increases the risk of receiving incorrect advice.  

Congress resolves:  

i. UCU guidance for migrant members must be refreshed on a quarterly basis to address changes in law, and updates emailed to members  

ii. proposals for forms or patterns of industrial action, which would be new to UCU, should by default include an equality impact assessment inclusive of migration status. An updated version of the Migrant IA guidance should be provided to the relevant NEC subcommittee to inform calling action.  NOT TAKEN

57  Redundancies and their impact on different equality groups - Migrant members' standing committee  

Congress notes  

1. The increasing number of branches facing redundancies in post-16 education  

2. Government increase in funding for FE insufficient and no increase for HE  

3. Migrant members made redundant typically lose their visa sponsorship as this is employer specific and face removal from the UK  

Congress believes  

a. Members belonging to equality groups are impacted more severely when facing redundancies, whether the redundancies are "voluntary" or compulsory  

b. Workload implications for remaining staff may fall more on members belonging to equality groups  

Congress resolves  

i. For UCU to carry out an anonymous survey in branches affected by any redundancies to gather information on members' protected characteristics to identify patterns of members most impacted by redundancies  

ii. For additional legal support on immigration to be made available to support migrant members facing redundancies  

iii. For UCU to focus political work on the intersecting impact redundancies have on equality groups  NOT TAKEN

New paragraph, Other workplace equality issues 

58  Disability Policies in HE and FE - UCU Wales Council  

Congress notes that many Welsh HE and FE institutions may not have an sufficient disability Policy that has a consistent framing or approach relating to disability. Discrimination due to disability affects many HE and FE staff. The exclusion of disabled staff due to the lack of progressive policies and practice is damaging to all staff and students.  

HE and FE institutions must do more to support disabled workers.   

Congress calls on UCU to campaign, that HE and FE institutions develop a policy to support disabled workers, in collaboration with the trade unions and disabled staff networks. This policy must be based on the social model of disability and should include elements on:  

1. Disability leave, and disability-related absences    

2. Hidden/invisible disabilities  

3. A reasonable adjustments policy, with clear procedures.  

4. A dedicated trained Disability Officer to discuss adjustments and proactively address day-to-day barriers and HR issues.  NOT TAKEN

59  Combating gendered bullying, intimidation, and barriers to progression - Women members' standing committee  

Congress notes:  

1. Bullying, intimidation, and career stagnation are structural issues for identifying women in post-16 education, alongside race, disability, sexuality, and class discrimination and pay gaps, precarious contracts  

2. Ongoing failure of employers to challenge damaging and discriminatory workplace cultures  

3. Fear of retaliation prevent many from reporting abuses against a context of rising sexual harassment and misogyny, both online and in person  

Congress believes all post-16 education employers must be held accountable for fostering toxic cultures.  

Congress resolves:  

a. To campaign with NUS and external advocacy groups for mandatory, independent anti-bullying policies and legally enforceable protections across all post-16 institutions, ensuring accountability and transparent reporting structures.  

b. To demand career progression audits to expose and address discrimination in promotions, contracts, and leadership appointments.  

c. To organise a National Day of Action to highlight the issue in post-16 education and demand structural change.  NOT TAKEN

59A.1 Southern regional committee

In "Congress notes", point 1, insert "self-" before "identifying" so that the sentence reads "Bullying, intimidation, and career stagnation are structural issues for self-identifying women in post-16 education, alongside race, disability, sexuality, and class discrimination and pay gaps, precarious contracts.

60  Health and safety impacts of workplace racism - Black members' standing committee  

Congress recognises that the experience of workplace racism can and does include:  

1. Serious detriment to well-being arising from harassment or bullying;  

2. Employer failures to fulfil statutory obligations, particularly for disabled Black staff and when Black staff experience long-term sickness;  

3. Targeting of Black staff by students and/or the wider public as part of organised racist movements.  

Employers have a responsibility to make our workplaces safe for members to carry out their work.  

Congress agrees:  

a. To create campaign materials to educate members and the wider community on the health and safety impacts of workplace racism;  

b. To create a campaigning and negotiating guide to improve workplace safety for Black members;  

c. To work with other campus unions, including the NUS, to devise a shared approach addressing racism as a health and safety impact.  NOT TAKEN

61  Pensions and Equality - Retired members committee  

Congress notes:  

1. That various forms of discrimination and inequality seriously impact on access to pensions and increase risk of poverty in old age;  

2. That there is a serious risk of poverty for future generations of retired workers;  

3. That Black, disabled, LGBT+, migrant and women members and workers in precarious employment are at particular risk of pension poverty.  

Congress recognises the need to raise the awareness of UCU members and the wider public about the relationship between poverty in old age, pensions and all equality areas.  

Congress calls upon the NEC to ensure that UCU's Equality and Anti-Casualisation structures and RMBs  

a. discuss the links between all forms of inequality and pensioner poverty,  

b. promote awareness among members  

support inclusion of equality considerations, including intersectionality, in campaigning and negotiating work around both occupational and state pensions.  

NOT TAKEN