Council
Agenda Item 52
Subject: Solidarity with UCU strikers
Date of meeting: 19 October 2023
Proposer: Councillor Grimshaw
Seconder: Councillor Sheard
Ward(s) affected: All
Notice of Motion
Labour Group Amendment
That deletions
are made as shown with strikethrough below and additional
recommendations are added as shown in bold
italics below:
This council notes:
1)
The indefinite strike industrial action
taken by the University and College Union
members against 22 compulsory redundancies
being made at the University of Brighton, that began on the
4th of July, following redundancies announced in
May;
2)
Concerns that there will be a significant impact on
the university’s offer in certain subjects as a result
of the planned plans to sack
staff risk a reduction in lecturers teaching students in
education, engineering, humanities, art, media and sports science;
threatening the quality of education at the university, and that
82 staff have already been made redundant to date
3)
Recognises the significant impact on staff and students in
our city of the decision to make 82 staff
redundant
4)
Concerns for staff who have already had their pay deducted
as a result of taking industrial action
5)
Recognises the challenges that universities are facing as a
result of funding pressures, the impact of the hard-Brexit, and of
the Covid-19 pandemic
Therefore, resolves to:
6)
Express its support and solidarity with the strike action,
demonstrating this council’s concern with the plans and
urging the university to maintain a quality education offer in our
city through any means possible prior to considering cutting
lecturer jobs Express our support for all workers and unions who
strive for fairness and better conditions including the workers who
are involved in the current industrial action
7)
Request the Chief Executive to make representations to
Universities UK [3] and Government, urging improved funding for
local universities, particularly post-Brexit, given the Higher
education sector contributes £95 billion to the economy and
supports 815,000 jobs.
8)
Encourage and urge a satisfactory outcome to save as many
jobs as possible
9)
Request that officers work in partnership with the
city’s universities, staff and students to understand the
challenges faced by the sector and explore opportunities for
further lobbying of government on Higher education funding and
support
Recommendations to read if carried:
This council notes:
1)
The industrial action taken by the University and College
Union members against redundancies being made at the University of
Brighton
2)
Concerns that there will be a significant impact on the
university’s offer in certain subjects as a result of the
planned reduction in lecturers teaching students in education,
engineering, humanities, art, media and sports science
3) Recognises the significant impact on staff and students in our city of the decision to make 82 staff redundant
4)
Concerns for staff who have already had their pay deducted
as a result of taking industrial action
5) Recognises the challenges that universities are facing as a result of funding pressures, the impact of the hard-Brexit, and of the Covid-19 pandemic
Therefore, resolves to:
6)
Express our support for all workers and unions who strive
for fairness and better conditions including the workers who are
involved in the current industrial action
7) Encourage and urge a satisfactory outcome to save as many jobs as possible
8) Request that officers work in partnership with the city’s universities, staff and students to understand the challenges faced by the sector and explore opportunities for further lobbying of government on Higher education funding and support
Proposed by: Cllr Grimshaw Seconded by: Cllr Sheard