Congress motions

Motion

Motion title

Opposing oppressive legislation

Session

2021-2022

Meeting link

Annual Congress

Meeting date

1 June 2022

Status

Passed

Motion

3

Motion text

Congress notes:
1. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (PCSC) and the Nationality and Borders Bill are racist and discriminatory.
2. The provisions within these two pieces of legislation will have detrimental effect on UCU members, especially Black, migrant, LGBTQ+, women, and disabled members.
3. UK Government decision to move some asylum seekers to Rwanda.
4. Some trans people face violent detention in Rwanda.
5. That the case of Child Q highlights the institutional racism at the heart of the police force.
Congress believes:
The Nationality and Borders Bill will effectively remove the right to legally claim asylum in Britain and threatens the right of 6 million people to British citizenship. The government is attempting to use the politics of divide and rule, scapegoating refugees and migrants, to deflect from the own failings. Moving asylum seekers to Rwanda puts some people at further risk including LGBT+ people whose relationships aren’t legally recognised and face discrimination and social stigma.
Congress opposes the bill and agrees to campaign against its outcomes alongside campaign, faith, trade union and antiracist groups – opposing any attempt to target communities over the issue of citizenship – ‘dawn raids’ – channel ‘push backs’ and deportations. Further Congress opposes moving asylum seekers to Rwanda.
Congress resolves to lobby against the provisions of these two pieces of legislation by:
a. Instructing the General Secretary to write to the Home Secretary and the Shadow Home Secretary expressing opposition on the basis they are discriminatory.
b. Calling upon all UCU branches and individual UCU members to write to their local MP stating the union’s and their own opposition on the basis they are discriminatory
c. Affiliating with the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, a national organisation fighting hostile environment policies.
d. To campaign to keep the police out of our schools, colleges and campuses.
e. To support the ‘Justice for Child Q’ conference being organised by Diane Abbott MP, Stand Up To Racism and other organisations on Saturday 11 June.

Proposing body

Composite (Migrant members standing committee, London regional committee)

Amended

Yes

Allocated to

Strategy and finance committee (SFC)

Notes