UCU: Policy proposal to protect immunocompromised staff in post-16 education

Motion

Motion title: Policy proposal to protect immunocompromised staff in post-16 education

Motion text: Congress notes:
1. The risks of Covid19 and other severe infections persist in universities and colleges: this will continue for many years.
2. Clinically vulnerable/disabled/pregnant and other immunocompromised colleagues are being pressurised to return to workplaces and conduct face-to-face teaching in unsafe spaces without windows, adequate ventilation, air-purifying systems, and/or in locations where students often decline to wear masks voluntarily.
Congress resolves to demand that:
a. a UK-wide policy be proposed for all universities and colleges which protects clinically vulnerable/disabled/pregnant and immunocompromised staff
b. the policy guarantee staff the right to work from home, and teach all material online where clinically vulnerable/disabled/pregnant and other immunocompromise is confirmed by their medical practitioner
c. this UK-wide policy is included in definitions of 'reasonable adjustment' for staff who identify as disabled
Congress agrees:
i. UCU will lobby Governments and university management to collectively formulate this policy as described and report progress back to Congress in 2023.