UCU: Focus industrial action on research as well

Motion

Motion text: Congress notes that:
1. Strike action places a heavier burden on colleagues who are teaching during strike days;
2. Many members are reluctant to take action which they feel may negatively affects students and our employers exploit that;
3. Many universities claim the main reason they cannot afford to address concerns over pay, pensions and workload is a structural underfunding of research (claiming it costs 25% more to conduct than they get paid to do it);
4. Research funders can powerfully influence behaviour change of UK Universities (e.g. Athena Swan).
Congress calls on UCU to:
a. Target research activities such as REF submissions, internal and external grant reviewing, ResearchFish submission in future industrial disputes;
b. Negotiate with major funders to gain their assistance in tackling the funding issues that Universities use to justify worsening working conditions of colleagues.