UCU: The co-option of EDI and the marginalisation of Black members and activists

Motion

Motion title: The co-option of EDI and the marginalisation of Black members and activists

Motion text: Congress affirms the centrality of Equality to trade unionism and education.
However, Congress notes that within institutions, EDI
1. rhetoric by HE and FE managements risks the marginalisation of Black critical voices;
2. can become management policy that excludes the union;
3. can be weaponised in industrial disputes such as the misuse of 'decolonising the curriculum' to sack colleagues (University of Leicester 2021).
Congress believes these developments:
a. depoliticise anti-racism and promote a limited politics of representation that considers student consumers and downplays institutional racism;
b. weaponise EDI to undermine UCU activists.
Congress notes workshops at the 2021 and 2022 Black Members Conference on the co-option of EDI.
Congress resolves for UCU to:
Provide resources to the Black Members Standing Committee to organise a conference involving researchers and activists on the co-option of EDI discourses;
Produce guidance and tools for branch reps to identify and challenge the co-option of EDI.