UCU: Lobby research councils on reasons for taking industrial action

Motion

Motion title: Lobby research councils on reasons for taking industrial action

Motion text: HESC notes:
1. Research council money is being spent and project deadlines not met due to the necessary UCU industrial action. The impact of this is often invisible to Universities as it does not affect teaching but has significant impact on collaborating institutes and industry UK-, Europe- and world-wide.
2. Going on strike primarily affects a researcher’s ability to meet project deadlines and long-term ability to obtain future funding to sustain their work and employment.
3. UKRI is a large research funding body close to government with a budget of £8bn per annum
HESC believes to lobby UKRI and other research councils on the work being lost due to Universities failure to support their Academic and research staff through fair working conditions.
HESC calls to:
a. Determine the primary funders of University research.
b. Lobby UKRI and other significant research funders over universities failure to support their staff through fair pay, pensions and working conditions.