UCU: International solidarity with marginalised workers and unions abroad

Motion

Motion title: International solidarity with marginalised workers and unions abroad

Motion text: Congress notes UCU’s long standing policies and work on international solidarity and cooperation.
Congress believes:
1. We all benefit when experiences across unions, including those outside the education sector, are shared with us.
2. Resource disparity & discriminatory visa policies make it difficult for union representatives from the Global South to share their experiences.
3. Individuals from conflict zones or marginalised groups particularly face barriers to education.
Congress resolves:
a. For UCU to fund costs of a guest speaker from a sister union to attend a major UCU event, such as the Equality Groups conference or Congress, to share their experiences.
b. That the representative will be from the Global South or a historically marginalised group, and will attend the UCU event in person, if so preferred.
c. For UCU to lobby UK Government to establish mobility visa schemes and financial support for people from conflict zones or marginalised groups to access post-16 education in the UK.
d. Oppose and call for the retraction of the announcements of the UK Home Secretary on December 4, 2023, regarding skilled worker migrants, salary thresholds, social care workers, migrant family defendants, and potential cancellation of the Graduate Visa.