Motion
- Motion title
- Opposing the anti-woke agenda
- Session
- 2023-2024
- Meeting link
- Annual Congress
- Meeting date
- 31 May 2024
- Status
- Remitted (not taken)
- Motion
- 46
- Motion text
Congress notes:
1. The term woke applied pejoratively by the right to campaigns including Black Lives Matter, women’s equality, LGBT+ rights, social justice, and climate action;
2. The war on ‘woke’ and ‘common-sense’ adoption of other far-right tropes
3. False claims that trans-inclusive activists regularly have prevented speakers
4. The moral panic created to justify various political interventions including the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023.
Congress believes that:
a. “Woke” is positive and gives voice to marginalised groups
b. Anti-woke measures can undermine rather than promote freedom of speech
c. Trans people are particularly at risk from far-right agendas.
Congress resolves to:
i. Declare UCU as proudly woke and supportive of campaigns e.g. those in notes 1
ii. Encourage members to engage in these struggles and support members penalised for doing so
iii. Campaign for progressive measures e.g. the Scottish GRA reform and against ones that are ‘anti-woke’.
- Proposing body
- LGBT+ members' standing committee (LGBT+MSC)
- Amended
- No
- Allocated to
- Equality committee
- Notes
Administrative info
- Listing reference
- 2024/C/05-31/062/46