UCU: Opposing the anti-woke agenda

Motion

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’.