Congress motions

Motion

Motion title

Branches working together for a New Deal

Session

2025-2026

Meeting link

FE Conference

Meeting date

28 May 2026

Status

Carried

Motion

FE4

Motion text

Conference notes:
1. the New Deal for FE campaign has worked to coordinate branches to get better deals for their members
2. the goal of the New Deal for FE is to get national binding agreements that cover all colleges
3. colleges have seen mainstream 16-18 funding increase over the last few years but funding for apprenticeships, Adult Education and HE have all stagnated
4. national agreements will only occur if all branches work together
5. FESC 2025 voted 2:1 for national strike action to win the New Deal
6. the AoC recommendation of 4%
7. 32 colleges secured a mandate for strike action
8. 17 branches took 3 days of coordinated strike action in January.
Conference believes:
a. it was right to aim to transition from local to national strikes
b. we renew our approach to achieve it and do more to promote our core demands
c. opt-in and opt-out culture is not solidarity, it is a barrier to achieving a national strike. Members in adult colleges cannot opt out of national pay freezes.
d.recently we have held successful strike rallies, two New Deal Parliamentary lobbies, and a large Adult Education lobby.
e. we can beat thresholds. Many UCU branches have membership of circa 100. In many cases, to meet the threshold in a ballot is a dozen or so votes.
d. Synergy matters. It is easier to a win ballot when members feel it is a big national campaign rather than a local strike. If we are to have an impact and a voice we need a bigger critical mass of branches to take national action together that can apply pressure to the government and on the employers.
Conference resolves:
i. to continue to develop the New Deal for FE campaign and negotiate national agreements for 26/27 to focus on getting improved pay and conditions for all in FE
ii. ensure the claim is promoted to members
iii. to organise an aggregated ballot in England in the event that negotiations fail to enable a national coordinated strike.
iv. incorporate mass lobbying of our MPs, Mayoralties and Parliament, into our campaign timetable
v. ensure GTVO targets resources at branches who need help to get over the threshold.
vi. Call on all branches to take part and opt-in demanding a national settlement for all.

Proposing body

Composite: Bradford College, New City College Poplar

Amended

Yes

Allocated to

Further education committee (FEC)

Notes