UCU: Progressing HE14: Opening trade dispute with the Secretary of State

Motion

Motion title: Progressing HE14: Opening trade dispute with the Secretary of State

Motion text: Conference Notes: 1. UK Higher Education is in crisis, and tens of thousands of jobs have been and are at risk of being
lost.
2. the SoS Dispute Motion (HE14) overwhelmingly passed at the UCU Higher Education Sector conference 2025 and resolves to open a trade dispute with the Secretary of State for Education over HE funding
3. the dispute has not been progressed. Sector conference resolves:
a. to begin the process of opening the dispute with the Secretary of State for Education over HE funding;
b. to provide regular updates on the progress of the dispute to all regional committees;
c. to materially support the SoS campaign and fund related meetings in different regions.
d. to call on the UCU general secretary to work with other higher education unions to establish a democratic “Higher Education Workers Conference” to plan the next steps in the dispute.