UCU: Challenging academic career pathways

Motion

Motion text: HESC notes:
1. The increasing siloing of academic roles into separate research and teaching pathways by employers.
2. The erosion of professionalism and academic roles that this often entails.
3. The frequently unilateral imposition of these pathways to existing staff resulting in significant unwanted changes to job descriptions.
4. The implications of the rigidity of these pathways for equality, performance management, workload, progression, job security, and additionally at post-92 institutions for the interpretation and variation of the post-92 contract.
5. That the imposition and structuring of academic pathways may reinforce existing inequalities, particularly affecting marginalised groups including LGBT+ staff, through restricted progression routes and differential access to opportunity

HESC resolves:
a. To survey all branches on the prevalence, form, process, and impact of academic pathways on their branch.
b. To submit FOI requests for equality data on pathways.
c. To produce:
i A UK-wide report for branches on pathways.
ii A bargaining and action guide on negotiating around pathways.