UCU: Managerialisation and financialisation of higher and further education

Motion

Motion title: Managerialisation and financialisation of higher and further education

Motion text: Congress notes the hardship inflicted on all staff as a result of managerialisation and financialisation in both HE and FE, and enforced deviations in national contracts. Congress also notes the devastating impact of the extensive borrowing, complex financial arrangements and disproportionately ambitious building/property transactions of the institutions and affiliates which have been used by management to justify detriment on pay, pensions and conditions. Congress notes that HEIs have never implemented the national agreement for academic related professional staff, which exacerbates these detriments.

Congress calls on the NEC to:
1. commission critical financial accounting reviews to help challenge institutions undertaking so-called 'voluntary' or compulsory redundancies, precarity, outsourcing, or those expressing financial hardship to justify pensions contributions increases or benefits reductions.
2. produce a report of all the institutions that have deviated in the past 10 years from the national agreements with details of the deviations involved, and to produce an annual report going forward of all deviations in national contract from relevant institutions
3. produce a report of any good practice regarding the implementation of the national agreement for academic related professional staff, and produce a model claim for branches to submit to address this issue.