UCU: No return to unsafe workplaces; no face-to-face teaching unless educationally necessary

Motion

Motion title: No return to unsafe workplaces; no face-to-face teaching unless educationally necessary

Motion text: HESC notes:
1. Senior officials in both UCU and UNISON calling for ballots of industrial action over unsafe workplaces
2. iSAGE, SAGE and WHO believe social distancing, test, track and isolate and the use of PPE are central to control pandemics.
3. Scottish Government advice (22/9/20), 'everyone who can work from home should work from home'.
HESC believes the UK Government's call to return to offices is motivated by business concerns rather than public safety.
HESC resolves:
a. To call on universities to abandon face-to-face activities and to work remotely until UCU’s tests have been met. Exceptions for face-to-face activities only where necessary, i.e. to ensure disabled students are able to participate, or to facilitate practice-based activities.
b. To encourage branches with UCU support to declare disputes and begin the process of balloting for industrial action for an end to f2f activities until UCU's Five tests are met.