Congress motions

Motion

Motion title

Campaigning for equality

Session

2020-2021

Meeting link

Annual Congress

Meeting date

29 May 2021

Status

Passed

Motion

4

Motion text

Congress notes with concern the government’s rhetorical shift away from pursuing equality for those with protected characteristics, and reaffirms UCU's commitment to challenging all forms of discrimination and prejudice.

The recent rise in transphobia led to an attack on ILGA that linked homosexuality to paedophilia. Demonstrating that transphobia is a wedge issue that will lead to attacks on other protected characteristics.

Congress commends the progress made by the equality committee during 2020-21 in furthering workplace equality, including work on:

1. addressing the unequal impact of Covid-19 on Black, Disabled, LGBT+, Migrant and Women members,
2. building anti-racist environments and community accountability
3. challenging sexual harassment
4. promoting LGBT+ liberation
5. protecting disability rights and challenging ableism
6. supporting migrants and tackling the hostile environment
7. improving employment rights for those with caring responsibilities.

Congress welcomes the increased focus on intersectionality within UCU's equality work in addressing the complex challenges facing members.

Congress supports the committee’s continued focus on these areas and engagement with equality standing committees, branches and members, as well as national policy discussions, to take forward the fight for more equal and inclusive workplaces.

Congress resolves:
a. to strengthen working with affiliated international labour organisations to continue to resist push back on equality laws, as well as push for stronger workplace protections.
b. to build cross party support on equality campaigning.

Proposing body

National executive committee (NEC)

Amended

Yes

Allocated to

Equality committee

Notes