Each May the University and College Union (UCU) holds its national
Congress, at which delegates from tertiary and adult educationestablishments meet to decide the policy of the union. Controversy is a
relatively common event at UCU Congress in recent years (e.g. motions of
no confidence in the General Secretary) - but having a day of Congress
abandoned because UCU staff are taking strike action is something new.
---- The Unite branch at UCU has been in dispute with the management
team for months now over treatment of Black staff; health and safety
concerns; UCU senior managers recognising another union; and failing to
negotiate on hybrid working. While UCU members have heard rumours about
these disputes UCU bosses have kept most of the matters under cover and
hidden from members.
Ultimately, UCU staff had had enough and called a day of strike action
during Congress on Thursday 30th May. This finally forced UCU bosses to
break cover and they had to disclose to Congress delegates (although not
the wider membership) that that day of Congress would have to be abandoned.
Once Congress delegates arrived in Bournemouth, they were able to meet
with UCU staff and form links. On the morning of the 30th UCU staff held
a protest outside the Bournemouth International Conference Centre (the
location of the cancelled day of Congress) and were joined by a very
good number of UCU delegates. An even better turnout was present at a
hybrid meeting held at one of the hotels delegates were stating at. At
this meeting UCU staff outlined the incredibly poor treatment they had
suffered by bosses - many staff and delegates being upset by the
speeches made by UCU workers.
The final day of Congress was noted by the challenge of delegates to get
UCU managers to resolve the dispute. The attempt of UCU management to
try and block delegates was resisted with delegates repeatedly insisting
motions of support for UCU staff be tabled and voted on, and then
overwhelmingly passing those motions.
UCU bosses have been wrong footed by the action taken by the staff at
Congress, meaning that more and more UCU branches are learning about the
dispute, and showing solidarity with UCU staff by demanding that the
dispute be settled.
Anarchist Communists have always been critical of mainstream unions. We
recognise that whilst workers can self-organise within such unions, we
are at the same time sharply aware that the structures of these unions
act as a break on worker militancy. And it is also well known that
mainstream unions are often very poor employers themselves. By working
together UCU staff and UCU members can fight to both improve working
conditions and build a stronger rank and file.
https://www.anarchistcommunism.org/2024/06/20/ucu-congress-and-strike/
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