NEC Report from Friday 20th June

By UCU Commons NEC members

Headlines:

• NEC agrees changes to membership of Equality Standing Committees to include non-employed postgraduate members
• Calendar of meetings and allocation of unheard Congress motions agreed for 2025–26
• Motions passed in support of the arts, anti-racism, anti-ableism and researching the links between casualisation and equality

The first meeting of UCU’s National Executive Committee (NEC) for 2025-26 took place on 20 June 2025. This year, Maria Chondrogianni from the HE sector has become President and will chair this committee for the year, with David Hunter, President Elect (FE), and Dyfrig Jones, Vice President (HE) as vice chairs. Maxine Looby (FE) steps into the role of Immediate Past President, and Andrew Feeney (HE) takes up the role of Honorary Treasurer. It is also notable that UCU Left have lost their effective majority on NEC for the year ahead.

This year, UCU Commons member Jo Edge completes her final year of six on our NEC as Womens’ Rep, HE, and is joined by re-elected Commoners Tilly Fitzmaurice (LGBTQ+ rep, HE), Mark Pendleton (UK elected, HE), Bijan Parsia (Disabled rep, HE), Vivek Thuppil (Migrant rep, non-EU), and Caroline Proctor (Midlands rep, HE). We are also (re)joined by Chris O’Donnell (UCU Scotland President) and Ben Pope (Casualised rep, HE). Sophia Woodman (UK elected, HE) also joins NEC for the first time.

The meeting began with an introduction and welcome from the Chair, before the usual vote taken at the last NEC before summer to delegate authority to the GS and officers over the summer period. Such a vote is standard procedure that NEC nevertheless failed to approve last year, so that it was voted through this year is much welcomed. Attention was then turned to minutes of two previous NEC meetings, on 14 March 2025 and the short NEC held the day before the Annual Congress (23-26 May). A vote was taken over whether to remove the name of the NEC member removed from the 15 November meeting for abuse of a staff member from the minutes of the 14 March meeting, which carried. Other than that, changes to draft minutes were minor, and these were approved.

We then heard from our General Secretary, Jo Grady, who delivered her usual report to NEC about work done since the last meeting, which will be made available on the UCU website in due course. This, as usual, covered a vast range of topics, and we were especially happy to hear that the taskforce on trans rights set up through Congress motion 45 has already met and its work is underway. Questions for the GS from NEC reps followed, before NEC broke for lunch.

After lunch, the Head of Constitutional Affairs (HoCA) presented the Calendar of Meetings for 2025–26, which NEC must approve. It should be noted here that this is an incredibly difficult job: Fridays are the only day on which NEC and subcommittee meetings can realistically meet, due in no small part to the ability of FE members to be able to attend. Meetings can be arranged on other days with the agreement of the committee in question, and non-calendared meetings will almost always fall on other days of the week due to the full calendar. There are also deadlines to consider, especially in the lead-up to Congress: for motions, amendments and various other things. We are grateful to the Democratic Services team who do so much hard work every year on this thankless task.

But, this does mean clashes are inevitable and for the past couple of years there has been a discussion at NEC about the timetable, and especially about scheduling conflicts between our various advisory equality standing committees, composed of the relevant NEC reps for those strands plus members elected every year at the annual Equality Conference, since one member might sit on multiple committees.

When it was mooted that as various committees – some with decision-making abilities, some advisory – had been scheduled for the same day in April and that these should be moved, UCU Commons member Jo Edge pointed out that standing committees on which the same member holds seats which are held on the same day have, in the past, been scheduled for different times of the day so that those members can attend both if possible, and that the HoCA had surely done their best to avoid clashes. The HoCA replied that yes, this was unfortunate but the only way that these meetings could be timetabled given all of the constraints. However, the bad faith (in our opinion) questioning of the HoCA went on beyond this definitive answer, with one extremely experienced NEC member requesting that a Thursday was made available instead, despite the information given about Fridays and the limited availability of FE members on other days of the week. We were further appalled to hear a UCU Left member speak disparagingly about the Equality Committee’s democratically-agreed decision earlier this year to change the format of this year’s Equality Conference to devote a day to each of the strands. Luckily, however, the bad faith questions did not stop the calendar being approved by acclaim, subject to some wiggle room.

The HoCA then presented the Allocation of Congress Motions document, essentially a list of motions passed at Congress and which subcommittee of NEC would deal with them, which also passed by acclaim.

Next, we heard from the Head of Democratic Services (HoDS) who presented a paper which required an NEC decision. This was about the eligibility of PhD students without contracts of employment who are free members of UCU to be able to stand for election to our advisory equality standing committees, as a part of the broader PGRs as Staff campaign. UCU Commons members on NEC have a broad range of views on this matter: with some seeing this as a way to broaden out membership of the committees with more marginalised members and a natural extension of the campaign’s recommendations, and others concerned about the principle of those not in our bargaining unit having positions on our committees, whether advisory or not. Some of us found it impossible to do anything other than abstain. In the end, this was voted through, with 24 in favour, 14 against, and 8 abstentions. Next we voted through a change to ensure that members on our advisory committees by virtue of their NEC membership end their terms on those committees when their place on NEC ends, since members elected at the annual Equality Conference are elected at a different time of year. This is a common sense move which provides clarity.

The HoDS then presented NEC with the required 6 weeks’ notice for a proposed change in our Standing Orders to move the pre-meeting motion deadline 36 hours earlier, in order to facilitate greater efficiency in issuing pre-meeting papers in one go and improve accessibility for members. This will be tabled for decision at the first NEC meeting after the summer period, and again, should be an easy and non-controversial change so that the numerous documents we are provided with for NEC meetings can be contained within a single email.

We then moved on to a discussion of motions submitted by members (reproduced as an appendix below), of which nine were received. The chair explained that advice had been received to rule motion 9 out of order, since it is not in NEC’s remit to rule on staffing matters, and even more seriously, contained what might be interpreted as a criticism of staff. We also received advice on motion 7, on the fighting fund, which ruled Resolves 3 of that motion out of order (since it is not up to NEC to change the budget agreed by Congress). The movers of the motion had been given this advice in advance and had accepted taking out Resolves 3.

The Chair presented a decision to take motion 7 first (after NEC had received advice from the Head of Finance (HoF)), followed by the rest of the motions in order from 1 onwards. However, UCU Commons member Vivek Thuppil successfully challenged this decision on grounds of accessibility as members of NEC should not be presented with last-minute changes to motion ordering – and it was in the Chair’s gift to order the motions as she wished earlier in the week before papers had been received. Therefore motions were taken in the order listed below. Motions 1–4 passed, and motion 5 was remitted to the Strategy and Finance Committee due to the cost of implementation.

Due to timing constraints, motions 7 and 8 were not heard, but we did hear from the Head of Finance about the importance of NEC making responsible decisions about the use of UCU’s Fighting Fund. The money on which our union runs comes from members’ subscriptions. We are duty bound not to discuss the particulars of the fighting fund, but we can report that some of the data reported back by the HoF was alarming to us. The fighting fund is going to be needed more than ever in the year ahead, and it is so important that access to it is fair and measured.

Motions

Motions 1–4 were passed:

NEC welcomes support for Congress Composite Motion 2. We agree that the four action points set out in the motion should be taken forward immediately:

Affiliate UCU with the ‘Arts & Minds’ campaign.

Develop regional strategies to expand the campaign within UCU.

Promote the campaign via the UCU website.

Send UCU representatives to the campaign meetings to influence strategic direction.

UCU to send a representative to the next campaign meeting is scheduled for 8 July (10 am-12 noon): a ‘hybrid’ meeting, taking place from NEU HQ.

NEC agrees to support and publicise:

Open letter hand-in: July 15 @ 11.00am, DfE HQ - see: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/open-letter-to-bridget-phillipson-mp-secretary-of-state-for-education

Parliamentary reception: July 15 @ 6.30-8.30 pm, Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, 1 Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2JR

Arts & Minds Conference: September 25 at Sadler’s Wells East - bringing together current coalition partners with representatives from the cultural institutions and industry bodies.

(137 words)

Proposed by Christina Paine seconded by Richard Wild

NEC notes:

1. The racist "Great British National Strike" protests that happened in 25+ places and coincided with the Saturday of UCU Congress

2. In Liverpool 400 racists and fascists turned up, outnumbering the 200 anti-racists.

3. In many places, fascists were outnumbered but not everywhere and the scale of their

mobilisation was due to gaining confidence from Reform UK's local election results.

4. Tommy Robinson was released from prison 27th May and immediately announced his national demonstration (13th September, London)

UCU resolves to:

1. Publicise the SUTR counter demo in the Friday emails, social media and UCU website.

2. Call on branches to mobilise and send delegations to the national counter demonstration.

(113 words)

Proposed by Regine Pilling

Amendment:

Additional NEC notes

5. UK government announced a national inquiry into grooming gangs with Baroness Casey stating that there is “clear over-representation” of Asian and Pakistani men.

6. Robinson and DFLA have called a demonstration 28th June “Football Lads Against Grooming”

Additional UCU resolves:

3. Publicise and call on branches to support the SUTR counter-demonstration, 28th June.

Proposed by Regine Pilling

NEC notes:

The Government is proposing a new “welfare reform” bill that will deepen sanctions on disabled people, the long-term sick, carers, and those unable to work, pushing thousands into poverty. This legislation is a political choice that undermines human rights and worsens structural inequality. Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) is organising a protest at Parliament on 30 June to demand the bill’s withdrawal.

NEC believes:

This bill is a direct attack on disabled people already facing systemic barriers. UCU must stand in solidarity with DPAC and the disabled community.

NEC resolves to:

Publicly support the DPAC demonstration with a national statement.

Encourage members and branches to attend the protest.

NEC senior officers to ask to speak.

Promote the demo via all UCU communications, including member briefings.

Work with trade unions, including the TUC Disabled Workers Committee, to build broad resistance.

(141 words)

Proposed by Donna Brown

NEC believes:

That equalities and the casualised work are integrally linked.

That UCU needs to take a more strategic approach: making the fight against casualisation central to all equalities work, and vice versa.

Casualisation undermines all workers’ rights and disproportionately affects women, migrants,

Black, disabled staff, and those with caring responsibilities.

UCU’s data repeatedly show that precarious contracts and equality are structurally linked yet the bargaining agendas rarely reflect this and unhelpfully separate the issues.

NEC calls the General Secretary to work with ACC to:

Undertake research and produce data to identify how many workers in HE, FE, ACE, and Prison Education work are on casualised contracts

More accurately map equalities groups on casualised contracts in HE, FE, ACE, and Prison Education who are intersectionally minoritised/marginalised staff

Develop a cross-sector strategy to organise to win for casualised workers across HE, FE, ACE, and prison education.

(145 words)

Proposed by Christina Paine and seconded by Richard Wild

Motion 5 was remitted to the Strategy and Finance Committee

NEC notes:

· That for 3 consecutive years, motions have been brought to Congress on Digital tools -

Motion 40 from 2023; Motion 3 from 2024; and Motion 29 of 2025.

NEC believes:

· That UCU already owns licenses for a widely-used and industry standard digital communications tool (Microsoft Teams) and there is no practical reason why this could not be rolled out to branches.

· That the lack of secure UCU-owned file-storage systems this presents a significant GDPR risk to our union and could potential legal issues at either individual or organisational level.

· That significant efficiencies will be created by the roll-out of a union-wide digital communications platform, leading to stronger organising within and between branches, and therefore a stronger union.

NEC resolves:

· To urgently roll out the use of the existing digital communications platform (Microsoft Teams) to all branches, regions and committees.

(147 words)

Proposed by Rhiannon Lockley seconded by Caroline Proctor

Motion 6 was withdrawn by the proposer:

NEC notes that:

Minutes from all equality standing committees should ordinarily be shared as papers to NEC

Minutes from the Black Members Standing Committee dated 19 January 2024 have not been circulated to NEC

NEC believes that:

NEC should see all minutes from all equality committees as a matter of democratic accountability

all decisions taken by equality standing committee should be understood and taken seriously in a democratic union

NEC calls on UCU to circulate the minutes from Black Members Standing Committee dated 19 January 2024 to NEC as a matter of urgency

(93 words )

Proposed by Cecila Wee

Motions 7–8 were not heard due to lack of time:

NEC notes:

• The devastating wave of job losses and course closures in post-16 education.

• Motion 28 was not heard at Congress due to time but is urgent

• Many HE branches are now taking or about to take action

• FESC decision to prepare for England-wide IA in autumn

• Restrictions have been placed on access to the fighting fund

NEC believes: • Serious industrial action is spreading and challenging both the employers as well as putting a spotlight on government failure to address the funding of post-16 education.

• Limits on strike days and new conditions on fighting fund access materially impact the ability of branches to resist.

NEC resolves:

1. That UK Officers be instructed to lift such limits and conditions.

2. That strike pay be determined on previous basis (from day three at rates of £50/70).

3. That percentage of UCU annual income going to the fighting fund be doubled.

(148 words)

Proposed by Grant Buttars seconded by Matt Perry

NEC notes the quantity of motions not heard due to time at Congress 2025 (31 compared to 9 in 2024) and agrees to call a Special Congress under Rule 16.11 before the end of the calendar year.

Business will be any motion not heard at Congress 2025 unless explicitly withdrawn by submitting branch, any amendments considered relevant due to the passage of time and any late motions considered urgent. This Congress will be held online. Any similar requisition from branches shall be seen as complementary to this with only one such Special Congress being called.

(95 words)

Proposed by Grant Buttars seconded by Vicky Blake

Motion 9 was ruled out of order:

9) Dispute resolution and NEC governance responsibilities

NEC notes:

1. Unite UCU’s Safe and Professional Workplace Dispute remains unresolved

2. Significant industrial action (May 2025)

3. Reports talks deteriorated (June 2025)

4. Congress 2024 policy mandated urgent dispute resolution

5. Rule 2.4.ii commits UCU to promoting equality through its own employment practices

6. Rule 2.11 empowers NEC to act on anything conducive to achieving the union’s aims and objects.

7. Rule 28.2 requires the General Secretary to act under NEC’s direction.

NEC believes:

1. Failure to resolve the dispute materially affects UCU’s reputation, governance, and ability to function as a union aligned with its own rules and values.

2. Ensuring lawful, fair, and non-discriminatory employment practices is a governance matter, not day-to-day management.

NEC resolves to convene an urgent special meeting under SO2.1 to receive:

1. An independent update on the current state of the dispute and efforts to resolve it

2. Proposals consistent with NEC’s governance responsibilities and Congress policy

(147 words)

Proposed by Vicky Blake, seconded by Grant Buttars