Branch Motions

Our Branch passed the following motions in 2025:

March

Creating a Neuroinclusive University for Staff and Students

The branch notes that:

  • An estimated one in seven people in the UK are neurodivergent.
  • 20% of neurodivergent employees have experienced harassment or discrimination at work, and only 37% feel their organisation offers meaningful support to neurodivergent individuals.
  • Neurodivergent staff report that Waterside is not neuroinclusive.

The branch believes that:

  • Waterside may be unsuitable for many neurodivergent staff and students.
  • The true number of neurodivergent staff may be higher than reported to HR.
  • UON may not be fulfilling its duty of care or providing necessary reasonable adjustments.

This branch resolves to: 

  • Design and deliver a survey to identify the number of neurodivergent staff and their opinions.
  • Recommend UON create a policy based on CIPD’s ‘Seven guiding principles for creating a neuroinclusive workplace’.
  • Recommend UON seek the National Autistic Society’s ‘Autism Friendly Employer Award’ and the ‘Autism Inclusion Award’ for students.

April

UON UCU Addressing the misogyny behind increased attacks on women and girls

The Branch notes:

  • The recent Netflix mini-series ‘Adolescence’ sheds light on the widespread misogyny and ‘manosphere’ targeting young males via social media and online platforms.
  • Sugiura (2024) emphasises the need to address the misogyny that fuels violence against women.
  • Extreme misogyny will be treated as a form of extremism under new government plans

The Branch believes:

  • Misogynistic language, anger, along with verbal and physical assaults, are not being adequately reported and addressed, in line with the Prevent strategy
  • There is insufficient discussion on recognizing verbal and physical assaults against women as hate crimes.

The Branch resolves:

  • Create a comprehensive campaign about all forms of misogyny.
  • Develop a survey assessing the prevalence of misogyny at the university.
  • Collaborate with the University to develop an effective policy and system for reporting, tracking, and addressing misogynistic behaviours and incidents.

UON UCU Solidarity with the HEI Sector: Offering Advice and Guidance to UCU Branches Facing Redundancy Threats

The Branch notes:

  • The University of Northampton has recently completed Phase 2 of Project RISE.
  • Efforts made by UON UCU have resulted in redundancies being mitigated.
  • Numerous universities across the UK have recently announced large-scale organisational restructures, placing many staff at risk of redundancy.

The Branch believes:

  • UON UCU has gained significant experience in challenging redundancies during Phase 2 of Project RISE.
  • It is well-placed to provide advice and guidance to other UCU branches facing redundancy threats.

The Branch resolves:

  • To contact all UCU branches in solidarity, offering advice and guidance on challenging redundancies.
  • To work with the UCU East Midlands Regional Office to actively support local branches in defending members against the threat of redundancy.

July

Introduction of local subscription fee

UON UCU notes:

  1. UON UCU does not receive any funding from the national subscription fee members pay
  2. The majority of UCU branches collect a local subscription fee which can be used to build a hardship fund and cover other expenses associated with developing the branch
  3. UON UCU developing a hardship fund may help members support industrial action, in the event it was to occur in the future.
  4. UCU are arguing branches will increasingly need to rely on local hardship funds

UON UCU resolves:

  1. To introduce a local subscription fee which is added to the current national subscription fee members pay (appendix A)
  2. To review the subscription fee at the next annual general meeting
  3. To remind members to claim tax relief on their total UCU subscription fee
  4. To use collected local subscription fees to build a hardship fund and pay for recruitment, organising and campaigning as agreed by the UON UCU Executive Committee

Appendix A

Employment income band Including political fund (per month) Excluding political fund (per month) UON UCU local rate (per month)
£60,000 & above £30.48 £30.17 £3.00
£40,000 – £59,999 £26.32 £26.05 £2.00
£30,000 – £39,999 £22.60 £22.26 £1.00
£22,000 – £29,999 £17.50 £17.32 0
£15,000 – £21,999 £10.48 £10.38 0
£5,000 – £14,999 £4.45 £4.50 0
Below £5000 £1.00 £0.99 0

Current national subscription rates and proposed local subscription rates. National subscription rates shown are the rates up until the 31st August 2025. Proposed local subscription rates will not commence until September 2025.