UCU Region approves motion to go to Congress 2017 28/01/17

The motion was unanimously passed at the UCU London regional meeting 28/01/17!

Freedom of movement motion

[This branch] notes that at the 2016 Congress the UCU committed itself to campaigning ‘for no change in the immigration status of EU residents if UK leaves EU.’ Given current threats to freedom of movement within the European Economic Area,

This UCU branch resolves to campaign with UNISON and other unions for:

1. Free movement of labour and against Points-Based Immigration Schemes
2. The right of EU/EEA citizens in the UK to stay
3. Full recognition of workers’ rights throughout EU withdrawal negotiations
4. Removal of international students from net migration targets

 This branch further resolves to:

1. Lobby Principals and VCs publicly to guarantee that for the indefinite future there will be no change in the employment or student status (including fee conditions) of EU/EEA staff and students
2. Affiliate to the Free Movement of Labour – Campaign to defend freedom of movement across Europe post-Brexit

UCU NEC votes to support Free Movement of Labour post Brexit

UCU NEC on 25^th November voted overwhelmingly for the motion devised by the Campaign for the Free Movement of Labour post Brexit to support and maintain the existing rights to free movement of labour of EU residents in the UK and EU member states. The motion was proposed by Carlo Morelli, a member of the campaign, NEC member and UCU Left member.

The denial of workers’ rights in the UK has become a major concern amongst UCU members in universities and colleges since the EU referendum. UCU has also altered its legal support scheme to include supporting the provision of immigration advice to members.

While some trade union leaders pander to the growing scapegoating of migrants and asylum seekers, the UCU rejects that immigration is a ‘problem’ ‘to be controlled’. Instead we argue that immigration is a positive to society and a strength to our trade unions. Immigrant workers have been a major source of growth in trade unionism and the fight for all our rights in the past and today.

An amendment to call on Vice Chancellors and Principals to join the UCU campaign rather than give guarantees that they would not implement any changes in employment or student status for EU workers and students was unfortunately passed by 24:23 votes. Our employers have the power to refuse to implement government changes and we should demand they do so. Allowing them to wriggle out of their responsibilities by claiming there is nothing they can do would be a mistake. Several UCU branches have already started to put pressures on local managers to ensure this. If more branches join them, we will have more chances of getting the complete version of the motion passed at the 2017 Congress (Motion).

It is therefore very important the decision of UCU is taken into branches and promoted widely. The motion called for UCU to publicise this decision and to encourage UCU branches to pass similar motions.

We now have to ensure that an active campaign is created in all our universities and colleges, and affiliation to the Freedom of Movement Campaign is brought to Congress in 2017. We should also link up with other migrant workers’ campaigns such as the ‘One Day Without Us’ which has called for a one-day strike on 20^th February (Facebook Event)

The freedom of movement motion was passed by a number of UCU branches across the country: Goldsmiths, King’s College London, University of Leeds, Liverpool University jointly by UCU, UNISON and UNITE, London Met coordinating meeting, London Region, London Retired Members, Middlesex, Northampton, Dundee, North West Region, and SOAS University of London.

 

MOTION PASSED BY SEVERAL UCU BRANCHES

Motion passed by King’s College London, Middlesex, Goldsmiths, Leeds, Northampton, London Region, North West Region, London Retired Members, London Met coordinating meeting, Liverpool University jointly by UCU, UNISON and UNITE, and SOAS University of London.

Freedom of movement motion

KCL UCU notes that existing UCU policy on migration and labour markets recognises the social, cultural and economic value of migration. At the 2016 Congress the UCU committed itself to ‘campaigning with other trade unions, NUS and community groups for the overthrow of restrictive legislation which affects international students and staff and no change in the immigration status of EU residents if UK leaves EU.’

KCL UCU further notes that one of the main rights of EU residents, the free movement of labour within the European Economic Area (EEA), is now seriously threatened by the EU referendum vote to leave.

KCL UCU believes that the end of freedom of movement will represent a significant worsening of the condition of present and future EEA staff in the UK. Any restrictions to our right to work without discrimination based on nationality, in fact, will put increasing competitive pressure on EEA staff, and thus affect staff as a whole and weaken our union. This will have a detrimental effect on the educational experience and academic life, which are enriched by the contribution made by international staff and students.

KCL UCU therefore condemns in the strongest possible terms Home Secretary Amber Rudd’s proposals to restrict the entry of international students to ‘top’ universities and to introduce labour market tests aimed at reducing the numbers of international staff.

 

KCL UCU resolves urgently to campaign for:

1. Free movement of labour and against Points-Based Immigration Schemes
2. An up-front guarantee for the right of EU/EEA citizens in the UK to stay
3. Full recognition of workers’ rights throughout EU withdrawal negotiations
4. Immediate removal of international students from net migration targets and against upper limits on the numbers of international students

 

KCL UCU further resolves to

1. Lobby our Principal to commit publicly to:

• Guarantee that, for the indefinite future, there will be no change in the employment or student status of any current EU/EEA Member State and Candidate Country staff and students arising from any change introduced as a consequence of the Brexit negotiations
• Guarantee that, for the indefinite future, universities will not implement any changes in the academic qualification, residential or fee conditions concerning students applying from EU member states and Norway or Switzerland, whatever the results of the Brexit negotiations
• Demand that the UK government maintain existing rights of the free movement of labour across all 28 current EU Member States.

2. Meet with UNISON and other trade unions within the universities to discuss the most effective ways of jointly campaigning for the right to remain for all EU workers and students living in the UK and to maintain freedom of movement of labour across the current 28 EU Member States
3. Promote planned solidarity activities with non-EU colleagues to demand improvement of immigration support for all non-UK staff

 

KCL UCU also resolves to

• Publicise the fact that this motion has been passed and encourage other UCU branches to do likewise
• Submit this motion, when passed, to the UCU National Executive Committee
• Liaise with other branches regarding submitting a version of this motion to UCU Congress 2017
• Affiliate to the Free Movement of Labour: Campaign to defend freedom of movement across Europe, post-Brexit

 

22 October Public Meeting to defend freedom of movement across Europe, post-Brexit

Public Organising meeting

Saturday 22 October 1:30pm

UCL, Darwin Building B40 LT – Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT  | Map

Speakers include: Liz Lawrence (former President of UCU), Sandy Nicoll (SOAS UNISON Branch Secretary), Rafael Sanchis (Chair of Hotel Workers Branch of Unite), Simba Lkaderi (NUS President Middlesex Students Union), Joe Cox (NUS Vice President of Middlesex Students Union)

The Tory Government is intensifying its attacks on international students, EU/EEA workers, immigrants and refugees. Over the last few days it proposed both to cut international student numbers to meet immigration targets and to force companies to disclose how many foreign workers they employ. On top of this, it decided to ban non-UK academics in advising government in debates over Brexit.

Some 3 million EU/EEA citizens who work and live in the UK are now being treated as an undesired burden by a party that wants to gamble with their future and that of millions of British people living elsewhere in Europe. The latest government’s announcements will do nothing but fuel racism, xenophobia, insecurity and racist hate crimes.

But neither international students nor immigrant workers are responsible for the state of the UK economy, and victimizing them will not benefit British workers. Nor will the £1.9m wall Theresa May is building in Calais. The wall will make the journeys of immigrants and refugees more dangerous and render them more vulnerable and exploitable.

And if the existing free movement of labour within the EEA were ended, the condition of EEA workers in the UK would worsen. Any restrictions on freedom of movement, and our right to work without discrimination based on nationality, will put increasing competitive pressure on EEA workers. This will affect all workers and weaken everybody’s rights.

We launched the Campaign to defend freedom of movement across Europe, post-Brexit in the University and College Union. But we seek to involve workers from other unions to build a wider campaign for

• freedom of movement and opposition to points-based immigration schemes
• up-front guarantee for existing EU/EEA citizens in the UK to stay
• immediate removal of international students from net migration targets
• full recognition of workers’ rights throughout EU withdrawal negotiations

Get in contact, get involved https://freemovementlabour.wordpress.com

Map

Responding to Amber Rudd: Free Movement of Labour

Posted by uculondonmet 07/10/16

Dear colleagues,

At tonight’s meeting (06.10.2016) of the London Met UCU Coordinating Committee we unanimously agreed to put the following motion (based on one recently passed by Goldsmith University UCU, and to be debated at other universities) to our next all member branch meetings scheduled for the last week of October (further details to follow).

London Metropolitan UCU Coordinating Committee

________________________________________

FREE MOVEMENT OF LABOUR IN HIGHER EDUCATION

London Met UCU condemns in the strongest possible terms the proposal by home secretary Amber Rudd to restrict the entry of international students to ‘top’ universities and to introduce labour market tests aimed at reducing the numbers of international staff.

UK universities depend on international students and staff not just in economic terms but in their very mission: to serve as spaces that are open to all people regardless of nationality and background. As such, the home secretary’s proposals are both nonsensical and racist.

The linking of student immigration rules to the government’s determination to further stratify higher education is especially pernicious. It is designed to maximise competition between HE providers and to blame ‘foreigners’ for the underinvestment and cuts for which they are not responsible.

These proposals come in the light of the recent vote to leave the EU that has endangered the existing free movement of labour within the European Economic Area (EEA). If this is ended, EEA staff will be drawn under the Points-Based Immigration Scheme, meaning that they will be subject to the same continual visa restrictions, employer-sponsorship arrangements, etc., that our international colleagues face. Similar barriers will likely be placed on UK nationals living in or moving to the EEA.

London Met UCU believes that ending freedom of movement of labour would represent a significant worsening of the conditions of present and future EEA staff in the UK. Any restrictions on freedom of movement of labour, and our right to work without discrimination based on nationality, will put increasing competitive pressure on EEA staff, and thus affect staff as a whole and weaken our union.

London Met UCU resolves urgently to campaign for the following:

– No upper limits on the numbers of international students who wish to come to the UK and to study at universities of their choice

– the immediate removal of international students from net migration targets

– the free movement of labour and opposition to the Points-Based Immigration Scheme

– an up-front guarantee for existing EU/EEA citizens in the UK to stay here

– protection for EU research funding and EU students

– full recognition of workers’ rights throughout EU withdrawal negotiations

London Met UCU further resolves

– to publicise the fact that this motion has been passed and encourage other UCU branches to do likewise

– to submit this motion, when passed, to the NEC of the UCU

-to liaise with other branches regarding submitting a version of this motion to UCU Congress 2017

_______________________________________

London Met UCU will also have delegates attending this weekend’s important Stand Up to Racism  (SUTR) Conference where UCU General Secretary, Sally Hunt will be speaking.

This is a major national conference bringing together speakers, organisations and activists from anti-racist campaigns across Europe. The conference will examine the current struggle against racism in Britain and beyond such as the fight against Islamophobia and antisemitism, defending civil liberties and migrants rights and building solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in the US.

The humanitarian crisis in Europe will also be discussed with the intention of developing an action plan for activists and organisations who want to campaign for more to be done for refugees.

We encourage as many of our members to join us and attend this important conference at this critical time for all staff and students.

Please register via: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/confronting-the-rise-in-racism-stand-up-to-racism-national-conference-2016-tickets-26640628838

Goldsmiths supports motion

 

The following motion was passed unanimously at the AGM of Goldsmiths UCU earlier today. Thanks to the Free Movement of Labour Campaign for supplying the majority of the text. We’re hoping that many others pass similar motions and organise actions.

Goldsmiths UCU Branch, 06/10/16

FREE MOVEMENT OF LABOUR IN HIGHER EDUCATION

 

Goldsmiths UCU wishes to condemn in the strongest possible terms the proposal by home secretary Amber Rudd to restrict the entry of international students to ‘top’ universities and to introduce labour market tests aimed at reducing the numbers of international staff.

 

UK universities depend on international students and staff not just in economic terms but in their very mission: to serve as spaces that are open to all people regardless of nationality and background. As such, the home secretary’s proposals are both nonsensical and racist.

 

The linking of student immigration rules to the government’s determination to further stratify higher education is especially pernicious. It is designed to maximise competition between HE providers and to blame ‘foreigners’ for the underinvestment and cuts for which they are not responsible.

 

These proposals come in the light of the recent vote to leave the EU that has endangered the existing free movement of labour within the European Economic Area (EEA). If this is ended, EEA staff will be drawn under the Points-Based Immigration Scheme, meaning that they will be subject to the same continual visa restrictions, employer-sponsorship arrangements, etc., that our international colleagues face. Similar barriers will likely be placed on UK nationals living in or moving to the EEA.

 

Goldsmiths UCU believes that ending freedom of movement of labour would represent a significant worsening of the conditions of present and future EEA staff in the UK. Any restrictions on freedom of movement of labour, and our right to work without discrimination based on nationality, will put increasing competitive pressure on EEA staff, and thus affect staff as a whole and weaken our union.

 

Goldsmiths UCU resolves urgently to campaign for the following:

• No upper limits on the numbers of international students who wish to come to the UK and to study at universities of their choice
• the immediate removal of international students from net migration targets
• the free movement of labour and opposition to the Points-Based Immigration Scheme
• an up-front guarantee for existing EU/EEA citizens in the UK to stay here
• protection for EU research funding and EU students
• full recognition of workers’ rights throughout EU withdrawal negotiations

 

The branch further resolves

• to publicise the fact that this motion has been passed and encourage other UCU branches to do likewise
• to submit this motion, when passed, to the NEC of the UCU
• to liaise with other branches regarding submitting a version of this motion to UCU Congress 2017

 

UCU Left conference 24th September 2016

Lucia Pradella and Phoebe Moore attended the UCU Left conference on 24/09/16 to talk about the Free Movement of Labour campaign. 

Brexit creates challenges both for the British ruling class and for the working class.
Most obviously, the existing free movement of labour within the European Economic Area (EEA) is now seriously threatened; immigration restrictions are at the centre of the Brexit agenda.

Just yesterday Schauble mocked Boris Johnson for defining a complete baloney the link between Britain’s access to the single market and eu free movement arrangements.

This is clearly a very fluid moment, and mobilisation from below is essential for having an impact on union leaders and the Brexit debate.

But both pro-remain Labour MPs like Rachel Reeves and also union leaders like Len McKluskey interpreted the Brexit vote as an anti-immigration vote, and embraced the idea of immigration restrictions from the EU.

In the UCU, the existing policy on migration recognises the social economic and cultural value of migration and opposes all forms of racism and the Points-Based Immigration Scheme.

This policy, however, does not explicitly refer to a commitment to defending the free movement of labour.

We believe however that this should be a priority for us in the ucu.

Why a priority? Because any restrictions on freedom of movement, and our right to work without discrimination based on nationality, will put increasing competitive pressure on EEA staff.

This will worsen the conditions of workers from the EU – up to the point that many Principals are now scared about losing their EU staff.

But the worsening condition of a significant component of HE staff would increase competitive pressure on staff as a whole, and weaken our union.

It will also have a detrimental effect on the educational experience and academic life in schools and campuses.

The paradox is that many employers have been quite active in supporting EU staff and students, while the UCU has been relatively slow and has not explicitly defended the current free movement arrangements.

But the TUC signed a joint statement with the Eu TUC defending freedom of movement for labour in a post-Brexit contest.

Our campaign for freedom of movement therefore aims to organise a mobilisation from below to defend existing free movement arrangements, both within and without the EEA.
We believe that there is a huge mobilisation potential within the unions and that new workers could join this campaign.

Our main priorities are:

+ campaigning for free movement of labour post-Brexit and for an up-front guarantee for existing EU/EEA citizens in the UK to stay
+ organising active solidarity with EU and non-EU colleagues to demand improvement of immigration support for all non-UK staff
+ building this active solidarity is crucial to opposing the idea that worsening working conditions depend on immigration – and not on the crisis, neoliberalism, austerity and immigration restrictions themselves

This is thus crucial for opposing increasing racism and hate crimes against immigrants and ethnic minority workers.

At local level – raise demands on Vice Chancellors  to commit publicly to:

+ permanently guarantee that there will be no change in the employment or student status of any current EU/EEA Member State and Candidate Country staff and students arising from Brexit negotiations

+ permanently guarantee that this university/college will not implement any changes in the academic qualification, residential or fee conditions concerning students applying from EU member states and Norway or Switzerland

+ campaign as a major European country to maintain free movement of labour and people across all 28 current EU Member States.

+ meet with the UCU, UNISON and other trade unions within the university/college to discuss the most effective ways of jointly campaigning for the right to remain for all EU workers and students living in the UK and to maintain Freedom of Movement of Labour across the current 28 EU Member States

+ to submit this motion, when passed, to the National Executive Committee of UCU
to liaise with other branches regarding submitting a version of this motion to UCU Congress 2017

We will have an informal meeting at the Stand up to Racism conference on the 8th of October and an open organising meeting on the 22nd of October at UCL. We will also be participating in National NUS Demo on 19 of November.

It is essential that we bring our opposition to fee increases for EU students within broader struggle against university fees. This shows that we are not just defending EU students, we are against all fee increases. If we get the university commitment not to increasing fees in one or two universities then we can strengthen the movement as a whole.

Likewise, defending current free movement arrangements within the EU is not just a EU issue. The worsening of migration arrangements within the Eu would likely trigger further worsening also for non-Eu workers. Plus, many cleaners from Latin America have used their European citizenship to enter the UK. So this is not an issue that involves only European workers – it is therefore essential that we try to link with other immigrant workers in the UK and other unions.

Written by Lucia Pradella.

Reply to open letter from Matt Waddup

UCU RESPONSE TO OUR OPEN LETTER ON FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT

This is the email we received on 01/08/16 from Matt Waddup. Matt is the UCU official with responsibility for our response to BREXIT as well as overall education policy.

UCU is taking members’ concerns very seriously on this issue.

Just for background, we make policy on behalf of 110,000 members organised into some 650 branches and we do so on the basis of the policies democratically agreed by our Congress and in its absence our elected National Executive Committee.  As you also say, the union has established policy in this area and our elected Campaigning and Education Policy Committees will be putting this work into effect in the Autumn. The union is already taking concrete steps to defend members, and particularly EU nationals as I have set out. As for what next: we will continue to lobby government on members’ behalf; will make the rights of international staff and students key to our campaigning in the Autumn and – alongside our colleagues in the student movement – make the defence of these rights a central part of our joint national demonstration in November.

The union’s key demands of government are set out in Sally’s article in the Times Higher magazine in July and which I reprint below:

1. First, we need a commitment that those EU nationals who are here now can stay. Their economic contribution is enormous and any other message – such as the idea that they could be used as bargaining chips in the Brexit negotiations – will damage the UK’s reputation.
2.  Second, we must quickly establish the potential loss of research, social fund and fee income arising from Brexit and make sure our universities have sufficient public funding to continue to compete with the world’s best.
3. Third, we need the government to drop its now irrelevant higher education bill and instead call an immediate nonpartisan inquiry into how we can ensure that our colleges and universities remain open to staff and students from around the world.
4. Fourth, we need politicians and the press to recognise their responsibilities. Blaming immigration is an old game of course, but in a climate where almost all politicians seem to be frightened of outlining its benefits, we risk damaging our society beyond repair.

The union has been lobbying hard on this and you may have heard many politicians making these four arguments during the second reading of the HE Bill at Westminster. The third point – how our universities and colleges remain open to staff and students from around the world – is a critical one for the future of FHE and indeed for the UK. We will continue this work throughout the summer.

If you have not done so already it would be great if you and colleagues would write to your MP about this issue, including the need to remain open to international staff and students, using a version of the UCU template letter which you can find here:

https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/8378/Higher-Education-and-Research-Bill-2016

In summary, the union agrees with you about the importance of this issue and we are putting energy and resources into it.

Best

Matt

We received an earlier response from Matt on 22/07/16 with a detailed list of some of the actions the UCU are already taking:

We set out four key public demands on 13 July with regard to the post-BREXIT situation which have since been widely quoted.  When we sent this article out to members it was viewed 17,000 times and we have received many messages from EU members welcoming the demands.  The first of the four public demands was “a commitment that those EU nationals who are here now can stay. Their economic contribution is enormous and any other message – such as the idea that they could be used as bargaining chips in the Brexit negotiations – will damage the UK’s reputation.”

This article originally appeared in the Times Higher magazine but can now be found here .https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/8383/Four-things-that-must-happen-to-protect-higher-education-after-Brexit.

On 14 July, we wrote to the Guardian to demand that the new prime minister halt the HE and Research Bill in order to focus the government on the problems created for HE in particular by BREXIT. The letter concluded: “I hope the government will put the bill to one side. We need a non-partisan inquiry looking at how we can safeguard the future of our brilliant universities and colleges, and ensure that staff and students from around the world continue to be welcome here.”

You can view the letter here http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/14/fine-words-from-the-new-tory-pm-but-can-and-will-she-deliver

We have agreed a a joint national demonstration with our colleagues in NUS for November 2016. Both organisations have agreed that a key theme of the demonstration should be standing up for the rights of EU staff and students post BREXIT.

On 15th July the union wrote to the new secretary of state Justine Greening to again set out the dangers for staff and students arising from BREXIT and calling for an inquiry into how we protect HE.

Between the result of the referendum and today, 22nd July, the union has issued five press statements on BREXIT and its impact on staff and students.

Over the same period the union has sent three direct messages to members on the issue of BREXIT. A fourth is being sent today.  As I say above the response from most members to our position on behalf of EU nationals has been very positive though some clearly disagree.

Free movement motion for UCU Branches

We ask UCU Branches to consider the following motion and to indicate whether they would like to sign it or have further discussion points they’d like to bring. We will take this to the next UCU Congress. Contact Lucia Pradella (UCU KCL), Phoebe Moore (UCU rep MDX), Sean Wallis (UCU NEC) and Carlo Morelli (UCU NEC) for further information.

[This UCU branch] notes that existing UCU policy on migration and labour markets recognises the social, cultural and economic value of migration and opposes all forms of racism and the Points-Based Immigration Scheme. This policy, however, does not explicitly refer to a commitment to defend the free movement of labour, including for all workers in higher education.

[This UCU branch] further notes that the existing free movement of labour within the European Economic Area (EEA) is threatened by the EU referendum vote to leave. If this is ended, EEA staff will be drawn under the Points-Based Immigration Scheme, meaning that they will be subject to the same continual visa restrictions, employer-sponsorship arrangements, etc., that our international colleagues face. Similar barriers will likely be placed on UK nationals living in or moving to the EEA.

[This UCU branch] believes that the end of freedom of movement of labour would represent a significant worsening of the condition of present and future EEA staff in the UK. Any restrictions on freedom of movement of labour, and our right to work without discrimination based on nationality, will put increasing competitive pressure on EEA staff, and thus affect staff as a whole and weaken our union.

[This UCU branch] therefore agrees that, while continuing to campaign against the Points-Based Immigration Scheme, we must defend existing free movement arrangements, both within and without the EEA.

[This UCU branch] resolves urgently to campaign for the following:

• the free movement of labour and opposition to the Points-Based Immigration Scheme
• an up-front guarantee for existing EU/EEA citizens in the UK to stay
• protection for EU research funding and EU students
• full recognition of workers’ rights throughout EU withdrawal negotiations

[This UCU branch] further resolves

• to publicise the fact that this motion has been passed and encourage other UCU branches to do likewise
• to submit this motion, when passed, to the National Executive Committee of UCU
• to liaise with other branches regarding submitting a version of this motion to UCU Congress 2017

UCU must respond

Our letter to Times Higher Education was published 14 July 2016

The University and College Union represents a diverse body of workers, and UK academics held a range of views on the recent European Union referendum. Since the result was announced, many academics have become increasingly worried that our union, the UCU, has yet properly to respond to the concerns of academic staff from the EU who are working in the UK. EU staff make up 15 per cent of the academic workforce in the UK. After the referendum, their legal status is uncertain and the free movement of labour is seriously threatened.

The House of Commons voted on 6 July to guarantee the right to remain to EU citizens currently living in the UK, but this vote is non-binding. There is therefore continuing uncertainty on the legal status of more than 3 million EU citizens.

But there is even greater uncertainty about the future prospects of freedom of movement. Even before the referendum, Unite general secretary Len McCluskey advocated a retreat from the principle of freedom of movement within the EU. After the referendum, several trade union leaders and shadow chancellor John McDonnell started questioning whether this principle would apply in future. It is thus quite worrying that the UCU has not taken a position in support of freedom of movement.

The end of freedom of movement would represent a significant worsening of the condition of present and future EU staff in the UK. Any restrictions on freedom of movement, and our right to work without discrimination based on nationality, will put increasing competitive pressure on EU academic staff and thus affect staff as a whole, and weaken our union.

A firm commitment on the UCU’s part to the continuing right of free movement of EU workers would contribute to undermining the racist rhetoric that blames immigrants for austerity and worsening pay and working conditions. It would thus help oppose the increase in racism – with reports of race hate crimes now peaking at five times pre-referendum levels.

We hope that union members in other sectors will take up our cause, thus contributing to a broader campaign against racism and immigration restrictions not only for EU citizens but also for all people.

Lucia Pradella, UCU member, King’s College London
Phoebe Moore, UCU representative, Middlesex University