Thank you Anna. Unfortunately the motion fell off the agenda due to time. If we need to bring it back next year, we will. The issue isn't going anywhere and neither are survivors in UCU.

I used to live 2 mins from RAMM and considered it my personal collection. Loved that place. Glad to see wonderful things still happening

It's almost like people are making excuses for things they don't want to do for other reasons isn't it

thank you my love. and thank you for your support in this work, always. I know it matters to us both (and is partly how we became friends!) Almost can't believe we're still having the same arguments but I'm really hoping delegates will stand with survivors, and evidence, here.

Honestly, I feel sick at having to stand up at Congress for what must be the 6th year in a row to speak about attitudes to GBV in our union. As a survivor, it's wearing and the trauma symptoms are strong this week in the run-up. Please stand with survivors and support this motion this week.

I'll end with two practical steps:
Find out who your congress delegates are and urge them to support HE38 - and ask them how they voted when they get back.
Pass the @the1752group.bsky.social model motion in your own branch.

"But what if my wife wants to study a degree at my institution?"

On these edge cases: no one is asking anyone to get a divorce! This is about staff *entering into* new relationships with students.

1752group.com/ucu/

The pack has a model branch motion, along with a range of interesting research and resources that members can use to learn more about why this matters.

Several UCU branches have passed motions calling for bans on staff-student intimate relationships already. I was pleased to work with @the1752group.bsky.social on this resource pack for @ucu.org.uk branches, setting out the research and the need for a strong UCU stance, with some practical steps.

In short, these issues aren't going anywhere. From a purely practical point of view we need to decide where we stand, and I hope it's with survivors.

In Wales, Medr is gathering information on tackling domestic abuse and sexual violence in higher education:

www.medr.cymru/en/News/medr...

For institutions in England, OfS is introducing a regulatory duty on this issue from August - institutions will be expected to demonstrate clear steps to protect students. UCU needs a clear stance in the inevitable negotiations with employers.
1752group.com/office-for-s...

HEC passed a motion last year to be discussed at the HESC which was sadly cancelled due to the failure of UCU management to resolve the dispute with their own staff around workplace racism and toxicity. So, we go again this year.

UCU claims to challenge 'all forms of sexual violence'. Let's start with action rather than platitudes. and take a strong position on this. Clear rules protect staff and students alike.

When the union fails to stand against this kind of abuse, it sends a message to survivors (who are often members) that it's not just their abuser against them, nor their institution, but their whole *trade union*.

It's all there, in union branding, in the 2021 UCU Sexual Violence Task Group report: www.ucu.org.uk/article/1081...