For union branches

Sample motion for local UCU branches

This branch notes:

  • A critical element of the campaign to restore our USS benefits, worth on average £8000 to every USS member between 2022 to 2024, is the legal case brought by members Neil Davies and Ewan McGaughey. 
  • They are currently fundraising £350k to take their case to the Court of Appeal. Previous fundraising rounds have been generously supported by UCU branches up and down the country, including our own.
  • These branch donations have substantially alleviated the financial burden on individual members and allowed the case to proceed to this stage.
  • Since the High Court hearing, the USS CEO has announced his resignation; USS is now reporting a surplus and has published more information about its climate change plans. 

This branch believes that

  • Branches have previously donated to this effort, so there is nothing unusual about the present proposal.
  • There is a need for a second instalment based on the stage reached by the court case.
  • Branches have played no role in the development of the case, which is being handled by Neil and Ewan.
  • Making a fresh contribution will allow their action to proceed.
  • It is essential to legally test the principle that the managers of a pension scheme such as USS must fulfil their responsibilities.

This branch resolves:

  • To provide £XXXX to support the legal case as several other branches have done for the most recent round of funding;
  • To circulate the crowd funder to members in the branch; 
  • To call on the national officers to enact the lawful decisions of our delegates at Conference and the NEC.