In a handy PDF download!

Outline: What The Occupation seeks.

Demands for the Government, University and Student Union:

• That neither students nor staff be persecuted for their political convictions or activity thereby.

We call on the Government, the following:

• First and foremost: to settle any ongoing disputes with public sector unions by making the concessions that the workers want.
• To take full responsibility for all disruption that may be caused by public sector industrial action on November 30th.
• To introduce universal, life-long access to education which shall be free at the point of use.
• To withdraw and oppose the higher education White Paper.
• For Liberal Democrat MPs to stand by their election pledges for free education.
• To oppose the abolition and restructuring of PGCE bursaries.
• To reintroduce the Education Maintenance Allowance as it was prior to its abolition.

We call on UWE Vice-Chancellor Steven West, to pledge the following:

• That UWE reverse its lecture workload model changes and settle any ongoing disputes with UCU, or other staff unions, by taking part in the negotiations and making the concessions that the union(s) wants.
• To publicly condemn the higher education White Paper, call for it to be withdrawn and condemn the increasing marketisation of education.
• To guarantee no course closures.
• To reinstate languages courses.
• To guarantee no job cuts with no adverse changes to academic and non-academic staff terms and conditions.
• To recognise an atmosphere of fear amongst staff in tandem with “voluntary redundancies” constitutes job cuts.
• To provide bursaries for all international, home and EU students who need them - not fee waivers.
• To guarantee no cuts to library, student support, and learning resources which includes disability services.
• To guarantee no cuts to access schemes or foundation courses.
• No reprimands for staff who refuse to cross picket lines.
• No reprimands for students who refuse to cross picket lines or are involved in the occupation. Not only ensures that no aggression, interference or disturbance will take place against the occupation, but also takes measures to facilitate our work when appropriate.
• Support for the UCU decision against making lecturers responsible for policing foreign student visas.
• To have representation in the governors’ forum meeting, of at least one person chosen by the occupation.
• Demand Steven West takes full responsibility for disruption caused by past industrial action in the ongoing dispute between UWE and UCU and holds the government responsible for any disruption caused by the strike on November 30th.
• Responds to all (individual and collective) requests for information and provide access to all documents related to the management of our university.

We leave an open invitation for Steven West, V-C, to come and meet with the occupation.


We call on the S.U., to pledge the following:

• Total pro-active support for the November 30th Strike, respective of the mandate through AGM, in media (such as the SU website) and on campuses.
• To respect the mandate from last, and this, years’ AGM to visually support the strikes and occupation with banners, flags, etc.
• To maintain a higher degree of independence from non-elected and non-student officials and staff within the university and student union. (See Paddy’s AGM motion, which was blocked from the floor)
• To become more transparent and open to the student body.
• To advertise and attend a general assembly in order that students are able to voice their concerns with the S.U.
• To re-instate Matt Hollinshead as Chair of Meetings and allow his access to SU spaces, after his unfair, and politically motivated suspension.
• To actively encourage UWESU employees to join trade unions and not to discriminate against trade union members.
• To respond to these demands within 24 hours.