Aberystwyth UCU branch passed the following motion at its AGM on 18th June 2026. Along with many other branches we call on our members to support a global academic boycott of Sheffield University over the actions taken against its staff.

 

Motion reads:

Motion 2: Sheffield University Global Academic Boycott

Context

Industrial action involves a breach of contract that carries statutory protection (under TULRCA 1992) when workers withhold their labour. While the employer can legally withhold pay for days/labour not worked, they cannot force employees to work for free when they resume their duties. This is, in effect, what Sheffield University are doing to colleagues who took industrial action at the end of 2025, and again in May 2026.

Issue

In a sector where unreasonable workload is already the totemic issue, Aberystwyth UCU are appalled that Sheffield University has chosen to use the contentious and aggressive action of penalising ‘partial performance’ to deduct additional pay from members unless staff incorporate additional workload without pay. This action sets a dangerous precedent, weaponising unmanagable workloads as punitive measures directed against staff already fighting a sector-wide workload crisis.

Action

As a consequence, Aberystwyth UCU endorses the censuring of Sheffield University via a global academic boycott called for by UCU.

We call on branch members to observe the boycott guidelines by refusing to:

• Speak at or organise academic or other conferences at the university,

• Give lectures at the university,

• Accept positions as visiting professors or researchers at the university, and

• Accept new contracts as external examiners for taught courses at the university.