The Edinburgh branch of the University and College Union (UCU) has voted to back the Fossil Free Careers campaign, making it the first branch in the UK to endorse the campaign. Fossil Free Careers, a campaign coordinated by the charity People & Planet, demands an end to extractive industry recruitment on campus. It was endorsed by UCU National Congress earlier this year, and has already been backed by Edinburgh University Students’ Association.
Students and staff at Edinburgh are now jointly calling on Edinburgh Careers Service to end all ties with the oil, gas and mining industries. Campaigners highlight that by allowing extractive industries to recruit students on campus, the University of Edinburgh is actively assisting these industries to continue operations. They are demanding that the Careers Service puts in place an Ethical Careers Policy that excludes the industry from recruiting on campus.
Earlier this year, Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) was the first in Scotland to pass a motion boycotting oil, gas and mining recruitment, in line with the Fossil Free Careers campaign. Since then, more student unions have come forward in support of the campaign, it has been officially endorsed by the National Union of Students (NUS), and secured its first victory at Birkbeck, University of London.
Now with the backing of the Edinburgh UCU branch, the campaign at Edinburgh turns to Edinburgh’s Careers Service to commit to ending its ties with the oil, gas and mining industries.
Ery McPartland, student and member of Edinburgh People & Planet said:
'It means so much to us to have the backing of the UCU branch. We know that the university works best when staff and students stand in solidarity. With the passing of supportive motions from both EUSA and the UCU we see once again that staff and students are working towards the same ends - and whether it's workers rights or climate justice we will continue to work together.'
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Notes to Editor
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UCU Edinburgh Fossil Free Careers Motion https://www.ucuedinburgh.org.uk/motions-policy
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The Fossil Free Careers campaign: https://peopleandplanet.org/fossil-free-careers
- Endorsements from the NUS, UCU, and Student Unions, see: https://peopleandplanet.org/fossil-free-careers/victories