The Committee for the Defence of the Iranian People’s Rights (CODIR) attended the National Congress of the University and College Union (UCU) for the fourth year running, in the beautiful spa town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire from 26 – 29 May 2026.

UCU Congress was a vibrant and well attended event, and included a number of timely and topical fringe meetings as well as the main business of the union’s members.

The UCU celebrated the tenth anniversary of its foundation and has long been a supporter of CODIR’s activities and work – as were its two predecessor unions prior to their amalgamation in June 2006; the Association of University Teachers (AUT) and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE).

University lecturers and staff in higher education institutions across Britain have shown significant support for CODIR ever since we were founded back in 1981. 

Suffice to say, there was a lot of interest and positivity shown towards CODIR at our exhibition stand. We were warmly received, and we felt at home and among friends during UCU Congress.

CODIR joined two of the fringe meetings in particular: Together Alliance: Countering the rise of the far right, coming on the back of the UCU’s frontline participation in one of the largest and most significant demonstrations against the far right and its ascendancy in Britain on Saturday 28 March; and Wages not Weapons!, based on the major campaign of the same name formed last year, which brought together over 10 major trade unions and successfully overturned the Trade Union Congress previous policy of support for increased UK government military spending.

On the panel of the latter fringe, in his capacity as a spokesperson for and long-standing member of the steering committee of the Stop the War Coalition (StWC), CODIR’s very own President, Alex Gordon addressed the packed meeting.

Mr. Gordon pressed home the demand for the British government to oppose the illegal war and campaign of aggression being waged against Iran by the United States and Israel. As well as brutal war crimes against the people of Iran, the US/Israeli attacks constitute grave and flagrant violations of the UN Charter and international law continually perpetrated in the Middle East with the complicity of the US and Western governments. He also stressed the importance of the continuation of the campaign by trade unions in Britain to resist the slide towards militarisation and the diversion of public funding and investment towards the military sector and away from the public sector and welfare provision where it is so badly needed.

It was interesting to note that the issue of the war on Iran and the unfolding situation there featured very prominently across the UCU Congress. 

We were heartened to observe the significant interest in CODIR’s exhibition stand (alongside that of Liberation, formerly the Movement for Colonial Freedom) as well as the enthusiastic and positive take-up of CODIR-produced literature. Indeed, at the Wages not Weapons! fringe, it is estimated that at least 90% of those in attendance took away a copy of the CODIR Bulletin especially produced for the event!

Over the course of the Congress, around 200 delegates visited the CODIR stand, took away literature with them, and discussed at length the situation regarding Iran and how they might be able to further participate with our activities and the wider struggle going forward.

We were also delighted to receive Dr. Jo Grady, General Secretary of the UCU at the CODIR stand.

Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to all those who volunteered to help out with our stand and the handing out of literature. Not only did you make our presence there possible, but a resounding success!