The Glasgow Guardian speaks to UNISON at Sanctuary Lunchtime Connections event.
On Thursday 18 June, as part of Refugee Week, UNISON hosted their first Sanctuary Lunchtime Connections event. The trade union encouraged collaboration across university workers, student unions, charity and community organisations, and sanctuary students. Groups in attendance included representatives of Maryhill Against Racism, UofG Divestment Coalition, Pal Café and Scottish Refuge Council. Hosted in the Clarice Pears Building, UNISON lobbied for support for their new divestment statement to the University of Glasgow, championing the need for further substantial and systematic support for refugee students throughout their student life cycle.
UNISON is a trade union, the largest union in the UK, who “represent members working in local government, health, education and outsourced services” across the UK. UNISON University of Glasgow members Giulia Canu, Area Steward for the School of Law, and Iona Rogers, Young Members Officer, were responsible for the organisation of the Sanctuary Lunchtime Connections event, highlighting the University’s hypocrisy regarding arms divestment and support provided to sanctuary students.
For Rogers, belonging and safety are fundamental: “when people are coming particularly to a new place you’re looking for community, you want to feel safe, you want to feel part of something”.
As part of their new divestment statement, UNISON calls for a full divestment of arms and the improvement of “material support and aid provisions for asylum seekers and refugees”. UNISON at UofG are passionate about continuing this fight and call for full divestment and increased systematic and financial support for students fleeing war. Canu commented on the lack of in-person activities and support; as the University makes an increased push to move online, it is important for students to “feel seen and try to provide support in person”, she said.
Since the University’s full divestment from fossil fuels in 2024, the administration has faced increasing pressure from staff and students alike to fully divest from the arms industry also. In March 2025, nearly 90% of students voted in favour of divestment from arms and the defense industry. The University of Glasgow has yet to take action.
The University has held status as a University of Sanctuary since November 2022, granted in recognition of its commitment to “supporting forced migrants from across the world”. Part of a wider accreditation process, this is a paid for accreditation with a yearly renewal. Yet, Rogers highlights that “the extent to which the university is actually performing that at all levels of student and staff experience is dubious at best”.
Whilst refugee scholarships are provided, their numbers are extremely limited. From an FOI submitted by The Glasgow Guardian on 16 April 2026, it was revealed that 160 applicants were eligible for the Dima Alhaj scholarship in the 2025/26 academic year. However, according to the scholarship stipulations, only 2 were selected. UNISON highlights that, whilst these scholarships are helpful, they are not enough; Rogers implores that students need “full comprehensive support for all areas of their life”. Though financial aid is vital, emotional support is also required.
Rogers adds, “we refuse […] to see the direction of the uni being determined by the whim of SMG that doesn’t consider student voice”. She adds that staff are not equipped to “provide world class education and services […] because, rather than invest in us and the public services we [UNISON] provide, [the University would] rather be investing in arms and other unethical practices.”
UNISON appeals to the University to divest in arms, and provides support to students and staff alike that is drastically lacking.
“Don’t invest in bombs, invest in students who are victims of war,” says Giulia Canu.
