Congress business section 1: Equality

Timetabled, Wednesday 30 May, 10:15-12:15

Positive duties

1 - Disabled Members' participation in UCU (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

Congress celebrates the additional rights recently secured for disabled members, students and employees under the Disability Discrimination Act. However, minimum legal compliance is not enough for a trade union, thus Congress instructs UCU's leadership, regions, branches/LAs and individual members to ensure that disability equality becomes intrinsic to UCU's culture and practice at every level.

In order to achieve a culture fully committed to equality, Congress resolves to foster the active participation of disabled members at every level of UCU by amongst other things:

• Following the guidelines in Enabling not Disabling
• Enacting the TUDA Charter on Disability
• Developing an equality scheme which comprehensively promotes disability equality

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2 - Right to read (Queen Alexandra College)

Congress recognises the clear threat there is to the use of Braille for many thousands of visually impaired people because of discriminatory attitudes and practices, advances in technology and the lack of funding from central government.Congress fully supports everyone's right to learn to read and the importance this plays in our lives, and in particular, in education.To this end, we instruct the NEC to encourage all our members and other trade unions to join the campaign to promote the use of Braille.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Other equality strands

3 - UCU support for LGBT history month (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

Congress expresses its support for LGBT History Month.

Congress resolves:

1. To make a donation to the LGBT History Month website.
2. To have a section on the UCU website about LGBT History Month activities, including what different branches are doing.
3. To support regional events.
4. To encourage branches/LAs to organise local events and to put pressure on institutions to organise events.
5. To produce an information pack on LGBT History Month, with particular stress on LGBT involvement in education. This pack will be made available to all branches/LAs and all members.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4 - LGBT equality under the law (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

UCU Annual Congress condemns the failure of the recent 'Goods & Services' sexual orientation anti-discrimination legislation to provide the following:

1. protection of any kind for Transgender people;
2. anti-harassment provision for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) people--such as the provision contained in the equivalent Northern Ireland legislation;
3. prohibition on teachers in the classroom negatively characterizing LGBT people, identity & lifestyle. The new law specifically includes an exemption that allows teachers to express their opinion on LGBT issues without significant restriction. All negative characterizations by teachers of LGBT people, identity & lifestyle should be outlawed and classified as an act of discrimination and an incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation;

UCU profoundly regrets that the TUC did not prevent the three failures in the law described above. UCU agrees to actively lobby the TUC and the Government until such time as these three failures are fully redressed.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

5 - Bullying and harassment of vulnerable members (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

Congress recognises that bullying and harassment are particularly likely to affect women, LGBT, BME and disabled members, hourly paid members and other members who are perceived as vulnerable. While it is recognised that UCU may have to advise, support and represent both sides in this type of case, it is particularly important that the person alleging bullying and harassment, particularly when a woman, LGBT, BME or disabled person is given the best possible advice, support and representation and feels that they are taken seriously.

Congress instructs the NEC to issue advice on handling of bullying, harassment and violence against women and minority group members and recommendations for policy measures to prevent it.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

6 - Antisemitism in the UK and Europe (Barnet College, Hendon)

This union notes:

• The 31% Increase in antisemitic incidents in the UK in 2006 over those in 2005.
• The OSCE Berlin and Cordoba Declarations on the rise of antisemitism.
• The Working Definition on Antisemitism of the European Union Monitor Centre.
• The Parliamentary Inquiry into Antisemitism in the UK.

Believes that:

• Antisemitism is becoming acceptable in the UK including on University campuses.
• Universities must ensure that staff and students work in an atmosphere free from any racial discrimination and intimidation.

Resolves to:

• Produce guidelines on antisemitism as part of its anti- racism campaigning.
• Develop programmes with the CRE and The Board of Deputies of British Jews to educate academics and students about the dangers of antisemitism.
• Implement all the recommendations of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Antisemitism especially those relating to campus antisemitism.

WITHDRAWN

6A.1 - Transitional Arrangements Committee

Second paragraph, first bullet point, delete 'becoming acceptable', replace with 'occurring more often'.

Third paragraph, second bullet point, delete 'the CRE and Board of Deputies of British Jews' and replace with 'appropriate bodies'. Delete third bullet point.

FELL FOLLOWING WITHDRAWAL OF MOTION 6

6A.2 - University of Leeds

Insert at the end of the first bullet point following 'notes'. This rise is part of a more general rise in racism associated with the Islamaphobic and racist scapegoating engendered by the supporters of the war in Iraq.'

In the fourth bullet point after 'notes', delete 'The Parliamentary...' and insert 'Denis McShane's'.

Delete 'including on University campuses'.

In the last sentence Delete ' ... all the' and replace with 'those'; Delete 'the Parliamentary' and insert 'Denis McShane's'; Delete 'especially those'.

FELL FOLLOWING WITHDRAWAL OF MOTION 6

6A.3 - University of Brighton Falmer

In Notes, bullet point one, delete '31%' and 'in 2006 over those in'; insert 'since' after 'UK'; then delete second, third and fourth bullet points, and substitute:

• 'OSCE Berlin and Cordoba Declarations declare 'developments ... in Israel ..., never justify anti-Semitism'.
• the definitions of 'anti-semitism of the European Monitoring Centre and Parliamentary Inquiry into Antisemitism confuse and conflate anti-semitism with anti-Zionism, and with criticism of Israel.'

In Believes, the first bullet point, delete 'becoming acceptable', and substitute 'increasing'.

In Believes, second bullet point, delete 'any racial'.

In Resolves, the second bullet point, delete from 'CRE' to the end, and substitute 'CRE, Unite Against Fascism, Board of Deputies, and Love Music Hate Racism, to inform on the dangers of, and to combat, anti-semitism.'

FELL FOLLOWING WITHDRAWAL OF MOTION 6

7 - Timetabling events and minority religious festivals (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

Congress recognises the importance of timetabling events to avoid minority group religious and other festivals.

Congress notes that it is not the responsibility of minority group members to provide notification and information can be obtained, for instance, from the SHAP calendar.

Congress resolves to seek to avoid, where practicable, any clashes with minority group festivals.

To write to the TUC to do the same.

CARRIED

8 - Composite: Affiliation to Unite against Fascism (Goldsmiths College, Manchester Metropolitan University)

Congress notes the continued threat of the British National Party. The BNP has more than 40 elected councillors, a number which is set to rise following the May local elections.The BNP, despite its pretensions at being a 'mainstream' party, is a fascist organisation led by racists and holocaust deniers, many of whom have convictions for violent offences. We note with concern the attempts of the BNP to target college and university campuses with their race-hate propaganda.Congress congratulates both of the predecessor unions, AUT and NATFHE, for taking a firm stand against the threatened rise of fascism in Britain by working alongside other trade unions and anti-fascists in the TUC-backed group Unite Against Fascism.Congress resolves to put anti-fascist campaigning at the heart of UCU's activities, and to re-confirm UCU's affiliation to and support for Unite Against Fascism.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Other equality issues

9 - Women members' pay: Implement gender justice now (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

At this inaugural Congress in this 'European Year of Equal Opportunities for All' Congress notes with anger the continuing inequalities in women's pay in both sectors.

Therefore we call on UCU to campaign vigorously, including using the full force of legislation, regulations and agreements, in all areas where women are disproportionately affected, eg:

• privatisation of prisons and language centres
• hourly paid and part-timers
• lack of access to promotion
• access to and recognition of research for part-time HE tutors

To ensure that these issues remain a priority for the union, all UCU policies, procedures and agreements should be assessed for their impact on women members' pay now and in the future.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

10 - Opposition to Welfare Reform Act (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

Congress notes with grave concern all aspects of the Government's welfare reform agenda which adversely affect the lives of many disabled people.

Congress is appalled that there seems to be little Government recognition of the barriers faced by disabled people in the workplace and rejects any proposal to link entitlement to benefits with compulsory attendance on the 'Pathways to work scheme'.

Congress is dismayed that although the Government has promised to provide higher levels of support to disabled people for whom employment is not an option, this commitment does not appear to be a welfare reform priority.

Congress further believes that the threat to withdraw benefits from people who refuse medication is an abuse of human rights.

Congress resolves to launch a campaign of opposition to the Welfare Reform Act.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

11 - Immigration controls and disability issues (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

Congress notes that many refugee asylum seekers subjected to the racism of immigration controls are disabled people.

Congress further notes that since 1992 those people without the 'correct residency status' have been denied free health care in the UK, and since 1999 have also been denied community care. The Government intends to extend these restrictions in order to counter 'health tourism'.

Congress also notes that carers have no right to come to or stay in the UK, in effect denying many disabled refugees/asylum seekers even the most basic level of personal care.

Congress calls upon UCU to oppose all forms of immigration control, and campaign for the rights of disabled asylum seekers to obtain appropriate benefits, healthcare and community support.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

12 - On racism and xenophobia (London Metropolitan University, Ladbrooke and Spring House)

Congress deplores:

The recent rise in racism and xenophobia and its apparent promotion by government policies. Increasingly restrictive measures, and the xenophobic language surrounding them, employed in discussion of immigration and the so-called 'war on terror', combined with islamophobia and the attempts at increased surveillance of muslim communities, are not only encouraging racist and xenophobic tendencies in Britain but are also leading to measures that threaten civil liberties as a whole.

Congress resolves:

To resist attempts by government to engage colleges and universities in activities which amount to increased surveillance of Muslim or other minority students and to the use of members of staff for such witch-hunts.

To mount active campaigns against all attacks on civil liberties and to argue for the benefits of a plural society.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

13 - Migrant Workers (Welsh College of Horticulture)

Congress:

1. is concerned by the exploitation of all migrant workers, particularly those in landbased industries, especially in areas of terms and conditions of employment, rates of pay, health and safety, working time directive and discrimination

2. notes that such workers do not or cannot access the proper education and training which would ensure that each worker can make a positive and valuable contribution to society

3. instructs the NEC to work with appropriate TUC affiliated trade unions to:

3.1 mount a recruitment campaign and bring migrant workers into union membership

3.2 ensure that all relevant employment laws are being adhered to

3.3 lobby government to provide the funding for access to both language and vocational/academic training

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

14 - Combating discrimination against overseas students (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

Congress notes that two of the main barriers to mobility of FE/HE workers and students are (discriminatory) fees and problems in obtaining visas.

Congress resolves to campaign:

1. For visas to automatically be given for no or minimal fee to anyone who has been accepted on a course or received a job offer in HE or FE.
2. Against discriminatory fees for overseas students, as part of a wider campaign for the abolition of all fees.

Congress further notes that meaningful research on movement of researchers and students has to involve the people affected.

Congress resolves:

1. That all work on the movement of FE/HE workers and students will involve the full diversity of the population, including academics and students originating from all continents.
2. To make links with people working on these issues in other countries.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

15 - Combating practices aimed against Muslim and other minority students (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

Congress is outraged at the continuing and escalating demonisation of Muslim and other minority communities. This campaign of vilification is apparent in both media and Government pronouncements and threatens to impinge on the proper business of education.

Congress resolves:

1. To oppose the ethnic profiling of students and staff for the purposes of immigration control or security purposes;
2. To challenge incursions of the security and immigration services onto university and college campuses;
3. To defend the right of our members to refuse to cooperate with any attempts to transform education into an extension of the security services or of immigration control.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

16 - Academic Freedom: Rights and Responsibilities (University of Leeds)

2007 UCU Congress resolves that all academic and academic related staff be free to criticise and publish without fear for their jobs; nevertheless with this freedom comes the responsibility to respect the democratic rights and freedoms of others.

Congress notes the Motion Carried Overwhelmingly at AUT 2006 Council regarding condemnation of the racism, homophobia and sexism of Frank Ellis, a lecturer in Russian at Leeds, who wrote in the local student press and was quoted in the national press as saying that black people and women are 'educationally inferior', 'Immigrants should be hunted down, rounded up and deported' and 'Homosexuality should be weeded out'. Congress further notes the AUT call on Leeds University to implement its disciplinary procedures swiftly and decisively.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

17 - Improving local representation of UCU members from disadvantaged groups (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

Congress acknowledges that women, LGBT, disabled and BME members are often unrepresented on branches/LAs, may not have their concerns taken seriously and may experience discrimination and/or disparaging racist, homophobic, sexist or disablist comments.

Congress resolves to consider developing mechanisms to give greater representations to these groups, for example

1. The development of half day courses of equality training on the lines of disability equality training for all the equality strands with strong encouragement and incentives for all UCU representatives to attend. Where possible this training will be provided to individual branches or LAs.
2. Monitoring of issues involving women and minority group members.
3. The development of mechanisms to ensure that local committees are more representative of women, LGBT, disabled and BME members.
4. Where possible, instigating class actions and/or wider measurers to tackle discrimination.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY