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Website URL : http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3888
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 Business of the strategy and finance committee14:00, Wednesday 27 May 2009 To be taken in private session until the conclusion of motion 20. Finance and property (paragraphs 1-4)13 Audited Financial Statements - National Executive CommitteeCongress receives the union's audited financial statements for the 12-month period ending 31 August 2008 as set out in UCU/168. CARRIED 14 Subscription rates - National Executive CommitteeCongress endorses the subscription rates from 1 September 2009 set out in UCU/178. CARRIED 15 Budget 2009-2010 - National Executive CommitteeCongress endorses the budget for September 2009 - August 2010 as set out in UCU/178. CARRIED 16 Appointment of Auditors - National Executive CommitteeCongress approves the provisional appointment of Knox Cropper as the union's auditors for the year ending 31 August 2010. CARRIED 17 Strike fund and strike pay - Richmond upon Thames CollegeCongress believes that strike pay could be crucial to winning important disputes. Congress therefore agrees:
CARRIED 18 Sustentation Fund - London Regional CommitteeCongress believes that in order to mount an effective campaign to improve pay and conditions, it is necessary for our union to be able to provide financial support for members who are called upon to take strike action. Congress instructs the NEC to ensure that one million pounds is always available in the sustentation fund. WITHDRAWN 19 Sustentation and sustentation fund - University of Brighton Eastbourne and South East Regional CommitteeCongress recognises that
Congress endorses the key conditional guidelines of the SFC for the payment of sustentation outside exceptional circumstances:
Congress instructs the NEC to investigate the:
CARRIED Legal services (paragraph 6)20 Membership entitlement to UCU support in individual casework - Kingston on Thames UniversityThe UCU policy on a new member's entitlement to casework support by branch officers and regional officials should be clearly stated on membership application forms. These should make clear that no casework support will normally be provided to new members who have joined after they became aware that they were facing action from line managers, colleagues or students which requires UCU support. This is necessary to deter 'freeriders' and to reduce the burden on branch officers and regional officials. LOST Public affairs (paragraphs 7- 14)21 United Campaign Against Police Violence - Composite (Northern Regional Committee; University of Leeds; East Midlands Regional Committee; Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Committee)Congress notes:
Congress believes:
Congress resolves:
CARRIED European and international work (paragraphs 19-28)22 Economic development and the Lisbon Treaty - Northern Regional CommitteeIn light of the current economic crisis and the need for direct government intervention in the economy to support our manufacturing industry, UCU Congress calls on the government to work for the repeal of the Lisbon Treaty and specifically those sections of it which:
LOST 22A.1 Manchester Metropolitan UniversityAdd following paragraph to end of motion: 'Congress demands that a campaign against the Lisbon Treaty should be based on principles of international solidarity and reject nationalist slogans such as 'British jobs for British workers', which fuel racism and give succour to Europe's fascist parties like the BNP.' CARRIED 23 Colombia - National Executive CommitteeCongress believes that the systematic criminalisation of trade unionists by the Uribe government and its agents should be condemned. Congress further believes that the forced removals of people from their land and terrorisation of the poor is a fundamental attack on their human rights. Congress supports the call for a political solution, the release of those kidnapped, and a cessation of violence Congress agrees to:
CARRIED Late motion L1 Call for solidarity with Leyla Zana (National Executive Commitee)Congress notes that - Leyla Zana, Sakharov Laureate and the first Kurdish woman elected to the Turkish Parliament, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 1991 because she spoke Kurdish in the Turkish Parliament. - she is likely to be sentenced to a further 10 years in prison on June 2 2009 for the 'crime' of speaking at a meeting called by the Kurdish Society at SOAS in May 2008. Congress resolves: - to instruct Executive to mount a campaign to secure the release of Leya Zana. This includes:
CARRIED Late motion L2 Stop the Massacre of Tamils (National Executive Commitee)Congress notes:
Congress calls on the British government to condemn the indiscriminate and brutal attacks on civilians by the Sri Lankan army in the recent offensive. Congress calls for an immediate ban on arms sales to Sri Lanka. Congress instructs the NEC to investigate relevant links with Tamil & Sri Lankan trade union and civil society organisations to seek practical steps to provide support and solidarity for educators and students caught up in the crisis. CARRIED 24 Solidarity with Palestinians - Composite (National Executive Committee; Westminster-Kingsway College; Derwentside College)Congress condemns the recent military attacks on Gaza. The continuing blockade of the Gazan people and the occupation of the West Bank highlight the importance of international union solidarity with the Palestinian people. Congress also condemns the use of rockets against Israeli civilians. Congress endorses the actions of the general secretary and SFC in relation to the implementation of Motion 25 from Congress 2008. We welcome the progress on twinning and exchanges with international post-school education unions and institutions including those in Palestine and support the continuation of this solidarity work and other solidarity work within the law. We note the success of twinning in raising awareness of the ongoing military occupation in the West Bank and the blockade of Gaza. We welcome the role of such groups as Camben-Abu Dis Friendship Association in building such links between educational institutions here and in the occupied territories. We call on UCU to affiliate to the national twinning campaign. Congress also notes that 29 November is designated annual United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and instructs the NEC to promote activities in the branches - both curricular and non-curricular - to mark this day. CARRIED (AMENDED) 24A.1 - London School of EconomicsAdd after paragraph 3 Congress instructs the NEC to collect information on Palestinian academics prevented from travelling abroad to conferences or visiting positions; on overseas academics refused permission to take up, or remain in, positions in Palestine; and on students who have places in overseas universities that they are unable to take up through travelling restrictions and publicise the information; inform Education International; and press the Israeli Government to allow freedom of movement for Palestinian academics and students. CARRIED Substantive motion: Congress condemns the recent military attacks on Gaza. The continuing blockade of the Gazan people and the occupation of the West Bank highlight the importance of international union solidarity with the Palestinian people. Congress also condemns the use of rockets against Israeli civilians. Congress endorses the actions of the general secretary and SFC in relation to the implementation of Motion 25 from Congress 2008. We welcome the progress on twinning and exchanges with international post-school education unions and institutions including those in Palestine and support the continuation of this solidarity work and other solidarity work within the law. We note the success of twinning in raising awareness of the ongoing military occupation in the West Bank and the blockade of Gaza. Congress instructs the NEC to collect information on Palestinian academics prevented from travelling abroad to conferences or visiting positions; on overseas academics refused permission to take up, or remain in, positions in Palestine; and on students who have places in overseas universities that they are unable to take up through travelling restrictions and publicise the information; inform Education International; and press the Israeli Government to allow freedom of movement for Palestinian academics and students. We welcome the role of such groups as Camben-Abu Dis Friendship Association in building such links between educational institutions here and in the occupied territories. We call on UCU to affiliate to the national twinning campaign. Congress also notes that 29 November is designated annual United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and instructs the NEC to promote activities in the branches - both curricular and non-curricular - to mark this day. 25 Disabled people and conflict - Disabled Members' Standing CommitteeCongress notes that armed conflict is one of the biggest causes of impairment globally and that hundreds of thousands of people are injured and impaired annually due to wars. Congress is appalled by the recent conflict in Gaza which has resulted in the deaths, injury and impairment of over a thousand people, including 300 children and countless others. Congress resolves to support practical initiatives to show solidarity with disabled people and their organisations in Palestine. CARRIED 26 Palestine and Israel - UCU ScotlandUCU Congress welcomes the visit of the President of UCU Scotland to Palestine and Israel as part of an STUC delegation in March 2009. Congress agrees to disseminate his report as widely as possible to members. UCU Congress welcomes the campaign amongst students in Scottish HEIs for disinvestment from arms companies such as British Aerospace and congratulates Dundee and Strathclyde's victories in this respect. CARRIED 27 Gaza - Black Members' Standing CommitteeCongress strongly condemns the Israeli invasion in Gaza. Over 1300 children and women were massacred and over 5000 people were seriously injured. Indiscriminate killings, attacks and destruction of educational institutions, UN properties, hospitals and infrastructure in Gaza amount to crime against humanity. Congress strongly condemns the use of banned substances, white phosphorus and depleted uranium on defenceless people. The Congress strongly condemns the BBC and much of the Western media for biased reporting of the atrocities committed against civilians by the Israeli Army. Also the UN and countries that vacillated and allowed the army time to destroy the infrastructure of Gaza. Congress demands:
CARRIED 28 Gaza - Composite (Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Committee, North West Regional Committee)Congress notes:
Congress condemns:
Congress resolves:
CARRIED Amendment 28A.1: The union received advice from Leading Counsel that to pass this amendment would be unlawful because it is likely to be viewed by a court as a call to boycott Israeli academic institutions. The union has previously followed advice from Leading Counsel that such a call would be outside the powers of the union to make. If the amendment is further amended to remove the affirmation of support for the Palestine call for a boycott, disinvestment and sanctions campaign, Leading Counsel has advised the union may lawfully pass this amendment. If the amendment is passed in its unamended form the President has been advised that she will have to treat it as being void and of no effect. 28A.1 - North West Regional CommitteeAdd at end: 'Congress affirms support for the Palestinian call for a boycott, disinvestment and sanctions campaign.' CARRIED Motion 29: The union received advice from Leading Counsel that to pass this motion would be unlawful because it is likely to be viewed by a court as a call to boycott Israeli academic institutions. The union has previously followed advice from Leading Counsel that such a call would be outside the powers of the union to make. If the motion is amended to remove the affirmation of support for the Palestine call for a boycott, disinvestment and sanctions campaign, Leading Counsel has advised the union may lawfully pass this motion. If the motion is passed in its unamended form the President has been advised that she will have to treat it as being void and of no effect. 29 Composite (University of Brighton Grand Parade, College of North East London, University of East London)Congress notes:
Congress believes:
Congress affirms support for the Palestinian call for a boycott, disinvestment and sanctions campaign. Congress resolves to:
CARRIED (AMENDED) Late amendment 29A.1 (University of Brighton Grand Parade)Insert 'the lawful' before 'implementation' in the final bullet-point of 'Congress resolves', to read
and replace 'affirms support for' with 'urges branches to discuss prior to Congress 2010' in the 'Congress affirms' passage, to read: Congress urges branches to discuss prior to Congress 2010 the Palestinian call for a boycott, disinvestment and sanctions campaign. CARRIED Substantive motion: Congress notes:
Congress believes:
Congress urges branches to discuss prior to Congress 2010 the Palestinian call for a boycott, disinvestment and sanctions campaign. Congress resolves to:
Points-based system for immigration (new heading after paragraph 28)30 Points-based system for immigration - Composite (West Midlands Regional Committee, National Executive Committee, Academic-related Staff Committee)Congress strongly condemns the points-based system for immigration (PBSI), which requires international staff and students to carry biometric ID cards and institutions to monitor them, report absences to the Home Office and check biometric data bases. Under the PBSI, HE and FE Institutions are mandated to have a UK Border Agency sponsor's licence effectively making them agents of the Home Office. As a result individual UCU members (both academic and academic-related) will be required to carry out policing and surveillance duties on behalf of the Home Office. Individuals could be liable to substantial fines and possible jail sentences for failure to comply. This UK Border Agency-directed policy will impose additional workloads on UCU members and will ride roughshod over any individual's moral objections to collaborating in such distasteful surveillance activities Colleges and universities are being forced to police the movement of international students and staff - or lose the ability to recruit internationally. International staff and students form an essential part of world class teaching and research. This system makes educators into immigration snoopers which could damage UK education irreparably. Congress believes PBSI is:
Congress deplores this pandering to anti-immigration racism and agrees to:
CARRIED (AMENDED) 30A.1 - University of LiverpoolTo add as a bullet point after the last bullet point in section 5: 'The UCU immediately launching a campaign of non-compliance with all such policing and surveillance duties (including recording details from foreign national students; supplying personal details to other institutions in our capacity as external examiners, assessors and lecturers; and refusal to request such details on behalf of our own institutions from external examiners, assessors and lecturers). The UCU will give unqualified support to any member disciplined or victimised as a result of this campaign.' CARRIED 30A.2 - North West Regional CommitteeAdd at end: 'Congress agrees to assist branches in supporting members in their refusal to monitor or track international students and staff.' CARRIED 30A.3 - Yorkshire and Humberside Regional CommitteeAdd at end of motion: 'UCU will provide all possible support for any member who refuses to implement the processes of the PBSI.' CARRIED Substantive motion: Congress strongly condemns the points-based system for immigration (PBSI), which requires international staff and students to carry biometric ID cards and institutions to monitor them, report absences to the Home Office and check biometric data bases. Under the PBSI, HE and FE Institutions are mandated to have a UK Border Agency sponsor's licence effectively making them agents of the Home Office. As a result individual UCU members (both academic and academic-related) will be required to carry out policing and surveillance duties on behalf of the Home Office. Individuals could be liable to substantial fines and possible jail sentences for failure to comply. This UK Border Agency-directed policy will impose additional workloads on UCU members and will ride roughshod over any individual's moral objections to collaborating in such distasteful surveillance activities Colleges and universities are being forced to police the movement of international students and staff - or lose the ability to recruit internationally. International staff and students form an essential part of world class teaching and research. This system makes educators into immigration snoopers which could damage UK education irreparably. Congress believes PBSI is:
Congress deplores this pandering to anti-immigration racism and agrees to:
Congress agrees to assist branches in supporting members in their refusal to monitor or track international students and staff. UCU will provide all possible support for any member who refuses to implement the processes of the PBSI. 31 Points based immigration - University of Brighton, FalmerCongress condemns the points based immigration system
Congress agrees to:
CARRIED 32 The campaign against points-based immigration - National Executive CommitteeCongress strongly condemns points based immigration and believes PBI is against our core values of academic freedom and equality. Congress instructs NEC to
CARRIED 33 Opposition to new Home Office regulations on international students - Goldsmiths University of LondonWe wish to express our opposition to the new Home Office regulations that require staff to monitor the attendance of international students. We are opposed to these regulations for the following reasons. First, they represent a possible breach of Article 8 (right to privacy) and Article 3 (degrading treatment) of the ECHR and the 1998 Human Rights Act. Second, such regulations will harm the relationship of trust between students and lecturers. The regulations treat international students as potential suspects who have come to the UK with the specific goal of abusing the immigration system. Third, the work involved in monitoring international students will add unnecessarily to our workloads. Congress agrees
CARRIED Late motion L11 Free the North West 10 - University of LiverpoolOn 8 April 2009, armed police carried out a number of raids in the NW of England and arrested 12 students as terrorist suspects. After intense interrogation not a shred of evidence could be found against them. By the third week of May Manchester police conceded that they were innocent. However, ten were immediately detained under immigration detention provisions. They are now being moved from prison to prison, some being moved every night. Recently Justice for North West 10 campaign has been formed. Congress agrees to: 1. Demand the ten students are released immediately and allowed to complete their education 2. Support the Justice for North West 10 campaign 3. Write to the Home Secretary demanding the deportation is stopped and released. CARRIED Rules and standing orders (paragraph 29)34 Discontinuation of honorary membership - South East Regional CommitteeCongress is concerned:
Congress therefore instructs the NEC to:
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