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 Higher education sector conferenceUCU Congress 2012 - HE sector conference: Friday 8 June 2012 Chapter 2 of the NEC's report to UCU Congress 2012: Motions: HE1 - National claim HE1 National claim - Higher Education CommitteeConference notes the submission of the claim for the 2012-13 New JNCHES negotiating round and the recommendations from the national negotiators' contained in UCUHE153 (pdf). CARRIED AS AMENDED HE1A.1 Higher Education Committee Add at end: Although a majority of members did not support industrial action in a consultative ballot last year, conference notes members' increasing unease about continuing real-pay cuts. Conference notes the utility of such ballots in campaigning and mobilisation as well as allowing for prioritisation of resources. Conference instructs the HEC to carry out similar consultative ballots where they considered it appropriate in advance of statutory industrial action ballots on issues covered in JNCHES. CARRIED HE1A.2 Yorkshire and Humberside regional HE committee Add: HESC resolves to mobilise members in Branches and Regions in campaigning and taking industrial action, if necessary, in support of the 2012 pay claim. CARRIED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION Conference notes the submission of the claim for the 2012-13 New JNCHES negotiating round and the recommendations from the national negotiators' contained in UCUHE153 (pdf). Although a majority of members did not support industrial action in a consultative ballot last year, conference notes members' increasing unease about continuing real-pay cuts. Conference notes the utility of such ballots in campaigning and mobilisation as well as allowing for prioritisation of resources. Conference instructs the HEC to carry out similar consultative ballots where they considered it appropriate in advance of statutory industrial action ballots on issues covered in JNCHES. HESC resolves to mobilise members in Branches and Regions in campaigning and taking industrial action, if necessary, in support of the 2012 pay claim. L6 Composite: Pay Claim - University of Brighton Falmer, University of Brighton Grand ParadeHESC notes
HESC resolves that
HEC will consider proposals and develop plans for a dispute, commencing with an industrial action ballot and campaign in October, linked where possible with action by the NUT/NASUWT. CARRIED New JNCHES review, paragraph 3.1HE2 National bargaining - University of Brighton MoulsecoombConference resolves that any attempt by employers to disengage from the JNCHES mechanism will be met with a campaign and ballot for local and/or national industrial action. CARRIED Performance and productivity, paragraph 4.1HE3 Performance management, productivity and pay - Higher Education CommitteeConference notes that:
Conference calls on HEC to initiate further research on the use of performance-management measures in HEIs, its impact on the equality, workload, health and welfare of academic and related staff, and its effectiveness within the sector. Conference restates its opposition to performance-related pay mechanisms outwith the existing provisions in the national framework agreement, especially if not agreed with UCU. CARRIED AS AMENDED HE3A.1 LSE Add new points and renumber 3. High quality performance is dependent upon the contributions of people across the institution and there is no reliable means of identifying the contribution of individuals 4. Performance related pay encourages destructive competition between individuals and a breakdown of necessary trust Add at end and to resist this attempt to replace collective bargaining with individual supplication. CARRIED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION Conference notes that:
Conference calls on HEC to initiate further research on the use of performance-management measures in HEIs, its impact on the equality, workload, health and welfare of academic and related staff, and its effectiveness within the sector. Conference restates its opposition to performance-related pay mechanisms outwith the existing provisions in the national framework agreement, especially if not agreed with UCU and to resist this attempt to replace collective bargaining with individual supplication. HE4 The use of student feedback in performance management - Northumbria UniversityConcerns are growing with the use of the National Student Survey, module evaluations and other forms of student feedback being used in performance management practices. There are instances where students use anonymous evaluations to air grievances and name staff. Many problems are outside the remit of the staff, but as they are on the front line, they are targeted by both students and management. Less and less attention is given to annual staff development/appraisals as a forum for staff to air their grievances to management. Staff are asked more frequently what they can do for the institution and not the other way round. Conference instructs HEC to:
CARRIED AS AMENDED HE4A.1 University of Birmingham End of first paragraph, after 'not the other way round.' Add: 'Conference believes that this misuse of student feedback lacks pedagogical or intellectual foundation and undermines teaching standards and staff morale. Conference welcomes the Birmingham University UCU document 'Challenges to some assumptions about the proposed Module Evaluation Questionnaire to be introduced at the University of Birmingham', and instructs HEC to adapt this document as appropriate for national circulation and use in local negotiations to seek to avoid the implementation of MEQ-based performance management.' Amend 'Conference instructs HEC' to 'Conference further instructs HEC'. CARRIED HE4A.2 University of Aberdeen Insert after 'name' in the second sentence 'and defame'. Add a final bullet point: 1 work with the NUS to oppose the invidious use of student feedback CARRIED HE4A.3 Higher Education Committee In the first sentence replace 'with the use of' with 'with how'; after 'student feedback, insert 'are' Add after second sentence: Conference notes that to use student evaluations in this way may target women, black, disabled, international and LGBT staff in a discriminatory way. Add final bullet point: 5. Investigate the potential discriminatory impacts of the use of student feedback in performance management and campaign for equality impact assessments. CARRIED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION Concerns are growing with how the National Student Survey, module evaluations and other forms of student feedback are being used in performance management practices. There are instances where students use anonymous evaluations to air grievances and name staff. Conference notes that to use student evaluations in this way may target women, black, disabled, international and LGBT staff in a discriminatory way. Many problems are outside the remit of the staff, but as they are on the front line, they are targeted by both students and management. Less and less attention is given to annual staff development/appraisals as a forum for staff to air their grievances to management. Staff are asked more frequently what they can do for the institution and not the other way round. Conference believes that this misuse of student feedback lacks pedagogical or intellectual foundation and undermines teaching standards and staff morale.Conference welcomes the Birmingham University UCU document Challenges to some assumptions about the proposed Module Evaluation Questionnaire to be introduced at the University of Birmingham', and instructs HEC to adapt this document as appropriate for national circulation and use in local negotiations to seek to avoid the implementation of MEQ-based performance management. Conference further instructs HEC to:
HE5 REF and performance management - University of WarwickUCU reiterates its position that the REF, along with its predecessor the RAE, is highly divisive as well as a source of considerable stress and anxiety for many members. Accordingly, UCU will continue to oppose it in principle. UCU reaffirms its belief that real knowledge is not determined by the perceived quality of the outlet in which it is published. Conference also opposes the use of the REF to micro-manage and bully staff. Conference instructs the HEC to equip branches to combat such oppressive practises and calls upon the HEC to investigate the legality of university managers using the REF to determine standards of academic performance. CARRIED AS AMENDED HE5A.1 Disabled members standing committee Insert new sentence after third sentence ('...in which it is published.'): 'Conference deplores any institution not taking adequate steps to ensure commitment to equality, particularly for staff with protected characteristics'. Add last sentence 'Congress also instructs HEC to write to all Vice-Chancellors and Principals asking them to publish their equality Code of Practice for REF'. CARRIED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION UCU reiterates its position that the REF, along with its predecessor the RAE, is highly divisive as well as a source of considerable stress and anxiety for many members. Accordingly, UCU will continue to oppose it in principle. UCU reaffirms its belief that real knowledge is not determined by the perceived quality of the outlet in which it is published. Conference deplores any institution not taking adequate steps to ensure commitment to equality, particularly for staff with protected characteristics. Conference also opposes the use of the REF to micro-manage and bully staff. Conference instructs the HEC to equip branches to combat such oppressive practises and calls upon the HEC to investigate the legality of university managers using the REF to determine standards of academic performance. Congress also instructs HEC to write to all Vice-Chancellors and Principals asking them to publish their equality Code of Practice for REF. Performance and productivity, paragraph 4.2HE6 Performance and Development Review - University of GlasgowConference notes with alarm the growing managerial practices of Performance and Development procedures across HE. Evidence from members across the UK reveal a plethora of invidious processes which further serve to demoralize staff and to further embed a mistrust of management and managerial systems. Conference firmly believes that the staff member and development should be at the heart of any effective P&DR system and that determination to use these schemes as performance management tools is flawed and divisive, resulting in de-motivated, demoralised staff and widening the gulf between management structures and hard-pressed staff. Conference calls on HEC to draw up best practice guidelines for a P&DR system which reflects that which was agreed in the Framework Agreement. CARRIED AS AMENDED HE6A.1 LGBT members standing committee Delete full stop at end and add: 'in particular with respect to the promotion of best practice in equality matters, including training for all managers and other staff involved in PDR'. CARRIED HE6A.2 Women members standing committee Before final sentence, insert 'Conference also believes that such managerial practices result in the unfair treatment of women and of staff with other protected characteristics.' And at the end add 'and ensure that such guidelines fully recognise the need to protect staff from bullying, harassment, stereotyping and all other forms of discrimination.' CARRIED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION Conference notes with alarm the growing managerial practices of Performance and Development procedures across HE. Evidence from members across the UK reveal a plethora of invidious processes which further serve to demoralize staff and to further embed a mistrust of management and managerial systems. Conference firmly believes that the staff member and development should be at the heart of any effective P&DR system and that determination to use these schemes as performance management tools is flawed and divisive, resulting in de-motivated, demoralised staff and widening the gulf between management structures and hard-pressed staff. Conference also believes that such managerial practices result in the unfair treatment of women and of staff with other protected characteristics. Conference calls on HEC to draw up best practice guidelines for a P&DR system which reflects that which was agreed in the Framework Agreement in particular with respect to the promotion of best practice in equality matters, including training for all managers and other staff involved in PDR, and ensure that such guidelines fully recognise the need to protect staff from bullying, harassment, stereotyping and all other forms of discrimination. HE7 Black workers and performance management - Black members standing committeeConference notes that performance management systems are increasingly used throughout the sector. Performance management systems are increasingly used disproportionately to micromanage black workers and disproportionately used to subject black workers to higher workloads. Conference calls on HEC to undertake research on performance management in HEIs to assess its impact on the workload, career progression and pay of black workers. CARRIED AS AMENDED HE7A.1 Black members standing committee Insert at the beginning of the second paragraph 'Anecdotal evidence from Black staff suggests that ' In third paragraph insert, after 'performance management', 'policies and practices' and insert, after 'its impact on', 'the working conditions in particular respect to' CARRIED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION Conference notes that performance management systems are increasingly used throughout the sector. Anecdotal evidence from Black staff suggests that performance management systems are increasingly used disproportionately to micromanage black workers and disproportionately used to subject black workers to higher workloads. Conference calls on HEC to undertake research on performance management in HEIs to assess its impact on the working conditions in particular respect to the workload, career progression and pay of black workers. Performance and productivity, paragraph 4.3HE8 Replacement of National Student Survey with better feedback systems - University of LincolnConference notes that
Conference calls on the HEC
CARRIED HE8A.1 Goldsmiths Add at end: d. to oppose the NSS for the above reasons and to urge members not to comply with procedures related to the NSS as it is currently formulated CARRIED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION Conference notes that
Conference calls on the HEC
HE9 Closure of university degree courses - East Midlands HE sector committeeConference notes that:
Conference calls on the HEC to:
CARRIED HE10 Occupational health - University of HullConference is concerned that, at some institutions, Occupational Health is now seen as a branch of Human Resources. Occupational Health Staff are potentially breaching confidentiality and their professional code of conduct by releasing confidential information to Human Resources. For Occupational Health Staff who are managed by Human Resources there is a potential conflict of duty between providing information to Human Resources and confidentiality to their clients. This Conference calls for UCU to investigate the extent of the problem, and to campaign for the reassignment of Occupational Health line management responsibility away from Human Resources. CARRIED AS AMENDED HE10A.1 Disabled members standing committee Insert in last sentence, after 'extent of the problem', 'including submitting FOI requests to all institutions seeking clarification of their occupational health provision and any external companies contracted for this purpose'. CARRIED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION Conference is concerned that, at some institutions, Occupational Health is now seen as a branch of Human Resources. Occupational Health Staff are potentially breaching confidentiality and their professional code of conduct by releasing confidential information to Human Resources. For Occupational Health Staff who are managed by Human Resources there is a potential conflict of duty between providing information to Human Resources and confidentiality to their clients. This Conference calls for UCU to investigate the extent of the problem, including submitting FOI requests to all institutions seeking clarification of their occupational health provision and any external companies contracted for this purpose, and to campaign for the reassignment of Occupational Health line management responsibility away from Human Resources. Grading structures, paragraph 5.1HE11 Grade drift - Higher Education CommitteeConference notes that:
Conference resolves that all branches shall resist the lowering of pay rates across the sector by utilising the advice and guidance contained in UCUHE/136 and should call for Equality Impact Assessments of proposed changes to job profiles. CARRIED AS AMENDED HE11A.1 Open University Add the following as point 6 after point 5: 6 Variations from the NARPs, especially of the Teaching and Scholarship branch, and/or a reinterpretation of the word 'scholarship' to provide a higher bar than the profiles themselves can provide an excuse not to assimilate hourly paid lecturers, or to place them on a lower grade than they should be. Add as a final sentence: Conference also asks the HEC to ensure branches and regional officials are aware of the potential consequences to hourly paid lecturers, of variations from the NARPs. CARRIED HE11A.2 Academic-related staff committee Add new point before 'Conference resolves': 6 Academic-Related Staff are increasingly unable to gain promotion other than by waiting to step into 'dead men's shoes' or by taking on management responsibilities which they do not want nor have received training for. CARRIED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION Conference notes that:
Conference resolves that all branches shall resist the lowering of pay rates across the sector by utilising the advice and guidance contained in UCUHE/136 and should call for Equality Impact Assessments of proposed changes to job profiles. Conference also asks the HEC to ensure branches and regional officials are aware of the potential consequences to hourly paid lecturers, of variations from the NARPs. HE12 Offscale and excessive payments - University of WarwickUniversity staff have seen the real value of their pay decline drastically since 2008, with below inflation derisory pay increases. In addition, it is believed many universities' managements are making payments which are offscale for staff covered by the framework, excessively large to attract 'research stars' and to themselves. HE conference instructs the HEC to discover the extent of such activities by using methods such as Freedom of Information legislation and to use this material in forthcoming pay campaigns. Such information should also include data to highlight inequalities across the sector. CARRIED Professorial grading structures and recognition, paragraph 6.2HE13 Representing the professoriate - Higher Education CommitteeConference notes that an increasing number of UCU members are paid beyond spinal column point 51 and welcomes HEC's commitment to develop advice and materials for branches / LAs on recruiting among the professoriate, obtaining recognition and negotiating rights, and the development of transparent and fair professorial grading structures. These structures should meet the same standards of equality proofing and accountability as other grades. Conference also urges HEC to work with the Equality Committee to develop initiatives to tackle under-representation of women, BME and Disabled staff and to tackle any identified pay gaps amongst the professoriate. CARRIED Workload, paragraph 7.1HE14 Composite: Workloads University of Glasgow -Southern regional HE committee, University of EdinburghConference notes the increase in work hours and workloads. Many pre-1992 institutions opt out of the European Union working-time directive and increased workloads mean our members work more than 40 hours a week to fulfil their duties. In post-1992 institutions increased non-contact work e.g. assessment boards, curriculum development and administration, increased quality assurance - means that staff regularly work beyond their formal contract. This leads to stress and poor work-life balance. A recent survey of UCU Edinburgh members confirmed that academic staff in particular not only work excessive hours but take significantly less than their full entitlement of annual leave. An article in THE (24.02.2012) identified lecturers as topping the list for unpaid overtime. The recent work to contract has provided ample demonstration of the growing workloads faced by academic and related staff in HEIs. By withdrawing goodwill and working only contracted hours UCU members forced the employers to negotiate on USS. However this strategy has only been successful because of the additional hours previously worked above and beyond those specified by contracts. Increased demands on staff's time such as the REF, student expectation, and management's cost cutting have resulted in ridiculous workloads with fewer staff doing more work. University managements have not engaged seriously with this issue or made genuine attempts to address this. Conference affirms that the suspension of industrial action does not give employers permission to insist on unhealthy and unsustainable workloads, and recognises that long work hours damage the health and safety of our members. Conference therefore calls for a UK-wide campaign to establish the extent of this problem and the nature of its impact, and asks HEC to:
CARRIED AS AMENDED HE14A.1 Higher Education Committee Add an additional action point: 5. publicise UCU's existing model guidance and use it as a tool, for negotiations and campaigning CARRIED HE14A.2 Anti-casualisation committee Add as point 5 at end: 'Highlight cases where part-time and/or casualised staff are expected to work hours and take on responsibilities that are significantly disproportionate to their paid contractual hours, and campaign to bring remuneration and contractual hours into line with the real workload and responsibility.' CARRIED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION Conference notes the increase in work hours and workloads. Many pre-1992 institutions opt out of the European Union working-time directive and increased workloads mean our members work more than 40 hours a week to fulfil their duties. In post-1992 institutions increased non-contact work e.g. assessment boards, curriculum development and administration, increased quality assurance - means that staff regularly work beyond their formal contract. This leads to stress and poor work-life balance. A recent survey of UCU Edinburgh members confirmed that academic staff in particular not only work excessive hours but take significantly less than their full entitlement of annual leave. An article in THE (24.02.2012) identified lecturers as topping the list for unpaid overtime. The recent work to contract has provided ample demonstration of the growing workloads faced by academic and related staff in HEIs. By withdrawing goodwill and working only contracted hours UCU members forced the employers to negotiate on USS. However this strategy has only been successful because of the additional hours previously worked above and beyond those specified by contracts. Increased demands on staff's time such as the REF, student expectation, and management's cost cutting have resulted in ridiculous workloads with fewer staff doing more work. University managements have not engaged seriously with this issue or made genuine attempts to address this. Conference affirms that the suspension of industrial action does not give employers permission to insist on unhealthy and unsustainable workloads, and recognises that long work hours damage the health and safety of our members. Conference therefore calls for a UK-wide campaign to establish the extent of this problem and the nature of its impact, and asks HEC to:
Casualised workforce - hourly paid (HP) lecturers, paragraph 10.1HE15 Resisting a casualised workforce - Higher Education CommitteeConference notes that the increasingly marketised, competitive and differentiated higher education system is encouraging HEI managements to reassess current staffing models. Conference notes the significant body of national UCU policy and advice. Conference agrees that branches need to be vigilant in monitoring proposed changes in staffing arrangements, including reward and retention mechanisms. Conference calls on all HE branches to
CARRIED HE16 The terms and conditions of hourly-paid staff - Teesside UniversityHESC notes the diversity of contracts for hourly-paid staff, varying from department to department in some universities. We are concerned by the continued use of zero hours contracts. For many members this is their only work in these economic conditions, with no guarantee of further work. HESC calls on the HEC for continued and renewed efforts to achieve:
CARRIED AS AMENDED HE16A.1 Women members standing committee After the first paragraph insert new paragraph. 'Sector conference also notes that pension rules and recent changes to the pension schemes also result in disproportionate disadvantage to part-time and hourly paid staff; potentially condemning a disproportionately female group of staff to poverty in old age'. In the last sentence between 'on' and 'these' insert 'all of'. CARRIED HE16A.2 Higher Education Committee Add a new action point at end 6. The assimilation of all hourly paid staff to the pay and grading structures on fractional contracts; and, if the employers are not willing to move speedily to resolve this, to give serious consideration to commence preparations for the submission of multiple tribunal cases against institutions under the Part-Time Workers Regulations. CARRIED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION HESC notes the diversity of contracts for hourly-paid staff, varying from department to department in some universities. We are concerned by the continued use of zero hours contracts. For many members this is their only work in these economic conditions, with no guarantee of further work. Sector conference also notes that pension rules and recent changes to the pension schemes also result in disproportionate disadvantage to part-time and hourly paid staff; potentially condemning a disproportionately female group of staff to poverty in old age. HESC calls on the HEC for continued and renewed efforts to achieve:
HE17 Postgraduates - Anti-Casualisation CommitteeHESC notes the commitment of UCU to support postgraduate employment rights; and that a high number of postgraduates work in academic and academic-related roles, mostly on casualised contracts, with many unaware of their right to join UCU. Widespread anecdotal evidence suggests that many are actively discouraged by perceptions that the work they perform is an expected part of their duties, or that UCU 'is not for them'. This conference calls on the HEC to urge local associations and branches to reach out to recruit and support postgraduates in a targeted way, and to provide them with resources to do so, including:
CARRIED Disabled staff, paragraph 12.1HE18 Disclosing a disability - Disabled members standing committeeThis conference welcomes the inclusion of disability leave as part of the national pay claim. The importance of disability leave being counted separately is critical when many members are facing redundancy criteria which includes sick leave. To make sure all disabled members can be supported by this leave, we must encourage a culture of disclosure within higher education. Many members are still wary of what the consequences may be of disclosure. Conference calls upon the higher education committee to:
CARRIED (UNAMENDED) HE18A.1 LGBT members standing committee Delete all in point 2 and substitute 'ensure that branches and reps are made aware that disclosure is a sensitive issue and should only occur if reps and members are satisfied that it will take place within a sufficiently supportive environment.' LOST New section, Impact of the cuts on women, after paragraph 13.1HE19 Gendered impact on the HE workforce of cuts - Women members standing committeeHE Sector Conference recognises that effective campaigning is only possible where it is based on the best available data. In order to further motions passed at Conference in 2011 and the equality agenda of UCU more generally this Conference asks for research to be carried out on a continuing basis into the gendered impact on the HE workforce of cuts and changes in government policy. This research should as far as possible:
CARRIED AS AMENDED HE19A.1 Academic-related staff Committee In point 1, after 'disabled women', add ', mothers' (before 'and women as carers'). CARRIED HE20 Cuts impacting on women as students - Women members standing committeeThe disparate impact of austerity measures on women has been widely acknowledged, however as yet UCU has barely begun to factor into its response the potential for disparate impact on the self-organising groups. HE Conference calls on HEC to remedy this, not only in relation to the workforce, but also in relation to our students. As yet it is not clear what the long term and short term impacts of extortionate fees and attacks on the arts and humanities and other female dominated subject areas will be. As such Conference calls on HEC to:
CARRIED New section, LGBT members in the workplace, after paragraph 13.1HE21 Market Ideology in HE - LGBT members standing committeeConference notes increasing pressure to run only those HE courses that can be justified by the market. This threatens courses such as studies pertaining to LGBT issues. Conference believes that education is not only for producing useful resources for those who own businesses and run the free market economy. Awareness of diverse relationship configurations, spectrums of gender identity and sexual orientations are important in developing a mature society that embraces living diversity. Conference calls on HEC to support branches in
CARRIED HE22 Promoting Fair Treatment in the Workplace - LBGT members standing committeeLGB employees are more likely than others to experience workplace ill-treatment. ECU research (2009) reported that LGB employees reported negative treatment on the grounds of their sexual orientation from colleagues (33 .8 %), from students (18.9 %) and those working in other areas of their HEI (25.3 %). Trans people have high levels of discrimination in the workplace and in the provision of education and training across HEIs. Conference calls on HEC to
CARRIED New section, Postgraduate training, after paragraph 13.1HE23 Economic and Social Research Council's (ESRC) Doctoral Training Centres - Black members standing committeeConference notes that since 2010 the ESRC has created Doctoral Training Centres which are located in Russell group institutions only. These institutions tend to have a lower proportion of Black staff and students. Conference calls HEC to ask ESRC to undertake an impact assessment of the effect of concentrating the centres in institutions where black staff and students are underrepresented. CARRIED AS AMENDED HE23A.1 Black members standing committee Insert in first sentence after 'Doctoral Training Centres which are' the word 'predominantly' and delete 'only' at the end of that sentence. Delete second sentence and insert new sentence 'There is no evidence that an impact assessment of this policy was undertaken prior to its implementation. Black staff and students tend to be underrepresented in Russell Group universities more so than in other institutions. Black staff are more likely to be adversely affected by this policy and to lose out on doctoral training opportunities which it offers' CARRIED HE24 Post graduate education in non-elite institutions - London Metropolitan University (City)UCU HE Sector Conference notes the potential for post graduate education, including post graduate vocationally orientated education, to become confined to elite institutions and available only for comparatively rich graduates. Conference instructs HEC/NEC to work with the NUS and other bodies to collate details of the reduction in number and diversity of post graduate courses across the sector and to give publicity to the worst examples. CARRIED Motions HE25-27 to be taken as timed business, in private session, 14:00-14:45USS, paragraph 14.6HE25 USS - Higher Education CommitteeConference notes the report on the progress of talks to resolve the USS dispute and approves the recommendations from the HEC's Superannuation Working Group contained in UCUHE/154. CARRIED AS AMENDED HE25A.1 Yorkshire & Humberside regional HE committee and University of Leeds Delete 'and approves etc' to end of sentence. Replace with:
CARRIED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION Conference notes the report on the progress of talks to resolve the USS dispute. Conference instructs HEC:
HE26 Suspension of USS industrial action - Cardiff UniversityHESC notes the UCU pre-1992 special conference on 31 January 2012 passed a motion agreeing to suspend industrial action on the USS pension dispute if the employers' negotiators agreed to a series of conditions. HESC understands these conditions to be to the effect of: negotiation of a CARE accrual rate no worse than that for the TPS system; negotiation on redundancy provision; agreement of a negotiation timetable completing negotiations no later than May 2012; and replacement of Sir Andrew Cubie as independent chair of USS JNC. HESC believes none of these four conditions were fulfilled by 15 February 2012 and therefore that UCU's suspension of industrial action was in error. We note UCU publications HE132 and HE134, discussing the suspension, did not make reference to these conditions. HESC resolves to resume industrial action on USS as soon as legally possible unless all four of the above conditions have been fulfilled. CARRIED AS AMENDED HE26A.1 Higher Education Committee Change 'May 2012' to 'June 2012' CARRIED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION HESC notes the UCU pre-1992 special conference on 31 January 2012 passed a motion agreeing to suspend industrial action on the USS pension dispute if the employers' negotiators agreed to a series of conditions. HESC understands these conditions to be to the effect of: negotiation of a CARE accrual rate no worse than that for the TPS system; negotiation on redundancy provision; agreement of a negotiation timetable completing negotiations no later than June 2012; and replacement of Sir Andrew Cubie as independent chair of USS JNC. HESC believes none of these four conditions were fulfilled by 15 February 2012 and therefore that UCU's suspension of industrial action was in error. We note UCU publications HE132 and HE134, discussing the suspension, did not make reference to these conditions. HESC resolves to resume industrial action on USS as soon as legally possible unless all four of the above conditions have been fulfilled. HE27 USS - University of BathFollowing the imposition of disputed changes to our USS pension this conference seeks:
LOST Job security, after paragraph 16.1HE28 Transferability of sick leave entitlement between HEIs - Queen Margaret UniversityConference notes that there is a lack of agreement across the UK about the transfer of sick leave entitlement between HEIs. Staff who have built up the maximum entitlement in one HEI may lose this when they take up employment at another HEI. This impacts negatively on staff with chronic illnesses and becomes an increasing risk factor with increasing age. It therefore also is a differential impediment to staff mobility, resulting in inequalities of job opportunities for older staff and those with chronic illness. Conference therefore instructs the UCU to negotiate and agree a UK-wide agreement on the transfer of sick leave entitlement to ensure that staff retain their entitlement when they transfer HEIs. CARRIED Research and research careers, paragraph 17HE29 Composite: Research Excellence Framework - Higher Education Committee, LSEConference notes the detrimental impact of the REF on the academic profession, and on the HE sector in general, and the updated guidance and report of the consultative branch meeting on the REF held in February 2012, contained in UCUHE141. Conference believes that the REF exercise is deeply flawed in terms of its claimed objective to promote and reward good research and in its effect upon staff. Conference believes REF is designed to increase funding council control of universities and increase managerialist control within institutions. Conference notes that REF processes within universities can easily be compromised by discriminatory behaviour both in respect of individuals and research topics and approaches and deplores the stress it places on staff and the risk to their careers. Conference calls upon HE branches to seek no-detriment agreements at their institutions on the treatment of staff not included in the REF, and professional development policies that recognise that the research and wider academic contribution of staff should not be measured simply by means of whether they are included in this flawed exercise. Conference commits the union to support fully branches that defend members who suffer detriment from non-submission. Conference calls upon HEC to:
CARRIED HE30 Research Excellence Framework (REF) - Northern regional HE committeeHESC condemns REF as a cynical way of distributing inadequate research funding. HESC further condemns the fact that it promotes gender, race and other inequalities, threatens jobs, courses, subject areas, departments and even the quality of research and encourages 'gameplaying' with contracts ending shortly after the REF exercise and other corrupt practices. HESC calls on the government to significantly increase research funding and to abolish (not replace) REF. HESC agrees to mandate HEC to:
CARRIED HE30A.1 Higher Education Committee Delete bullet point 1. In bullet point 2, add 'possibly' before 'including' LOST HE31 Researcher redundancies - University of ManchesterDespite the introduction of the Fixed Term Employees Regulations in 2002, 10 years later the exploitation they aimed to prevent continues on a massive scale in Higher Education. Employees with fixed term contracts, or so-called 'open ended contracts' tied to external funding, are made compulsorily redundant every day. In many institutions, even researchers progressing to grades deemed 'academic' fall foul of this system. Conference notes the urgent need to challenge the culture of continued exploitation of research staff, including outdated attitudes articulated by management and academic staff including, unfortunately, many UCU colleagues, implying that these redundancies are necessary and/ or beneficial for research progress. Conference instructs the HEC to initiate a campaign to raise awareness in branches, of the importance of challenging all compulsory redundancies, including those of fixed term staff, equally forcefully and the UCU leadership to make the plight of research staff a national priority. CARRIED HE32 Composite: Researchers on fixed-term contracts - Anti-casualisation committee, Teesside UniversityHESC notes that the 'four-year rule' requiring staff on fixed-term contracts are recognised as permanent (unless a substantial reason provided to the contrary) is often ignored; that researchers of many years' standing are viewed as apprentices; and the associated stress and inconvenience. Conference calls on the HEC:
CARRIED Academic-related staff, paragraph 18HE33 Academic-related terms and conditions - Academic-related staff committeeConference notes:
Conference regrets that most employers have used dubious techniques to deny progression to academic-related staff and renege on the Agreement. Conference instructs HEC to:
CARRIED HE34 Academic-related representation - Academic-related staff committeeConference notes:
Conference therefore calls upon HEC:
CARRIED HE35 Opposition to outsourcing and shared services - London regional HE committeeConference notes
Conference believes
Conference resolves
CARRIED HE35A.1 Higher Education Committee Add at the end of point (i): ', where they are detrimental to members' interests and services' LOST New section, Academic careers, after paragraph 18.1HE36 Teaching and research careers - Higher Education CommitteeConference notes
Conference believes that
Conference calls on HEC to
CARRIED AS AMENDED HE36A.1 University of Bath After point 3 add point 4: the increasing use of 10 month contracts for teaching-only contracts that cover an academic year. After point c add point d: the increased use of 10-month contracts represents a worsening of nationally agreed conditions Add to point iii: in general, and oppose the increased use of 10 month contracts in particular. CARRIED HE36A.2 University of Essex Insert after 'teaching' in point b), ', scholarship' CARRIED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION Conference notes
Conference believes that
Conference calls on HEC to
HE37 Teaching only contracts - London Metropolitan University (North)UCU HE Sector Conference notes the potential danger of 'teacher only' contracts as means to increase work load and to hinder the academic potential of HE lecturers and researchers. Conference calls on the HEC to promote support up to and including active promotion of nationally aggregated action for branches and local associations where 'teacher only' contracts are proposed for introduction. CARRIED AS AMENDED HE37A.1 Higher Education Committee In the first paragraph, insert after 'teacher only' contracts ',which do not have provision for scholarly activity,' CARRIED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION UCU HE Sector Conference notes the potential danger of 'teacher only' contracts, which do not have provision for scholarly activity, as means to increase work load and to hinder the academic potential of HE lecturers and researchers. Conference calls on the HEC to promote support up to and including active promotion of nationally aggregated action for branches and local associations where 'teacher only' contracts are proposed for introduction. Health Educators, paragraph 19.1HE38 Threat to health professions and health educators - London regional HE committeeConference notes
Conference resolves
CARRIED English white paper - competition and privatisation, paragraph 20HE39 Defend the public university - Yorkshire and Humberside regional HE committeeConference notes the threat of closure to some HE institutions, the shift from education to training, the adoption of market approaches to the curriculum, the threat of privatisation and the abandoning of liberal educational values. Conference notes that campaigns such as the Campaign for the Defence of the Public University have taken the initiative. Conference notes the successful national conference organised by the Education Committee of the NEC. Conference resolves to organise a series of high profile regional rallies in the Autumn term, focussed particularly where institutional closure or restructuring are threatened, putting the case for the Public University and opposing privatisation. CARRIED HE39A.1 South East regional HE committee After 'restructuring' in third paragraph add ', merger or resource sharing' At end add two new paragraphs: Branches are urged to join student activists, local Student Unions and the Campaign for the Public University, to organise 'teach-in' days in Autumn and Spring, and approach VCs for appropriate teaching suspension. HEC is instructed to: 1 coordinate with local groups and the Campaign to provide NEC speakers and anti-privatisation resources for a national programme of 'teach-ins' 2 consider how for-profit initiatives can be boycotted, and advise branches and regions. CARRIED HE39A.2 Higher Education Committee Replace 'Conference resolves to organise a series of high profile regional rallies in the Autumn term, focussed particularly where institutional closure or restructuring are threatened...' with 'Conference encourages regional HE committees to organise high profile events in the autumn term, particularly focussing on locations where institutional closure or restructuring are threatened...' LOST HE39A.3 Southern regional HE committee Delete final paragraph (Conference resolves to organise....opposing privatisation) and replace with: Conference asks HEC to publicly support these campaigns and to encourage and support Regional Committees to organise or support regional rallies or events linked with these in the autumn term. CARRIED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION Conference notes the threat of closure to some HE institutions, the shift from education to training, the adoption of market approaches to the curriculum, the threat of privatisation and the abandoning of liberal educational values. Conference notes that campaigns such as the Campaign for the Defence of the Public University have taken the initiative. Conference notes the successful national conference organised by the Education Committee of the NEC. Conference asks HEC to publicly support these campaigns and to encourage and support Regional Committees to organise or support regional rallies or events linked with these in the autumn term. Branches are urged to join student activists, local Student Unions and the Campaign for the Public University, to organise 'teach-in' days in Autumn and Spring, and approach VCs for appropriate teaching suspension. HEC is instructed to: 1 coordinate with local groups and the Campaign to provide NEC speakers and anti-privatisation resources for a national programme of 'teach-ins' 2 consider how for-profit initiatives can be boycotted, and advise branches and regions. HE40 Composite: Privatisation in higher education - Northumbria University, University of HertfordshireConference notes that:
Conference recognises that, despite the delay in the promised Higher Education Bill, pressures towards privatisation and new business models remain. In particular:
Conference believes that:
Conference reaffirms this union's position that higher education should be a service and not a source of profit, and resolves to campaign energetically against any further inroads of privatisation in our sector. CARRIED HE41 Joint campaigns with students - Northern regional HE committeeEven though the government has postponed the HE Bill, for now, UCU remains committed to oppose creeping privatisation. This includes tuition fees, unfair access into higher education, the gendered narrowing of curricula, unpaid internships and other forms of student exploitation. UCU works with the NUS nationally on common campaign issues. However, at the local level this opportunity may be less than effective for various reasons. Conference calls upon the HEC to support and develop a memo of co-operation with the NUS nationally to ensure that joint campaigning work is taken forward at a local level. CARRIED AS AMENDED HE41A.1 South East regional HE committee Add at end: Conference resolves to:
CARRIED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION Even though the government has postponed the HE Bill, for now, UCU remains committed to oppose creeping privatisation. This includes tuition fees, unfair access into higher education, the gendered narrowing of curricula, unpaid internships and other forms of student exploitation. UCU works with the NUS nationally on common campaign issues. However, at the local level this opportunity may be less than effective for various reasons. Conference calls upon the HEC to support and develop a memo of co-operation with the NUS nationally to ensure that joint campaigning work is taken forward at a local level. Conference resolves to:
HE42 Opposing privatisation - Yorkshire and Humberside regional HE committee and Leeds Metropolitan UniversityConference notes the growing threat of privatisation in Higher Education, including outsourcing and partnerships with private providers. It welcomes the research undertaken by UCU's Universities Department into employment conditions in private providers. This research usefully documents the variations in pay and conditions between public and private universities. Conference supports UCU efforts to unionise, represent and negotiate for staff already employed by private providers of HE, while continuing to campaign against the growth of privatisation of the HE sector. Developments in Leeds highlight the dangers of privatisation (in particular the threatened outsourcing of English language provision and disability support services) and the ability to stand up to this through campaigning trade unionism. Sector Conference declares its support for branches in Leeds who are campaigning and organising on this issue. CARRIED New section Intellectual Property Rights, after paragraph 20.3HE43 Lecture capture, digitisation, and publishing - Newcastle UniversityConference notes that:
Conference resolves:
TAKEN IN PARTS - CARRIED Governance/academic freedom, paragraph 21HE44 Higher education governance - University of St AndrewsConference notes the publication in February 2012 of the Scottish Government's report on the Review of Higher Education Governance in Scotland, and the alignment of that Report with many central UCU policies, such as the participation of trade unions in University governance. Conference instructs UCU to:
CARRIED HE45 Academic publishing - University of BathIt is now clear that a few publishers have gained a quasi-monopoly in academic publishing. Publications are the primary form of dissemination of academic work, and careers depend on them. Given the manner in which some publishers have abused their power by increasing prices and by publishing thinly disguised corporate pamphlets, for example, we are concerned by the practices of part of the academic publishing business. Thus, HESC resolves to:
CARRIED AS AMENDED HE45A.1 Higher Education Committee Add new point 4: 'Congratulate the MRC on its support for unrestricted access to the published outputs of research as a fundamental part of its mission and a public benefit.' CARRIED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION It is now clear that a few publishers have gained a quasi-monopoly in academic publishing. Publications are the primary form of dissemination of academic work, and careers depend on them. Given the manner in which some publishers have abused their power by increasing prices and by publishing thinly disguised corporate pamphlets, for example, we are concerned by the practices of part of the academic publishing business. Thus, HESC resolves to:
Scotland, paragraph 23.2HE46 Staff-student ratios and fees - University of St AndrewsConference notes the higher rate of growth in student numbers in comparison to growth in numbers of academic and related staff, and (with regret) the introduction of significantly increased fees across the UK. Conference resolves:
CARRIED HE47 Fees for rest of UK students in Scotland - UCU ScotlandConference condemns
Conference reiterates its opposition to university tuition fees, and commits to supporting UCU Scotland campaigns against fees and to guard against the undermining of the traditional four-year degree in Scotland. CARRIED |
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