Business of the recruitment, organising and campaigning committee
18 May 2011
UCU Congress 2011: Sunday 29 May 2011, 10:00-12:30.
Chapter 6 of the NEC's report to UCU Congress 2011:
UCU331.html | UCU331.rtf
Motions:
1 - Building the resistance
2 - Opposition to Education Spending Cuts
3 - Funding cuts - libraries, arts and humanities
4 - The National Organising Plan and support for UCU reps
5 - De-recognition of UCU at Robert Gordon University
6 - Defend jobs, education and courses at London Metropolitan University
L1 - Newcastle College Emergency Motion
L2 - Emergency motion: Barnsley College
L3 - Emergency motion on victimisation at Coleg Morgannwg
L6 - Cuts at CONEL
L7 - Dismissals at NW Kent College
7 - Precarious work and building UCU
8 - Building UCU
9 - Protection of members' rights at work
10 - The back office - on the front line
11 - Campaign in support of branches and local associations without recognition
12 - Representation of women members
13 - Organisation of retired members' branches
14 - Representation of Self Organised Groups (SOGs)
15 - Raising the profile of Adult Education in UCU
16 - Young people under unprecedented attack
17 - EMA
18 - The threat of marketisation and privatisation
19 - Voluntary redundancies
20 - Students and the right to protest
L8 - Jody McIntyre and Right to Protest
L12 - Youth Fight for Jobs affiliation
L13 - Youth Fight for Jobs mobilisation
Campaigning (report paragraph 2)
1 Composite: Building the resistance - Deeside College, City and Islington College Camden Road, East Midlands regional committee, Croydon College, North West regional committee, South East regional retired members branch
Congress condemns the savage attacks by the Con-Dem Government on the living standards of the majority of the population, which are on an unprecedented scale. Particularly it condemns the economic and social impact of cuts to public transport, the library service, and the provision of social care. If £80 billion is cut from public spending our public services will be devastated. Congress salutes those students, trade unionists and community activists who have been in the forefront of the resistance to the cutbacks. It believes the organised labour movement must play a crucial role in organising resistance to the austerity programme.
While Congress recognises that every union must defend its members in every sector, Congress also recognises that every working person is under attack and that is why we need co-ordinated political campaigning and industrial action across the unions against the cuts. Congress re-affirms its belief in a strong campaigning union.
Congress resolves to continue to work with other trade unions, NUS and student organisations, community groups, equality groups, and campaign groups to build broad resistance to cutbacks and attacks on living standards, at national and local level. This resistance should include industrial action, public demonstrations and demands for a radical change in Government policies.
CARRIED AS AMENDED
1A.1 Compositing amendment - Deeside College, East Midlands regional committee, Croydon College, North West regional committee
Add at end:
To help build that resistance Congress calls on the TUC, in the wake of the 26th March demonstration, to organise a 24 hour general strike across the public sector against the cuts.
CARRIED
1A.2 Composite - National Executive Committee, East Midlands regional committee
After the first paragraph add:
Congress also condemns the £20bn cut to the NHS budget and decries the Health and Social Care Bill. If this Bill is passed, it will lead the way to the total privatisation of Health Care initially through the Commissioning Process. UCU has well over 2000 members involved in the delivery of Health and Social Care courses which are at risk. Therefore, Congress agrees that UCU affiliate to Health Emergency as part of building the resistance.
CARRIED
1A.3 - Women members' standing committee
Insert at the end of the first sentence: 'and the disproportionate impact on women'
CARRIED
1A.4 - Chesterfield College
Insert new para after para 2:
Congress notes the biggest ever trade union demonstrations on 26/3 against the coalition government's austerity programme and recognises the huge potential to organise large scale coordinated strike action which now exist. Congress calls upon the TUC to organise a second ' march for the alternative' in autumn 2011
CARRIED
1A.5 - University of Brighton, Falmer
Add after para 2:
Congress welcomes decisions by the NUT and ATL conferences to ballot for strike action to defend pensions and notes the PCS executive's recommendation for a similar ballot at its annual conference.
Congress recognises the need for joint union action to defend pensions and welcomes the prospect of coordinated strike action across public sector unions as a step towards the general strike that will be necessary to stop the Coalition's austerity programme in its tracks.
CARRIED
SUBSTANTIVE MOTION
Congress condemns the savage attacks by the Con-Dem Government on the living standards of the majority of the population, which are on an unprecedented scale and the disproportionate impact on women. Particularly it condemns the economic and social impact of cuts to public transport, the library service, and the provision of social care. If £80 billion is cut from public spending our public services will be devastated. Congress salutes those students, trade unionists and community activists who have been in the forefront of the resistance to the cutbacks. It believes the organised labour movement must play a crucial role in organising resistance to the austerity programme.
Congress also condemns the £20bn cut to the NHS budget and decries the Health and Social Care Bill. If this Bill is passed, it will lead the way to the total privatisation of Health Care initially through the Commissioning Process. UCU has well over 2000 members involved in the delivery of Health and Social Care courses which are at risk. Therefore, Congress agrees that UCU affiliate to Health Emergency as part of building the resistance.
While Congress recognises that every union must defend its members in every sector, Congress also recognises that every working person is under attack and that is why we need co-ordinated political campaigning and industrial action across the unions against the cuts. Congress re-affirms its belief in a strong campaigning union.
Congress notes the biggest ever trade union demonstrations on 26/3 against the coalition government's austerity programme and recognises the huge potential to organise large scale coordinated strike action which now exist. Congress calls upon the TUC to organise a second ' march for the alternative' in autumn 2011.
Congress welcomes decisions by the NUT and ATL conferences to ballot for strike action to defend pensions and notes the PCS executive's recommendation for a similar ballot at its annual conference.
Congress recognises the need for joint union action to defend pensions and welcomes the prospect of coordinated strike action across public sector unions as a step towards the general strike that will be necessary to stop the Coalition's austerity programme in its tracks.
Congress resolves to continue to work with other trade unions, NUS and student organisations, community groups, equality groups, and campaign groups to build broad resistance to cutbacks and attacks on living standards, at national and local level. This resistance should include industrial action, public demonstrations and demands for a radical change in Government policies.
To help build that resistance Congress calls on the TUC, in the wake of the 26th March demonstration, to organise a 24 hour general strike across the public sector against the cuts.
2 Opposition to Education Spending Cuts - Coleg Morgannwg
Congress condemns the public sector spending cuts imposed by the Con-Dem Coalition. Congress believes these cuts are unnecessary and are an ideologically driven attempt to make the public sector pay for a financial crisis caused by an irresponsible and greedy banking sector. These cuts will inevitably lead to widespread redundancies and consequent loss of provision across the higher and further education sector.
Congress resolves to urge branches/LAs to immediately ballot for strike action if their institutions threaten any compulsory redundancies of our members.
Congress further resolves to give full backing and support to any branch/LA taking action to oppose redundancies and cuts in educational provision. Where possible, such action will be coordinated with other public sector unions.
CARRIED AS AMENDED
2A.1 - New College Nottingham
Add at end:
In recognition of the rapidly growing threat to tens of thousands of jobs in FHE institutions Congress instructs the NEC and its industrial committees to organise a high profile national campaign to defend jobs which should include joint meetings with other unions and students as well as further co-ordinated national strike action in the new academic year supported by solidarity protests and rallies.
CARRIED
2A.2 Composite - Croydon College, University of Brighton Grand Parade
Replace full stop at end of paragraph 1 with comma and add 'and attempts by management to increase workloads and contact hours to the detriment of quality of education provision and the health and safety of staff.'
Insert comma after the words 'to oppose redundancies' in paragraph 3 and insert 'increases in workloads and contact hours, ' after the comma.
Add at end:
In recognition of the rapidly growing threat to tens of thousands of jobs and consequent soaring workloads in FHE institutions Congress instructs the NEC to organise a national campaign against workload increases which will include national and regional briefing meetings on how branches can work to contract and defend jobs through opposing increases in workload.
CARRIED
SUBSTANTIVE MOTION
Congress condemns the public sector spending cuts imposed by the Con-Dem Coalition. Congress believes these cuts are unnecessary and are an ideologically driven attempt to make the public sector pay for a financial crisis caused by an irresponsible and greedy banking sector. These cuts will inevitably lead to widespread redundancies and consequent loss of provision across the higher and further education sector, and attempts by management to increase workloads and contact hours to the detriment of quality of education provision and the health and safety of staff.
Congress resolves to urge branches/LAs to immediately ballot for strike action if their institutions threaten any compulsory redundancies of our members.
Congress further resolves to give full backing and support to any branch/LA taking action to oppose redundancies, increases in workloads and contact hours, and cuts in educational provision. Where possible, such action will be coordinated with other public sector unions.
In recognition of the rapidly growing threat to tens of thousands of jobs in FHE institutions Congress instructs the NEC and its industrial committees to organise a high profile national campaign to defend jobs which should include joint meetings with other unions and students as well as further co-ordinated national strike action in the new academic year supported by solidarity protests and rallies.
In recognition of the rapidly growing threat to tens of thousands of jobs and consequent soaring workloads in FHE institutions Congress instructs the NEC to organise a national campaign against workload increases which will include national and regional briefing meetings on how branches can work to contract and defend jobs through opposing increases in workload.
3 Composite: Funding cuts - libraries, arts and humanities - University of Glasgow, Oxford and Cherwell Valley College
Congress abhors the current government's disastrous and unnecessary spending cuts across the public sector. In particular, we deplore the attack on the arts, humanities and heritage sectors as funding is vastly reduced. This attack can only result in an increase in the intellectual deficit of our society.
Congress is appalled by cuts in the library service and planned closure of local authority libraries. For example, in Oxfordshire there has been a plan to close 20 out of 43 libraries in the County. The main reason for the closures is a reduction in central government funding. The attempt to marketise yet another essential public service by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat government (and unfortunately carried out by some Labour controlled authorities along with those local authorities supporting the government) will do very serious harm to the educational and social fabric of the country.
Our public libraries and museums are critical to our heritage and to lifelong learning, and to expose these institutions to even more ferocious cuts is short-termism of the worst nature.
Congress
- calls on all tertiary education employers to join with it to vigorously lobby government and campaign against these swingeing spending cuts
- supports all the anti cuts campaigns and UNISON in the efforts to stop the library closures
- urges UCU branches to get involved with the local campaigns
- commends Philip Pullman's speech on library closures to the Oxfordshire Anti- Cuts Alliance and will seek copyright permission to make it available to all UCU members.
CARRIED
Recruitment (report paragraph 3)
4 The National Organising Plan and support for UCU reps - National Executive Committee
Congress notes the continued success of the National Organising Plan. The union has more members and reps now than ever and the investment in organising sanctioned by successive Congresses continues to pay off as does UCU's pro-active campaigning on the ground. In recognising the current economic and industrial climate Congress calls for NEC to continue to prioritise supporting members and developing reps in a systematic fashion as we campaign to defend post-16 education and those who work in it.
CARRIED AS AMENDED
4A.1 - National Executive Committee
Add after 'National Organising Plan' at the end of the first sentence 'and reaffirms the centrality of equality issues to it'.
Add after 'industrial climate' in the third sentence 'Congress notes that it is likely to have particularly negative and discriminatory effects on women members, black members, disabled members, LGBT members, and casualised staff.'
New sentence begins 'Congress calls for NEC...'
Add after 'reps' in the last sentence, 'particularly women members, black members, disabled members, LGBT members, and casualised staff'
CARRIED
4A.2 - Northern Region Committee
Add new paragraph at end:
Congress reaffirms the support that regional committees can give to achieving the aims of the NOP. Regional committees support local reps through devising and co-ordinating local strategies, disseminating best practice, organising and co-ordinating training and recruitment with national and regional offices and very importantly, through organising solidarity.
CARRIED
4A.3 - Greenwich Community College
Add at end:
Congress reaffirms that at the heart of the union's support of members and aim to develop reps is our commitment to defend reps against increasing management bullying and victimisation and a willingness to organise industrial action where necessary to ensure this is done.
CARRIED
SUBSTANTIVE MOTION
Congress notes the continued success of the National Organising Plan and reaffirms the centrality of equality issues to it. The union has more members and reps now than ever and the investment in organising sanctioned by successive Congresses continues to pay off as does UCU's pro-active campaigning on the ground. In recognising the current economic and industrial climate. Congress notes that it is likely to have particularly negative and discriminatory effects on women members, black members, disabled members, LGBT members, and casualised staff. Congress calls for NEC to continue to prioritise supporting members and developing reps, particularly women members, black members, disabled members, LGBT members, and casualised staff, in a systematic fashion as we campaign to defend post-16 education and those who work in it.
Congress reaffirms the support that regional committees can give to achieving the aims of the NOP. Regional committees support local reps through devising and co-ordinating local strategies, disseminating best practice, organising and co-ordinating training and recruitment with national and regional offices and very importantly, through organising solidarity.
Congress reaffirms that at the heart of the union's support of members and aim to develop reps is our commitment to defend reps against increasing management bullying and victimisation and a willingness to organise industrial action where necessary to ensure this is done.
Local disputes (insert new paragraph after 5)
5 Composite: De-recognition of UCU at Robert Gordon University - Robert Gordon University, UCU Scotland
On Wednesday 9th March 2011 Robert Gordon University (RGU) suddenly and unilaterally announced de-recognition of UCU with immediate effect, without any discussion with UCU and after 10 years of working in partnership. On the same day the UNITE branch at RGU was also de-recognised. Robert Gordon is the home institution of the UCU Scotland President. The new Principal had not taken up office and was unaware of the decision.
RGU management must give back a voice to UNITE and for the growing numbers (over 70) of UCU members at RGU and reverse this outrageous decision to gag staff which is an attack on UCU locally, nationally and on the trade union movement and which has brought RGU into disrepute.
UCU National Congress condemns this action by RGU and therefore
- calls on RGU, and the new Principal, to work with all unions and to immediately renegotiate the recognition agreement with UCU and also with UNITE
- will support the local branch at RGU to work constructively with the other campus trade unions (EIS, UNISON and UNITE) to achieve a collective voice.
CARRIED
6 Composite: Defend jobs, education and courses at London Metropolitan University - London Metropolitan University, National Executive Committee
London Metropolitan management have launched an all-out assault on London Metropolitan University, cutting 70% undergraduate provision for 2012-2013, action that will mean hundreds of job cuts and an end to London Metropolitan's proud record of widening participation. Further, LMU Con-Dem compliant VC Malcolm Gillies is zero-recruiting long established humanities courses for 2011-2012.
This attack shows what coalition policies mean.
Congress agrees that London Metropolitan members' fight to defend jobs and education is a cross-sectoral dispute of major national significance to the whole union.
We will not allow London Metropolitan members to fight alone.
Congress mandates NEC to launch a national campaign based on LMU to reverse this stark attempt to shrink HE provision. We agree urgently to call, and then energetically to build, a national demonstration in support of London Metropolitan unions' fight to protect jobs and educational provision.
CARRIED
L1 Newcastle College Emergency Motion - Newcastle College
Congress condemns the decision of Newcastle College:
- To make large numbers of members redundant
- To introduce savage pay cuts for members
- To derecognise Dave O'Toole as Branch Secretary
Congress supports the Newcastle College Branch in its industrial and political campaign against these measures.
Congress requests the General Secretary to write to the Chair of Governors making clear that the union totally supports Dave and the Branch.
CARRIED
L2 Emergency motion - Barnsley College
Congress condemns the assault on jobs in colleges and universities that has been launched as a result of government funding cuts.
The announcement of mass redundancies at Barnsley College and CONEL in recent days, follows on from London Metropolitan University and a growing list of colleges.
Congress congratulates those members who have already taken strike action to defend jobs and pledges its full support to those members who are now balloting or are about to ballot.
Congress recognises that the successful outcome of these disputes is crucial for the whole union.
Congress therefore agrees to:
- Organise a national day of action in defence of jobs in June.
- Call on all members to pay at least £25 in a national levy to boost the union strike fund in recognition of the scale of action that will be necessary to defeat these attacks.
CARRIED
L3 Emergency motion on victimisation at Coleg Morgannwg - National Executive Committee
Congress condemns the decision by Coleg Morgannwg to take disciplinary action against Guy Stoate (President UCU Cymru and NEC member).
Congress believes this amounts to victimisation and has serious implications for UCU and the wider trade union movement
Congress gives full support to industrial action by the branch
Congress calls on UCU leadership to mount a campaign to include:
- publicity
- seeking support from other unions
- a demand that the college withdraws the disciplinary action immediately.
CARRIED
L6 Cuts at CONEL
Friday 27 May was the deadline for voluntary redundancy applications at CONEL.
CONEL is proposing to cut 25% of teaching staff, the highest in London, despite an only 0.5% funding cut and the biggest operating surplus in London
Cuts are targeted at areas with a high proportion of permanent staff and UCU members; 75% of ESOL staff, 60% Hair and Beauty staff are to go. Seven out of nine UCU officers are at risk.
This is a local dispute of national significance. The Principal is a leading AoC figure and wants to establish precedence, replacing permanent staff with agency/HPLs and undermining contracts, terms and conditions,
Congress urges the NEC to give the full support of the national union: publicity, legal and financial support.
CARRIED
L7 Dismissals at NW Kent College
This Congress is appalled by the proposal by NW Kent College management to dismiss 156 staff by the end of August 2011 - the largest proposed cut in staffing in the SE Region. This will undermine post-16 educational provision in the deprived communities of the Thames Gateway and, in particular, end AS/A Level and teacher training provision for the communities of Dartford and Gravesend. It will also put an impossible strain on those staff remaining.
Congress supports the SE Regional Office in the prioritisation of fighting these redundancies and instructs UCU Officers to mount a campaign of appropriate support and action including, if necessary, a national UCU delegation to the college, maximum publicity and calling on the support of other Branches, local politicians and organisations.
CARRIED
Supporting reps in the workplace (paragraph 6)
7 Precarious work and building UCU - University of Hertfordshire
Congress recognises:
- that the UCU faces a major fight to defend educational provision, national collective bargaining, jobs, pensions and living standards.
- the increased precarity of work for a large number of academic and
non-academicacademic-related staff (hourly paid lecturers, fixed term contracts) and the difficulties they face in being active in the union - while this situation presents the union with major challenges, it also offers an unprecedented opportunity for building an active, vibrant and democratic union.
Congress believes that in the next year, NEC should continue to make progress in:
- recruiting new members to the union
- focusing recruitment on precarious workers such as hourly paid lecturers and those on fixed term contracts and embedding these in branch (as well as national) activity
- building strong workplace branches
- developing a shop steward system.
Congress asks the NEC and national officers to produce guidelines for recruiting and integrating precarious workers into branches.
CARRIED AS AMENDED (WITH DRAFTING AMEND)
7A.1 - Anti-casualisation committee
Add new point c: 'encouraging branches to hold meetings of members on precarious contracts where these members elect representation to work with the branch committee'
renumber subsequent points d and e.
CARRIED
SUBSTANTIVE MOTION
Congress recognises:
- that the UCU faces a major fight to defend educational provision, national collective bargaining, jobs, pensions and living standards.
- the increased precarity of work for a large number of academic and staff (hourly paid lecturers, fixed term contracts) and the difficulties they face in being active in the union
- while this situation presents the union with major challenges, it also offers an unprecedented opportunity for building an active, vibrant and democratic union.
Congress believes that in the next year, NEC should continue to make progress in:
- recruiting new members to the union
- focusing recruitment on precarious workers such as hourly paid lecturers and those on fixed term contracts and embedding these in branch (as well as national) activity
- encouraging branches to hold meetings of members on precarious contracts where these members elect representation to work with the branch committee
- building strong workplace branches
- developing a shop steward system.
Congress asks the NEC and national officers to produce guidelines for recruiting and integrating precarious workers into branches.
8 Building UCU - University of Brighton Moulscoomb
Congress recognises that UCU faces a major fight to defend educational provision, national collective bargaining, jobs, pensions and living standards.
This presents the union with major challenges but also offers an unprecedented opportunity for building an active, vibrant and democratic union, that is the first call for academic and related staff.
Congress affirms that UCU should continue the implementation of the National Organising Plan in:
- recruiting new members
- targeting under-represented groups, particularly young lecturers and researchers
- building strong workplace branches with regular meetings, solidarity with students, and a shop-steward system of representation
- training all representatives and officers for both casework and campaigning.
(TAKEN IN PARTS) CARRIED AS AMENDED
Congress determines that UCU will, through Education Committee and ROCC, make itself the representative professional organisation in both sectors, establishing professional standards for (inter alia): research preparation and evaluation; teaching assessment, training and induction; staff development; poor performance and disciplinary matters; and promotion processes and criteria.
LOST
8A.1 - London regional committee
After the second paragraph, insert:
Congress welcomes the union's increased encouragement and recruitment of members under 35 and proposes that the young members' steering group should further develop this work through considering any necessary Rule changes for Congress 2012 to elect a steering committee, increase representation of young members as delegates to annual congress, and instigate an annual young members conference.
CARRIED
8A.2 - Academic-related committee
On point 2 of Numbered points, add at end of point 2 'and new academic related roles'
End of closing paragraph, delete 'and' before 'promotion processes and criteria' and add at end, ',and oppose the attempts in many HE institutions to downgrade the role of academic related staff to that of non-academic or deprofessionalised support staff.'
CARRIED
SUBSTANTIVE MOTION
Congress recognises that UCU faces a major fight to defend educational provision, national collective bargaining, jobs, pensions and living standards.
This presents the union with major challenges but also offers an unprecedented opportunity for building an active, vibrant and democratic union, that is the first call for academic and related staff.
Congress welcomes the union's increased encouragement and recruitment of members under 35 and proposes that the young members' steering group should further develop this work through considering any necessary Rule changes for Congress 2012 to elect a steering committee, increase representation of young members as delegates to annual congress, and instigate an annual young members conference.
Congress affirms that UCU should continue the implementation of the National Organising Plan in:
- recruiting new members
- targeting under-represented groups, particularly young lecturers and researchers and new academic related roles
- building strong workplace branches with regular meetings, solidarity with students, and a shop-steward system of representation
- training all representatives and officers for both casework and campaigning.
9 Protection of members' rights at work - University of Edinburgh
One of the key findings of the Waddington Report was that members expect UCU to protect them in situations of individual and collective threats to jobs. Anecdotal evidence suggests that many branches are struggling to meet this basic need.
Congress calls on the NEC to carry out a basic survey to gauge the level of casework in each branch by collecting data such as numbers of cases, numbers of caseworkers, average waiting time for a member to see a caseworker, and whether branches feel they are receiving the right level of support.
CARRIED
10 The back office - on the front line - Academic-related staff committee
The reckless zeal with which the coalition governments in Westminster and Cardiff are seeking to ensure that efficiency savings are secured by cutting 'back office' posts in universities and colleges is shocking. Academic related and support staff nationwide are under threat from reorganisation, restructuring and departmental closures. These are the professional staff, administrators, IT staff and librarians without whom universities and colleges cannot operate.
Academic related and support staff are now also under threat from collaboration under the 'shared services' agenda, with universities and colleges sharing services with each other or with local authorities and other public bodies.
Congress calls on the NEC to fight job losses among academic related and support staff as a matter of urgency, and campaign to ensure that shared services do not lead to further job cuts, worse terms and conditions and new forms of outsourcing.
CARRIED
11 Campaign in support of branches and local associations without recognition - Eastern and Home Counties regional committee
Congress notes that:
- recognised, active, trade union branches/LAs are the essential basis of an effective fighting union
- institutions without recognised branches/LAs often have worse terms and conditions than those which enjoy recognition
- there are a number of institutions which are currently working towards recognition despite the difficult political climate
- inter-branch solidarity in the form of letters of support to management and branches/LAs in addition to practical help has been a great help in building confidence and activity of branches/LAs seeking recognition.
Congress calls for a campaign at a regional and national level within the union:
- to highlight branches/LAs currently fighting for recognition
- to encourage unrecognised branches/LAs to actively fight for recognition
- to promote cooperation between unrecognised branches/LAs and other local branches/LAs across the FE and HE sectors
- to encourage branches/LAs to offer practical assistance and send messages of support.
CARRIED
Under-represented groups (report paragraph 8)
12 Representation of women members - Women members standing committee
Congress acknowledges the gendered nature of the cuts and the need to address this in all of its campaigns and other action. Given the danger of equality issues being lost in the enormity of the threats, Congress instructs NEC to formulate principles to secure that the diversity of our membership, acknowledging that women are 50% of UCU membership, is reflected among speakers on any UCU organised platform.
(TAKEN IN PARTS) CARRIED
Congress also notes that that UC magazine has not appeared in hard copy for a considerable time. In light of the invaluable role the magazine can play in reflecting the diverse nature of UCU membership Congress instructs NEC to ensure that a hard copy magazine is produced on a regular basis and that this is used to promote diversity and reflect the proportion of women members in UCU.
(TAKEN IN PARTS) LOST
SUBSTANTIVE MOTION
Congress acknowledges the gendered nature of the cuts and the need to address this in all of its campaigns and other action. Given the danger of equality issues being lost in the enormity of the threats, Congress instructs NEC to formulate principles to secure that the diversity of our membership, acknowledging that women are 50% of UCU membership, is reflected among speakers on any UCU organised platform.
13 Organisation of retired members' branches - East Midlands retired members branch
This Congress reiterates its support for the retired members' branches of the UCU as outlined in the successful motion 89 passed at Congress 2010. It notes with concern that progress in implementing this motion has been very tardy and limited and requests that a full report be given to retired members' branches as soon as possible and also to Congress 2012 regarding:
- dedicating resources to ensure that retired members are allocated to RMBs
- placing a retired members section on the website
- ensuring that the agreed working group resolves organisational problems
- facilitating an annual meeting of RMB representatives.
Congress further notes that the retired members are a resource for all the union and urges that they be involved in appropriate campaigns of the UCU.
CARRIED AS AMENDED
13A.1 - South East regional committee
add to point 1 after 'RMBs': 'where this is requested by retired members, recognising they have the right to remain as members of their Branch/Local Association'.
CARRIED
SUBSTANTIVE MOTION
This Congress reiterates its support for the retired members' branches of the UCU as outlined in the successful motion 89 passed at Congress 2010. It notes with concern that progress in implementing this motion has been very tardy and limited and requests that a full report be given to retired members' branches as soon as possible and also to Congress 2012 regarding:
- dedicating resources to ensure that retired members are allocated to RMBs where this is requested by retired members, recognising they have the right to remain as members of their Branch/Local Association
- placing a retired members section on the website
- ensuring that the agreed working group resolves organisational problems
- facilitating an annual meeting of RMB representatives.
Congress further notes that the retired members are a resource for all the union and urges that they be involved in appropriate campaigns of the UCU.
Self-organised groups (insert new paragraph after 9)
14 Representation of Self Organised Groups (SOGs) - Teesside University
Congress is concerned about the inadequate level of representation for members of SOGs (e.g. UCU Black Members, LGBT and Disabled Members Groups). UCU policy is to use case workers from branches, associations, lay representatives and paid officials which does not always provide appropriate support, advice or representation, due to lack of experience, skills or confidence.
Congress wishes to improve support for members in SOGs faced with discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation. Congress therefore recommends:
- Reviewing the 'protocol of representation' to enable SOG members to access appropriate training and support to enable them to work alongside case workers, regional officers and UCU paid officials to strengthen support, advice and representation for members across all regions
- Alter and update UCU rules and procedures to enable SOGs to have a more active role as described above.
LOST
Adult education (report paragraph 10)
15 Raising the profile of Adult Education in UCU - Lewisham ACE
Congress notes that Adult and Community Learning is a distinct section of UCU with its own set of problems and challenges. More often than not it is lumped in together with HE and FE and not even accorded a specific mention in national UCU events and communications.
UCU Adult and Community Learning Services members pay the same union subscriptions as everybody else in UCU and deserve to be treated with equal regard. Adult and Community Learning members feel excluded from UCU policies because of the continued omission of any reference to them or their problems by the leadership. Our sector is under threat of extinction but we do not have a distinct voice within UCU.
Congress resolves to
- to raise the profile of the Adult and Community Learning Sector as a distinct entity
- refer specifically to the Adult and Community Learning Sector in national policies and communications
CARRIED
Young members (report paragraph 13)
16 Young people under unprecedented attack - London regional committee
Congress deplores the Con-Dem government's unprecedented attack on young people, 'Generation 2012', who have lost the EMA and face unique threats and costs for education, training, job security and security in old age.
Congress calls on NEC to establish a 'Young Members Group' at national and regional level and to work with all active student groups to defend their generation.
CARRIED
17 EMA - Croydon College
This Conference notes that the Con- Dem Government's decision to replace the £550million Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) with a £180 million bursary scheme administered by Colleges and schools is a totally inadequate response to the campaigning efforts of parents, students and trade unions demanding full restoration of this benefit.
This conference resolves to continue to campaign for the full restoration of EMA and no cut in entitlement.
CARRIED
Challenging the market (report paragraph 14)
18 The threat of marketisation and privatisation - National Executive Committee
Congress notes with concern the threat of 'for-profit' and 'shared service' companies increasing their role in the post-16 education sector.
Congress believes this situation is a dangerous escalation in the continuing marketisation of education and represents a significant threat to national collective bargaining and the quality of provision.
Congress resolves to intensify the campaign to expose the dangers of this 'privatisation through the back door', in particular, to highlight the threat to staff terms and conditions and to public education more widely.
CARRIED
National ballots in further and higher education (report paragraph 18)
19 Composite: Voluntary redundancies - Brunel University, City and Islington College Finsbury Park
Congress notes that colleges and universities are increasingly using trawls for 'voluntary redundancies' as a way of avoiding industrial action while shedding jobs.
When this occurs, remaining staff face damaging pressure, with mounting workloads and stress. They are unable to offer the quality of teaching that our students deserve.
Congress resolves that UCU should oppose all job cuts and be prepared to take industrial action to defend every job.
UCU should fight to protect members from the threats that can pressure them into taking so-called 'voluntary' redundancy.
CARRIED AS AMENDED
19A.1 Academic-related committee
Third paragraph,
Delete remainder of sentence after 'Congress resolves that UCU...' And replace with
'while continuing to oppose compulsory redundancies, will also resist the loss of jobs which lead to a worsening provision for students and extra work pressures on remaining staff, and be prepared to take industrial action to defend those jobs, while not preventing innovation and the development of new courses and materials'
CARRIED
SUBSTANTIVE MOTION
Congress notes that colleges and universities are increasingly using trawls for 'voluntary redundancies' as a way of avoiding industrial action while shedding jobs.
When this occurs, remaining staff face damaging pressure, with mounting workloads and stress. They are unable to offer the quality of teaching that our students deserve.
Congress resolves that UCU while continuing to oppose compulsory redundancies, will also resist the loss of jobs which lead to a worsening provision for students and extra work pressures on remaining staff, and be prepared to take industrial action to defend those jobs, while not preventing innovation and the development of new courses and materials.
UCU should fight to protect members from the threats that can pressure them into taking so-called 'voluntary' redundancy.
Mass marches and demonstrations, paragraph 23
20 Composite: Students and the right to protest - Yorkshire and Humberside regional committee, University of Hull, Goldsmiths, Westminster-Kingsway College, South East regional committee
Congress gives full support to the emergent student protest movement in defence of higher education as a fundable public good. Congress asserts the legitimacy of non-violent direct action in pursuit of these aims.
Congress declares that the explosion of student protest against education cuts has been an inspiration to all those fighting Con-Dem austerity and expresses its profound appreciation for the student movement's role in the campaign against the government's destructive plans for FE and HE. Congress applauds the fact that the UCU played a pivotal role in launching the movement alongside the NUS with the 10th November protest.
Congress notes that despite the exemplary protest action by students and lecturers, the abolition of EMA and increases in tuition fees have still been forced through by the Government. This has disastrous implications both for the future of the majority of students in FE from relatively disadvantaged backgrounds and for many HE institutions to which such students may no longer feel able to apply.
Congress notes that Hugh Orde, ACPO President, has threatened to inflict 'extreme tactics' upon those protesting against cuts and tuition fees rises, and that extreme tactics are already widely in use.
Congress opposes and condemns actions by the government to criminalise protest including:
- kettling tactics which violate the right to freedom of assembly and movement and contribute to inciting violence
- state surveillance of HE/FE institutions for eliciting intelligence regarding protest activities, or promoting the stigmatisation and criminalisation of immigrants
- conflating protest with terrorism
- incommensurate prison sentences for protesters convicted of crimes committed during demonstrations
- the heavy-handed policing that led to the hospitalisation of Alfie Meadows and the attack on Jody McIntyre.
Congress calls in the NEC to:
- continue campaigning around the the abolition of EMA and increases in tuition fees
- support our students in their fight to defend EMA and to stop rocketing tuition fees and pledge to back any action in the form of student occupations and protests in the future
- strengthen our links with NUS, local student unions and student campaign groups
- instigate, through the TUC, a reaffirmation of the right to protest
- urge all branches to work closely with local student bodies and to organise joint initiatives such as rallies, teach-ins and lobbies to oppose the education cuts and their implementation locally
- campaign for the charges against Bryan Simpson, Gerard Carroll, Simon McConville and others to be dropped.
CARRIED AS AMENDED
20A.1 University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb
Add new 'notes':
Congress notes that the use of repressive policing is ongoing, as highlighted by the mass arrests, and charges of aggravated assault, levelled at peaceful UK Uncut protesters at Fortnum and Masons on 26 March, and the charging of Alfie Meadows with violent disorder.
Add new 'calls on the NEC to':
g. organise official support for any protests or lobbies held at the hearings of Alfie Meadows, and other student protesters and UK Uncut activists arrested at Fortnums. UCU will support future public meetings, rallies or demonstrations.
CARRIED
20A.2 South East regional committee
add new points g and h:
'g. make arrangements to collect and publicise reports on police tactics during the fees demonstrations and for a full independent investigation into allegations of police mishandling of demonstrators
h. agree that at any demonstration in the future where UCU participates there should be a compiling of details of any police aggression towards demonstrators and this information is then used to work with organisations such as Liberty to uphold the right to protest.'
CARRIED
20A.3 Tower Hamlets College Poplar
Add at end:
UCU supports the call for protests at the Lib Dem and Tory party conferences in the Autumn and will approach the student movement including the NUS and other campus trade unions to organise a national demonstration in defence of education in the autumn term.
CARRIED
SUBSTANTIVE MOTION
Congress gives full support to the emergent student protest movement in defence of higher education as a fundable public good. Congress asserts the legitimacy of non-violent direct action in pursuit of these aims.
Congress declares that the explosion of student protest against education cuts has been an inspiration to all those fighting Con-Dem austerity and expresses its profound appreciation for the student movement's role in the campaign against the government's destructive plans for FE and HE. Congress applauds the fact that the UCU played a pivotal role in launching the movement alongside the NUS with the 10th November protest.
Congress notes that despite the exemplary protest action by students and lecturers, the abolition of EMA and increases in tuition fees have still been forced through by the Government. This has disastrous implications both for the future of the majority of students in FE from relatively disadvantaged backgrounds and for many HE institutions to which such students may no longer feel able to apply.
Congress notes that Hugh Orde, ACPO President, has threatened to inflict 'extreme tactics' upon those protesting against cuts and tuition fees rises, and that extreme tactics are already widely in use.
Congress notes that the use of repressive policing is ongoing, as highlighted by the mass arrests, and charges of aggravated assault, levelled at peaceful UK Uncut protesters at Fortnum and Masons on 26 March, and the charging of Alfie Meadows with violent disorder.
Congress opposes and condemns actions by the government to criminalise protest including:
- kettling tactics which violate the right to freedom of assembly and movement and contribute to inciting violence
- state surveillance of HE/FE institutions for eliciting intelligence regarding protest activities, or promoting the stigmatisation and criminalisation of immigrants
- conflating protest with terrorism
- incommensurate prison sentences for protesters convicted of crimes committed during demonstrations
- the heavy-handed policing that led to the hospitalisation of Alfie Meadows and the attack on Jody McIntyre.
Congress calls in the NEC to:
- continue campaigning around the the abolition of EMA and increases in tuition fees
- support our students in their fight to defend EMA and to stop rocketing tuition fees and pledge to back any action in the form of student occupations and protests in the future
- strengthen our links with NUS, local student unions and student campaign groups
- instigate, through the TUC, a reaffirmation of the right to protest
- urge all branches to work closely with local student bodies and to organise joint initiatives such as rallies, teach-ins and lobbies to oppose the education cuts and their implementation locally
- campaign for the charges against Bryan Simpson, Gerard Carroll, Simon McConville and others to be dropped
- organise official support for any protests or lobbies held at the hearings of Alfie Meadows, and other student protesters and UK Uncut activists arrested at Fortnums. UCU will support future public meetings, rallies or demonstrations
- make arrangements to collect and publicise reports on police tactics during the fees demonstrations and for a full independent investigation into allegations of police mishandling of demonstrators
- agree that at any demonstration in the future where UCU participates there should be a compiling of details of any police aggression towards demonstrators and this information is then used to work with organisations such as Liberty to uphold the right to protest.
UCU supports the call for protests at the Lib Dem and Tory party conferences in the Autumn and will approach the student movement including the NUS and other campus trade unions to organise a national demonstration in defence of education in the autumn term.
L8 Jody McIntyre and Right to Protest
Congress notes that:
- HE student, Jody McIntyre, was dragged from his wheelchair twice during the UCU-supported, national demonstration (9 December)
- this violence was justified on Friday 27 May by the Metropolitan Police internal enquiry on the grounds of risk to the student
- the enquiry also declared that the student was "inadvertently" struck by a baton.
Congress believes these acts to constitute a grave transgression of the right to protest, one with wider implications for democratic rights. These intimidatory tactics cannot be allowed to compromise freedom to protest within the law. Moreover, the December demonstration spoke to our commitment to defend jobs and education.
Congress resolves to:
- support campaigns in defence of Jody McIntyre
- confirm the NEC decision to support the national Defend The Right To Protest Campaign in its endeavours to preserve the right to protest
- publicise UCU's support and issue a press release condemning the decision of this Enquiry.
CARRIED
L12 Youth Fight for Jobs affiliation
Congress notes:
- In 2010 UCU voted to affiliate to the Youth Fight for Jobs campaign
- On 28 May 2011 a Youth Fight for Jobs conference in Leeds was invaded and broken up by West Yorkshire police
- The conference was taking place in a peaceful, legal manner and discussing peaceful resistance to education cuts and privatisation.
Congress believes West Yorkshire police's disruption of the conference is an immediate instance of a pattern of ham-fisted and politically motivated intimidation of student activists which persists both UK-wide and worldwide.
Congress resolves:
- To denounce West Yorkshire Police's attack Youth Fight for Jobs' conference
- To continue to extend solidarity to the Youth Fight for Jobs campaign.
CARRIED
L13 Youth Fight for Jobs mobilisation
Congress notes:
- Before its conference was disrupted by police, Youth Fight for Jobs extended an invitation to UCU to support Youth Fight for Jobs' planned cross-country march from Jarrow to London, which arrives in London on 5 November 2011.
- Youth Fight for Jobs asked UCU for financial support, assistance in mobilisation
Congress resolves:
- To help Youth Fight for Jobs mobilise for its Jarrow march
- To make a donation in an amount to be negotiated by Youth Fight for Jobs and UCU.
CARRIED
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