Congress 2025: Rules, standing orders and organisation of meetings (closed session)

Motions have been allocated to a section of the NEC's report to Congress (UCU2173). Paragraph headings refer to paragraphs within this report. CBC may have added some new paragraph headings to facilitate the ordering of motions.

Section 4: Business of the Strategy and finance committee (closed session)

Section 4: Rule changes (private session)

34  Rule Change: Transparency - University of Bath

Insert new rule

4.2.1: The union will routinely publish information which it holds, according to a publication scheme agreed by the National Executive Committee. The scheme shall be compliant with guidance for public authorities issued by the Information Commissioner's Office under Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and at least as much information as is specified in the ICO's guidance shall be published.

Purpose: UCU is not a public authority and does not fall under the Freedom of Information Act. The rule would have the effect of requiring the union to act as if it were covered by the act. The information which should be published according to a publication scheme is described by the ICO.LOST

35  Rule change - Recall of Congress and/or sector conferences - Composite: Nottingham Trent University, University of Nottingham, East Midlands Regional Committee

Add new rule 16.5.1

Where National Congress or Sector Conferences do not meet during the times referred to in rule 16.5, the relevant National Congress or Sector Conferences must be recalled as soon as reasonably practicable to consider the motions submitted to the National Congress or Sector Conferences. Additional late and
emergency motions can be considered at the recalled Congress or Sector Conference in line with rules 16.8 and 16.9.

Purpose: To enshrine in rule that in the event of cancellation, Congress or Sector Conference need to be rescheduled.LOST

36  Rule Change - Challenges to Chairs - East Midlands regional committee

40 Conduct of Meetings

40.1 In any meeting of a body of the union (namely congress, sector conference, a meeting of the trustees, and those bodies listed under rules 16.7.1 or 16.7.2), a decision of the chair may be challenged.

40.1.1 Challenges to a chair's decision will be by simple majority unless the standing orders of the respective body require some, or all, challenges to a decision of the chair to be by a two-thirds majority

40.1.2 Where another rule prohibits challenges to a specific type of decision of the chair, that rule takes precedence over rule 40.1

Purpose: This rule change makes decisions of a chair in meetings of any body of the union challengeable unless another rule explicitly prohibits this. A challenge would usually be successful if supported by a simple majority, but bodies have discretion to alter this to a 2/3 majority through standing orders.LOST

Changes to standing orders of regional committees (in England)  

37  Regional committee standing orders - Environment Officer/Green Rep - Composite: University of Exeter, City of Bristol College, University of Nottingham

To Standing order 7 of the UCU Regional Committee Model Standing Orders, add 'an Environment Officer/ green rep' after 'a representative of members on casual contracts'

So the amended Model Standing Order 7 would read: 

The Officers of the Committee will be the Chair, the Vice Chair, the Treasurer, the Secretary and the Chairs and Secretaries of the sector committees, and for each sector, a representative of members on casual contracts, an Environment Officer/green rep, together with such other Officers as may be deemed necessary.

Purpose: this explicitly adds an environment officer/green rep to the list of officer positions in the regional committee standing orders.REMITTED (not taken)

38  Regional committee standing orders - ARPS representative - Academic related, professional services staff committee 

To Standing order 7 of the UCU Regional Committee Model Standing Orders, add

'ARPS representative' after 'a representative of members on casual contracts'.

Amended Model Standing Order 7 would read:

The Officers of the Committee will be the Chair, the Vice Chair, the Treasurer, the Secretary and the Chairs and Secretaries of the sector committees, and for each sector, a representative of members on casual contracts, ARPS representative, together with such other Officers as may be deemed necessary.REMITTED (not taken)

Changes to model local branch rules  

39  Model local branch rules - ARPS representative - Academic related, professional services staff committee

Under 8.1 in the UCU Model Branch Rules, add "ARPS Officer where applicable to bargaining remit" to the list of committee roles.

Amended model local rule 8.1 would read:

8.1 Members will be elected to the following officer roles within the
Branch/LA:
The chair/president
The vice-chair/vice president
The treasurer
The secretary
The membership secretary
The equality officer
The anti-casualisation officer
ARPS Officer where applicable to the bargaining remit
[other officers/representatives may be specified here, and elected in the order in which they are specified

REMITTED (not taken)