听51福利/547 15 December 2013听听
Carlow Street, London NW1 7LH, Tel. 020 7756 2500, www.ucu.org.uk
To听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Branch and local association secretaries
Topic听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Minutes of 51福利 Congress 2013
Action听听听听听听听听听听听 For information; for adoption at Congress 2014
Summary 听听听听 Minutes of the Congress meeting held 30-31 May 2013 in Brighton听听听听听听听听
Contact听听听听听听听听听 Catherine
Wilkinson, Head of Constitution and Committees, email cwilkinson@ucu.org.uk
Meeting of the
Congress of the University and College Union
30 鈥� 31 May 2013
Brighton Centre
UNCONFIRMED MINUTES
FIRST SESSION OF
CONGRESS, THURSDAY MORNING, 30 MAY 2013
1 OPENING ADDRESS
1.1听听听听 Kathy Taylor, President and Chair, welcomed delegates
and guests.听 She invited Congress to send
its best wishes for a speedy recovery to Sally Hunt, General Secretary, which
Congress endorsed by acclaim.
2
REPORT
OF CONGRESS BUSINESS COMMITTEE AND APPOINTMENT OF TELLERS
2.1
Randy
Banks, Chair of the Congress Business Committee, moved the second (51福利/512),
third (51福利/512B) and fourth reports of the Congress Business Committee.听 John Murphy of the North West regional
committee moved that motion B4 be ordered onto the agenda.听 Randy Banks responded.听 The proposal was PASSED by Congress.听 Darrall Cozens of the West Midlands retired
members鈥� branch moved that motion B8 be ordered onto the agenda.听 Randy Banks responded.听 The proposal was PASSED by Congress.听 Grace Everson of the East Midlands retired
members鈥� branch moved that motion B12 be ordered onto the agenda.听 Randy Banks responded.听 The proposal was PASSED by Congress.听 Indro Sen of the College of North West London
moved that motions B1, B2 and B3 be ordered onto the agenda.听 Randy Banks responded.听 This proposal was LOST.
2.2
Congress
appointed Regional Officials and Regional Support Officials of the union to act
as tellers.
3
ADOPTION
OF MINUTES OF CONGRESS 2012
3.1
The
minutes of Congress 2012 set out in 51福利/503 were ADOPTED.
4
CONGRESS
BUSINESS SECTION 1:听 EDUCATION
4.1听听听听 David
Limb, Chair of the Education Committee, moved section 1 of the NEC鈥檚 report to
Congress, business of the Education Committee.听
4.2
Motion
1 Investment in post-school education
was moved by David Limb and seconded by Renee Prendergast, both of the NEC.
Motion 1 was
PASSED:
Congress welcomes the union鈥檚 campaign
for public investment in tertiary education. It believes that the future
welfare of the country depends on the reversal of the catastrophic cuts in
education funding imposed by this government and the investment of additional
funding in our educational infrastructure.
As well as its intrinsic benefits to
individuals, public investment in tertiary education is immediately beneficial
economically and socially as well as being an essential precondition for the
creation of a socially just, equal and inclusive society.
Congress therefore calls on all
like-minded organisations to join the union鈥檚 funding campaign and to endorse
as a minimum target an increase in UK funding to the average OECD level (the
closure of a current funding gap of 拢5 billion).
Congress instructs the NEC to
continue its support of this essential campaign up to and beyond the next
general election.
4.3
Motion
2 For a national strategy was moved
by Sean Vernell of the NEC on behalf of City & Islington College and
seconded by Philip Magee of City & Islington College.
Amendment 2A.1 was moved by Duncan Harris of New College Nottingham:
听 Insert at the end of point 2:
This has a direct
impact on learners coming into FE, who face increasing pressure to take low
paid, short term work rather than study for qualifications that enable access
to Higher Education. FE and HE professionals have a commitment to encouraging
鈥榮econd chance鈥� education; current policy seems designed to cut off this
lifeline.
Amendment 2A.2 was moved by Graham Mustin of the Yorkshire and Humberside regional
committee:
add at end:
That co-ordinated strike action is the best way to halt the Coalition鈥檚
austerity assault on workers鈥� pay, pensions, benefits and services and the
privatisation of health and education.
51福利 welcomes the 4-to-1
vote at last September鈥檚 TUC to explore the practicalities of a General Strike
and, believing the case for a united industrial action is stronger than ever,
calls on the TUC to lay urgent concrete plans for united strike action against
Tory austerity policies.
Margot
Hill of Croydon College, Martin Ralph of the University of Liverpool and Jenny
Sutton of the NEC spoke in the debate.听
Martin Levy of the NEC proposed remission of motion 2.
Remission of
motion 2 was LOST.听 Amendments 2A.1 and
2A.2 were PASSED.听 Motion 2, as amended,
was PASSED:
Congress notes:
1.
the coalition government's continued
attacks on Post-16 Education.
2.
the coalition government's broadening
of attacks on the Welfare State which encompasses some of the most vulnerable
in society. This has a direct impact on learners coming into FE, who face
increasing pressure to take low paid, short term work rather than study for
qualifications that enable access to Higher Education. FE and HE professionals
have a commitment to encouraging 'second chance' education; current policy
seems designed to cut off this lifeline.
Congress believes
a.
that to defend post 16 education 51福利
must develop a national campaigning strategy that seeks to involve and engage
all the membership.
b.
that failure to do so leaves members
vulnerable and isolated as employers attempt to drive through attacks college
by college, university by university.
Congress resolves:
i.听听 For 51福利 to call a conference in
the autumn term around the theme 'From the cradle to the grave - Defending education
for all'.
ii.听 51福利 to approach all education
unions (including the NUS) and campaigning education groups to ask for their
support in organising the conference and
iii.
inviting them to provide speakers and
ideas on how we can launch a national campaign.
That co-ordinated strike action is the best way to
halt the Coalition's austerity assault on workers' pay, pensions, benefits and
services and the privatisation of health and education.
51福利 welcomes the 4-to-1 vote at last September's TUC
to explore the practicalities of a General Strike and, believing the case for a
united industrial action is stronger than ever, calls on the TUC to lay urgent
concrete plans for united strike action against Tory austerity policies.
4.4
Motion
3 Access and educational opportunity
was moved by Gordon Watson and seconded by Jim Thakoordin, both of the NEC.
Motion 3 was
PASSED:
Congress
notes the damaging effects on educational opportunity caused by government
policies across our public education service, including:
1.
the impact
of higher education fees on access to university and to postgraduate study and
research;
2.
the threat
to participation in lifelong learning posed by the FE fees/loans system;
3.
the
continuing crisis of youth employment;
4.
the
narrowing of the school/college curriculum and the elitist, divisive and unfair
approach to examinations;
5.
the
aggressive promotion of academies, free schools and UTCs, destroying the right
of equal access to high quality, publicly funded education;
6.
the attack
on university education departments;
7.
the
privatisation/marketisation of education through deregulation, the destruction
of democratic institutional governance and the encouragement of for-profit
providers.
Congress
reiterates its commitment to the defence of public education on the basis of
the alternative vision set out in the union鈥檚 manifesto: Education for the Future 鈥� investing in opportunity.
4.5
Motion
4 Impact of government cuts on FE and HE
recruitment was moved by Lee Sharp of Barnsley College and seconded by
Michael Larkin of Queen鈥檚 University Belfast.听
Motion 4 was
PASSED:
Congress
notes the government cuts to benefits, EMA, FE funding, the increase in HE
tuition fees, and the introduction of FE loans are an attack on the poorest and
most vulnerable members of society. Such cuts not only impact on incomes and
living standards, but help to stymie educational aspiration within all our
communities, particularly in the poorest ones. Inevitably this will exacerbate
existing recruitment problems within FE and HE, and will affect many of our
members, our students and our communities.
Congress
resolves to:
1.
Urge
branches to work with organisations such as local Trades Councils and Unite the
Resistance to build opposition and put forward alternatives.
2.
Reassert
its opposition to student tuition fees, demanding a withdrawal.
3.
Demand that
the government a) reverse the introduction of FE loans at Level 3, and b)
reinstate EMA.
4.6
Motion
5 Professionalism was moved by Alan
Barker and seconded by Joanna de Groot, both of the NEC.听
Amendment 5A.1
was moved by Mick Dawson of Brooklands College on behalf of the South East
regional committee and seconded by Loraine Monk of the NEC:
In the final paragraph replace 'endorses' with 'notes'; and
replace 'calls on the NEC to campaign for their implementation' with 'instructs
the 51福利 Officers and the NEC to mount a campaign to promote the contribution
that our members make to delivering and supporting high quality teaching and
research.'
Maire Daley of Liverpool Community
College and Chris Jury of Bath Spa University spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听听 Amendment
5A.1 was PASSED.听 Motion 5, as amended,
was PASSED:
Congress notes that:
1.
professionalism
in our education service is under serious attack from a culture of
managerialism, a lack of respect for the expertise, views and commitment of
professional staff and the imposition of ever-increasing workloads;
2.
we suffer
from an absence of institutional arrangements that would support the
development, defence and recognition of our members' professionalism;
3.
we should
be pro-active in promoting the contribution that our members make to delivering
and supporting high quality teaching and research - their professionalism is
the foundation of that contribution.
Congress believes that we need our own
clearly-articulated, persuasive version of professionalism that we can deploy
effectively to campaign for the effective provision of those means of support,
defence and recognition.
Congress therefore notes the principles and values set
out in Towards a 51福利
Policy on Professionalism ()
and instructs the 51福利 Officers and the NEC to mount a campaign to promote the
contribution that our members make to delivering and supporting high quality
teaching and research.
4.7听听听听 Cliff
Snaith of London Metropolitan University proposed the suspension of standing
orders to continue the current section of business.听 The proposal was LOST.
5听听听听听听听 CONGRESS
BUSINESS SECTION 2: RECRUITMENT, ORGANISING AND CAMPAIGNING
5.1听听听听 Roger
Brooks, Chair of the Recruitment, Organising and Campaigning Committee, moved
section 2 of the NEC鈥檚 report to Congress, business of the Recruitment,
Organising and Campaigning Committee.
5.2听听听听 Motion 8 Building the union was moved by Roger Brooks of the NEC.听
听听听听听听听听听 Amendment
8A.1 was moved by Mick Jardine of the Southern regional committee:
听听听听听 Add at end:
Congress is bemused to learn that the names of its
delegates are kept secret.
This conflicts with normal conference practice with
the trade union principle of building a united membership to fight common
causes and build the union.
Congress instructs the NEC that:
a list of delegates shall be provided to all delegates
a list of registered delegates shall be made available to any 51福利 member who
requests it prior to Congress
听听听听听听听听听 Amendment
8A.2 was moved by Julia Charlton of Northumbria University on behalf of the
Women members鈥� standing committee:
Add at the end
Congress also notes that women form 50% of the membership and as such
developing women's activism has transformative potential in building the union.
Congress asks every branch to prioritise women's issues and involvement as key
to achieving a strong union for all its members.
听听听听听听听听听 Renee Prendergast of the
NEC spoke in the debate.听 Roger Brooks of
the NEC proposed remission of amendment 8A.1.听
Remission of amendment 8A.1 was LOST. In a vote, 160 voted in favour of
amendment 8A.1, 132 against, with 21 abstentions.
Amendments 8A.1 and 8A.2 were PASSED.听 Motion 8, as amended, was PASSED:
Congress notes the work undertaken by ROCC since
2007 in developing the national organising plan and endorses the committee's
current focus on supporting local and national disputes; developing a broad
campaign to increase funding for post-16 education; increasing member
participation; and highlighting recruitment. Congress recognises that the
union's future depends upon persuading members to get more involved; take up
active roles; and help build the union and asks every branch to prioritise
these issues in line with the ROCC recommendations.
Congress is bemused to learn that the names of its delegates are kept
secret.
This conflicts with normal conference practice with the trade union
principle of building a united membership to fight common causes and build the
union.
Congress instructs the NEC that:
路
a list of
delegates shall be provided to all delegates
路
a list of
registered delegates shall be made available to any 51福利 member who requests it
prior to Congress.
Congress also notes that women form 50% of the membership and as such
developing women's activism has transformative potential in building the union.
Congress asks every branch to prioritise women's issues and involvement as key
to achieving a strong union for all its members.
5.3听听听听 Motion 9 Building on our success 鈥� organising and
recruitment of casualised staff was moved by Vicky Blake of the University
of Leeds on behalf of the Anti-casualisation committee and seconded by Mick
Jardine of the Southern regional committee.
听听听听听听听听听 Liza van Zyl of Cardiff
University spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 9 was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress
notes:
1.
The
increasing use of casualised contracts alongside the worsening impact of cuts
and marketisation in post-16 education.
2.
The
widespread positive responses to the relaunched Stamp Out Casual Contracts
campaign, the 51福利 National Day of Action on Casualisation (6 March 2013) and
subsequent associated national and regional activities on recruitment and
campaigning.
Congress is
fully aware that this morally offensive and destructive trend for the continued
casualisation of academic staff in FHE has been exacerbated by government
policy, and:
a.
is
exploitative of and damaging to the vast majority of staff affected
b.
is causing
acute instability and insecurity across FHE
c.
has a
corrosive impact on the quality of educational provision.
Congress believes
increasing 51福利 membership density among casualised staff is crucial to the
strength and future of our union.
Congress
instructs the NEC to work closely with ACC to anticipate and meet strategic
challenges by:
i. exploring more effective ways of attracting casualised
colleagues into 51福利 membership
ii. establishing the Anti Casualisation Day of Action and
Training Workshop as annual events
iii. promoting and sustaining publicity on the linkages
between marketisation and casualisation
iv. regularly auditing staff on casual contracts regarding
duties, responsibilities, age, career stage, subject area, gender, ethnic group
and overall incidence of casualisation across FHE
v. working creatively in conjunction with other unions to
develop wider awareness of casualisation and the campaign for an end to zero
hours and insecure contracts and the growing use of agency staff
vi. sending a motion to TUC addressing the implementation
of the fixed term directive in the UK.
5.4听听听听 Motion 10 Justice for Alfie Meadows was moved by
Jelena Timotijevic of the NEC on behalf of the University of Brighton and
seconded by Jenny Sutton of the NEC.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 10 was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress notes:
1.
Students
Alfie Meadows and Zak King are cleared of violent disorder after three trials,
over more than two years. The jury verdict was unanimous.
2.
Meadows
suffered a baton blow to the head which required brain surgery; the police have
so far escaped any form of accountability for their actions.
3.
The trial
enabled scrutiny of evidence: kettled protesters were charged at with horses
and subjected to indiscriminate baton use.
4.
Meadows has
called on the IPCC to reopen its investigation.
5.
2012
Conference instructed NEC to 鈥榓pproach Kenney-QC, Mansfield-QC, Corbyn-MP,
Amnesty, for a joint demand for a public enquiry into arrests, police violence,
disproportionate charges.鈥�
Congress
resolves to:
a.
Revisit
2012 motion and revise a strategy to carry it forward
b.
Take active
steps alongside DTRTP in campaigning to hold to account the IPCC, the police
and get justice for Alfie.
5.5听听听听 Motion L2 Supporting the University of London Union against
closure was moved by Lee Williamson of the University of St Andrews and
seconded by Patrick Mo没le of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine.
听听听听听听听听听 Pete Woodward of
Imperial College spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion L2 was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress
notes:
1.
The
University of London has voted to close its students union, ULU, and replace it
with a management-run student services centre.
2.
ULU
represents 120,000 University of London students.
3.
ULU has a
long tradition of being at the forefront of student movements, from supporting
the Stop the War movement to the fights against tuition fees and welfare cuts.
Congress recognises:
a.
The
University's actions are a fundamentally anti-democratic attack on unions and
student representation.
b.
The
University's actions are a politically motivated attempt to curb student
activism.
c.
This
decision will have a major negative impact on student life and representation
in London.
Congress resolves:
i.
To send an
official and public message of solidarity to ULU.
ii.
To support
action that ULU takes to try to reverse this decision.
iii.
To
encourage its members in the University of London to actively campaign against
university management on this issue.
5.6听听听听 Motion 11 The restoration of the NHS was moved by Veronica
Killen of the NEC and seconded by Jane Harvey of the University of
Wolverhampton.
听听听听听听听听听 Amendment 11A.1 was moved by Steve Cushion of London retired
members鈥� branch:
听听听听听听听听听 Add at end:
Congress calls upon the TUC to organise a National Day of Action to Defend the
NHS, composed of regional demonstrations.
听听听听听听听听听 Amendment 11A.1 was
PASSED.听 Motion 11, as amended, was
PASSED:
The passage of the NHS and Social Care Bill and the supporting secondary
legislation will open the flood gates to the private sector in both the
commissioning process and service delivery, including education.
Congress notes that people need an
NHS that is:
1.
free from the
dominant business model that lead to catastrophes such as what happened at the
Mid Staffordshire Hospitals
2.
focused on
ethical patient care not budgetary targets
3.
funded through
general taxation, and
4.
includes more
not fewer professionally qualified health and social care workers who complete
a public sector education commensurate with the responsibilities of caring for
some of the most vulnerable in society
Congress supports:
a.
the restoration
of the NHS
b.
the opposition
of closures to local services, and
c.
urges members
and branches to get involved with local campaign groups such as Keep Our NHS
Public and Health Emergency.
Congress calls upon the TUC to organise a National Day of Action to
Defend the NHS, composed of regional demonstrations.
5.7听听听听 Motion 12 Support for People鈥檚 Assembly was moved
by Julia Charlton of Northumbria University and seconded by Des Freedman of
Goldsmiths University of London.
听听听听听听听听听 Jelena Timotijevic of
the NEC spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 12 was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress welcomes the People's
Assembly Against Austerity and considers that it can play a vital role in
combating the argument that austerity is necessary.
Government
policies - attacking pay and pensions, privatising public services, undermining
trade unions, taking from the most vulnerable and ripping the heart out of
local communities - are simply the self-enrichment of the few at the expense of
the many. The government has introduced the most far-reaching programme of cuts
and austerity for 90 years. We have seen pay cuts across the public sector, the
marketisation of the NHS and swingeing cuts in welfare, public services and
housing including, most recently, the 鈥榖edroom tax鈥� 鈥� all of which will hit the
poorest section of the population the hardest.
The coming
together of trade unions, anti-cuts groups, radical campaigns and community
organisations provides the basis for building a nationwide movement of
resistance and projecting the sort of radical alternative projected by the
People's Charter for Change - for a people's Britain, not a bankers' Britain.
In
opposition to the government鈥檚 austerity programme, a number of unions and
anti-cuts organisations have supported the call for a People鈥檚 Assembly against
Austerity that aspires to build a movement for social justice and develop a
strategy for resistance to the cuts. The assembly will provide a national forum
to develop links between unions, community-based campaigns and anti-cuts groups
to build the confidence and organisation of all those opposed to austerity.
Congress
calls upon the NEC to
1.
publicise,
join and officially support the People鈥檚 Assembly at Central Hall Westminster
on Saturday 22 June 2013 and work with other trade unions and community groups
to build a democratic alternative to the government's policies of austerity
2.
encourage
branches/LAs to take forward the experiences of the People's Assembly into
building that movement in their own workplaces and localities.
5.8听听听听 Motion 13 Bedroom Tax was moved by Mike Cushman of
the LSE and seconded formally).听
听听听听听听听听听 Amendment 13A.1 was moved by Margot Hill of Croydon College:
听听听听听 In 3. delete 'which are affordable'
After 'Congress instructs the NEC to'(final paragraph) insert
'affiliate to the Benefit Justice Campaign and support and publicise among
members the next benefit justice summit and'
听听听听听听听听听 Amendment 13A.2 was moved by Pat Roche of the NEC on behalf of the
Disabled members鈥� standing committee:
Insert new point 3 - "councils and social landlords to
cancel debts due to the bedroom tax or the 1% benefits cap"
Insert new point 4 - "urging all social landlords to redesignate bedrooms
as box rooms"
Jimmy Donaghey of the NEC proposed remission of amendment
13A.1.听 In a vote, 136 voted in favour of
remission of amendment 13A.1, 150 against, with 10 abstentions.听 Remission of 13A.1 was LOST.听 The two sentences comprising amendment 13A.1
were voted on separately.听
The first sentence of amendment 13A.1 was LOST.听 The second sentence of amendment 13A.1 was
PASSED.听 Amendment 13A.2 was PASSED. 听Motion 13, as amended, was PASSED:
Congress deplores the mean-minded imposition of the bedroom tax.
Congress notes that students and their families are among the groups most
affected by this unfair charge.
Congress believes that the level of expenditure on housing benefit is
the result of high levels of unemployment, low wages and a non-functioning
housing market and the Bedroom tax is an example of 'blaming the victim'.
Congress instructs the NEC to affiliate to the Benefit Justice Campaign
and support and publicise among members the next benefit justice summit and
support campaigns for:
1. scrapping the bedroom tax
2. the living wage
3. councils and social landlords to cancel debts due
to the bedroom tax or the 1% benefits cap
4. urging all social landlords to redesignate bedrooms
as box rooms
5. requiring all councils to build more social housing
at affordable rents which are affordable
6. security of tenure for tenants
SECOND SESSION OF CONGRESS, THURSDAY AFTERNOON, 30 MAY 2013
6听听听听听听听 FURTHER REPORT OF THE CONGRESS BUSINESS
COMMITTEE
6.1听听听听 Randy Banks, Chair
of the Congress Business Committee, moved the fifth report of the Congress
Business Committee.听 Two further late
motions, L5 and L6, had been received and ordered into the business of the strategy
and finance committee (private session). He reported when motions B4 and B12
would be taken.听
7听听听听听听听 51福利鈥橲 MEMBERSHIP AND FINANCES: UPDATE
& Q&A (PRIVATE SESSION)
7.1听听听听 Kathy Taylor, President
and Chair, introduced the question and answer session on 51福利鈥檚 membership and
finances.听 Neil Macfarlane, 51福利 Trustee,
addressed the meeting.听
听听听听听听听听听 Questions were asked by
Jenny Prideaux of the NEC, Mary Jennings of the NEC, Terry Murphy of Teesside
University, Patricia Hulme of the NEC, Mark Farwell of Southampton Solent
University, Martin Levy of the NEC and Patrick Mo没le of the London School of
Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
听听听听听听听听听 Alan Carr, Honorary
Treasurer, Linda Newman, Head of GS resources, and Gareth Storey, Head of
finance, responded.
8听听听听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 3: STRATEGY
AND FINANCE (PRIVATE SESSION)听听听听
8.1听听听听 Amendment 24A.1 was withdrawn by East
Midlands regional committee.
8.2听听听听 Motions 21
-26 were taken in the same debate. Motions 21 Appointment of auditors, 22 Financial
statements, 23 Budget 2013-14 and
2014-15, and 24 Subscription rates, were moved by Alan Carr, Honorary
Treasurer.听 Motion 23 was seconded by
William Craig of Robert Gordon University.听
Motions 21, 22 and 24 were seconded formally.
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 23A.1 was moved by Christian
Serdean of De Montfort University on behalf of the East Midlands regional
committee and seconded by Godfrey Jennings of New College Stamford:
听听听听听 Delete 鈥榓nd the indicative budget
for 2014-2015鈥�
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 23A.2 was moved by Mick Dawson
of Brooklands College on behalf of the South East regional committee and
seconded by Jeannie Robinson of the East Midlands regional committee:
Delete 'endorses the' and insert 'notes the proposed'
Add at the end 'Congress instructs the Treasurer to revise
the budget in the light of decisions made by Congress 2013 and bring that
revision back to a subsequent NEC for discussion and approval'.
Motion
25, Subscription rate 鈥� investigating the
viability of additional contribution bands, was moved by Patrick Mo没le of the
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.听
听听听听听听听听听 Amendment
25A.1 was moved by Chris Jury
of Bath Spa University on behalf of the South West regional committee:
Start para 2 鈥極ne option would be Associate Membership
for a period of a year at a cost of 拢1 per month with members choosing to opt
out at the end of the year or automatically converting to full membership.
Another option of鈥� (continue with ..additional contribution bands...)
and
After 鈥楥ongress instructs NEC to鈥� and before 鈥榗onduct a survey of members鈥� add
鈥榚xplore the potential for Associate Membership and鈥�.
听听听听听听听听听 Amendment
25A.2 was moved by Mike McConnell of the University of Aberdeen:
Fourth sentence, delete: 鈥榤embers in the top
subscription band鈥� and replace with 鈥榓ll members鈥�.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
26, Finance and strategy, was moved
by Sean Vernell of the NEC on behalf of the London regional committee and
seconded by Mark Farwell of Southampton Solent University.
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 26A.1 was moved by Tom Hickey
of the NEC on behalf of the University of Brighton:
听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听 Add new point 3. to 鈥榥otes鈥�:
3.
current 51福利 subscriptions are amongst the lowest
nationally and internationally.
Replace iii to v of 鈥榠nstructs鈥�
with the following, and renumber:
iii听听听听 seek cost reductions and income generation
via rescheduling meetings, moderate reduction in NEC, reorganisation, and
letting one floor of HQ;
iv听听听听 mount recruitment campaigns focusing below
average density institutions;
v听听听听听 raise subscriptions up to 5% above
inflation, as necessary, in two annual increases (2013 & 2014), graduated
by income, to eliminate any remaining deficit, and meet the 鈥榗offee test鈥�;
vi听听听听 create a
new subscription band for 拢60k+ incomes.
听听听听听听听听 Jane Hardy
of the NEC, Maria Pentaraki of Liverpool Hope University, Liza van Zyl of
Cardiff University, Liam Carr of Newcastle College, Hugh Clayden of Leeds City
College, Harriet Bradley of the NEC, Richard McEwan of the NEC, Dan Arthur of
the London regional committee, Veronica Killen of the NEC, Jeremy Toner of the
University of Leeds, Susan Michie of the NEC, Malcolm Povey of the NEC, Richard
Bathgate of Gateshead College, Paul Blackledge of the Yorkshire &
Humberside regional committee and Glyn Heath of the University of Salford spoke
in the debate.听 Roger Brooks of the NEC
proposed remission of amendment 25A.1.听
James Eaden of the NEC raised a point of information and Dave Kenyon of
the University of Lincoln replied.
听听听听听听听听 Motion 21
was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress approves the appointment of Knox Cropper as the union鈥檚 auditors
for the year ending 31 August 2013.
听听听听听听听听 Motion 22
was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听 Congress receives the union鈥檚 audited
financial statements for the 12-month period ending 31 August 2012 as set out
in 51福利/501.
听听听听听听听听 In a
vote, 164 voted in favour of amendment 23A.1, 174 against, with 9
abstentions.听 Amendment 23A.1 was LOST.
In a vote, 206 voted in favour of amendment 23A.2, 155 against, with 2
abstentions.听 Amendment 23A.2 was PASSED.听 Motion 23, as amended, was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听 Congress notes the proposed the budget for
September 2013 - August 2014 and the indicative budget for 2014-2015 as set out
in . Congress instructs the Treasurer
to revise the budget in the light of decisions made by Congress 2013 and bring
that revision back to a subsequent NEC for discussion and approval.
听听听听听听听听 In
a vote, 146 voted in favour of motion 24, 204 against.听 Motion 24 was LOST.
听听听听听听听听 Amendment
25A.1 was REMITTED.听 Amendment 25A.2 was
LOST.听 Motion 25 was LOST.
听听听听听听听听 In a
vote, 205 voted in favour of amendment 26A.1, 151 against, with 2 abstentions.听 Amendment 26A.1 was PASSED.听 Motion 26, as amended, was PASSED:
Congress notes:
1. the 2011-12 membership decline of 5,500, and its
financial consequences;
2. the cost of all regional meetings, committees and
conferences was 5% of the annual budget
3. current 51福利 subscriptions are amongst the lowest
nationally and internationally.
Congress recognises that the financial issues facing the union are
potentially serious and that the union must develop a coherent strategy to deal
with this. Congress in considering the implications of a deficit budget, faced
with difficult choices, agrees that:
a. rebuilding membership and subscription income
depends on having a campaigning union and success in struggles;
b. a campaigning union requires adequate, committed
and accountable staff nationally and regionally, and a democratic structure to
ensure members' control of union policy, which it is vital to protect;
c.
staffing costs
should not be counter-posed to union democracy; reorganizations must minimise
damage to democratic representation
d. measures which might undermine the union's ability
to campaign in defence of members' interests, or undermine our Equality agenda,
or robustly address the austerity measures which we face, or risk undermining
member services or member representation and democracy, must be avoided.
Congress instructs the NEC to:
i.听听听 reaffirm
51福利's opposition to compulsory redundancies both as an employer and in
negotiating with employers
ii.
safeguard
democratic structures
iii. seek cost reductions and income generation via
rescheduling meetings, moderate reduction in NEC, reorganisation, and letting
one floor of HQ
iv.
mount
recruitment campaigns focusing below average density institutions
v.
raise
subscriptions up to 5% above inflation, as necessary, in two annual increases
(2013 & 2014), graduated by income, to eliminate any remaining deficit, and
meet the 'coffee test'
vi.
create a new
subscription band for 拢60k+ incomes.
8.3听听听听 Motion
27 Organising highly casualised staff
was moved by Thomas House of the University of Warwick and seconded formally.
听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Amendment 27A.1 was moved formally:
听听听听听 Last
paragraph,
delete 鈥�,
flat-rate鈥�
delete 鈥渙thers in a
comparable situation鈥� and replace with 鈥渙ther low earners鈥�
delete
鈥渢eaching鈥� between 鈥渧olatile鈥� and 鈥渋ncome鈥�
听听听听听听听听 Jeremy
Toner of the University of Leeds spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听 Amendment
27A.1 was PASSED.听 Motion 27, as amended,
was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress notes:
1. the particular challenges faced in organising a
highly casualised workforce.
2. the NUS's recent campaigning on postgraduates who
teach.
3. that current subscription rates are linked to
income, which for casualised staff is volatile.
Congress recognises:
a. a postgraduate student doing a limited teaching for
a few weeks of a year could currently lose much of their teaching income to be
a member of 51福利 for that whole year.
b. if we can instil a tradition of 51福利 membership at
the earliest possible career stage we will recruit and grow in the long term.
Congress resolves to design and implement a low subscription regime for
PhD students and other low earners that would not be linked to the members'
highly volatile income, with an aim of securing and developing the next
generation of 51福利 activists.
8.4听听听听 Motion
28 Regional support for North and Mid
Wales was moved by Joseph Ironside of Aberystwyth University and seconded
by Penny Dowdney of Bangor University.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
28 was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 All 51福利 branches within Wales are currently served by one regional office
in South Wales with three fulltime officials and no video conference
facilities. Due to the Wales鈥� geography and poorly-developed transport system
it is impossible for this office to support branches in Mid and North Wales
adequately.
Congress
acknowledges that Tondu regional office should handle Wales-wide issues and
campaigns. However, for local issues and personal cases, Congress believes that
branches in North and Mid Wales would be better served by paid officials based
nearer to their locations.
Congress
calls upon the NEC to investigate the creation of an additional 51福利 regional
office in Mid or North Wales.
8.5听听听听 Motion
29 Support for regional committees was
moved by Marie Morley of the South West regional committee and seconded
formally.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
29 was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress recognises the vital work of regional committees, supported by
fully staffed and properly resourced regional offices.
Congress
therefore calls for all regional offices to be headed by a local Official and
not to be managed remotely from the centre.
8.6听听听听 Motion
30 Managing Congress and sector
conference business was moved by Terry Hoad of the NEC and seconded by
Randy Banks of the University of Essex.听
Liza van Zyl of Cardiff University spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听 In a
vote, 148 voted in favour of motion 30, 128 against.听 Motion 30 was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress
notes the increasing number of motions and amendments submitted to each annual
meeting of Congress and the Sector Conferences, and the difficulties involved
in taking all motions under the current arrangements.
Congress reluctantly agrees that it is not sustainable to expect that
every motion submitted will be moved and debated on the conference floor.
Congress also notes that many motions are unopposed.
Congress instructs the NEC to consider how a process for the
prioritisation of motions for debate could operate, to consult branches on this
issue, and to bring relevant rule and standing order changes to Congress 2014.
The aim of a prioritisation process would be to ensure that Congress and
the sector conferences thoroughly debate and reach decisions on the motions
most important to branches and members.
8.7听听听听 Motion
L5 was moved by Graham Mawdsley and seconded by Ann Blair, both of the NEC.
Motion L5 was PASSED:
Congress recognises the importance of democratic accountability of
Congress delegates and their relationship to the wider membership. However
Congress is aware that some delegates for reasons of personal security may need
to retain anonymity to the wider membership. Congress resolves to give
delegates the right to opt out of delegate lists to the wider membership. In
the case of prison educators, there should be an automatic exemption to the requirement
for inclusion on delegate lists to go to any member.
8.8听听听听 Motion
31 Electronic voting was moved by
Dave Anderson of 51福利 Scotland on behalf of the University of Glasgow and
seconded formally.听 Loraine Monk of the
NEC spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
31 was LOST:
Congress notes that democratic function of union
meetings can be better served by adoption of voting mechanisms which take
advantage of readily available technology. Despite best efforts of CBC and
successive chairs of Congress, it is frequently the case that debate is
seriously curtailed due to time lost in processing individual votes,
particularly where a count is required. This meeting instructs NEC to consider
options and formulate a mechanism whereby electronic voting is used for some or
all of Congress 2014.
8.9听听听听 Motion
32 To withdraw full membership from
senior managers was moved by Andy Higginbottom of Kingston University and
seconded by Amy Jowett of Hackney Adult Education.听 David Goode, of the NEC, Jackie Mitchell of
the University of East London and Hugh Clayden of Leeds City College spoke in
the debate.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
32 was LOST:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress notes
that:
1. members of
the Senior Management Team at Kingston University have authored and advocated a
policy that would demote and downgrade hundreds of academic staff at grade 10,
add management responsibilities to staff at grade 9 and introduce a promotion
rather than progression from grade 8 to 9.
2.
some of the members of the Senior Management Team are
members of 51福利 and have requested to be included in all branch communications.
3.
that branches have adopted protocols to deal with such
situations.
Congress believes that local solutions are unsatisfactory as
there is an inherent conflict of interests between being senior manager and
full 51福利 membership.
Congress resolves that the NEC set up a working party to
examine the legal and constitutional issues concerned in changing the Rule Book
to exclude senior managers from full membership and bring a detailed proposal
to the 2014 Congress.
8.10听听 Motion 33 Union democracy:
size and structure of NEC was moved by John McCormack and seconded by Roger
Walters, both of the NEC.听
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 33A.1 was moved by Terry
Murphy of Teesside University:
In the sentence: 鈥機ongress agrees that arrangements
will be made to conduct a ballot of Congress delegates鈥�, delete: 鈥楥ongress
delegates鈥�, replace with 鈥榓ll members鈥�.
Amendment 33A.2 was moved by David Goode of the NEC on behalf of the
University of Cambridge:
听听听听听 Add at the end of the fourth
paragraph:
The ballot shall take place by the single transferable vote
before the close of this Congress.
Amendment
33A.3 was moved by Roger Walden of the NEC on behalf of the North
West regional committee:
Delete paragraph two [鈥淐ongress also notes the report
of the NEC鈥檚 sub-committee on union structure and democracy, which contains a
further two NEC models鈥漖
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 In paragraph three delete
"7" and insert "5"'
Amendment 33A.4 was moved by Liza van Zyl of Cardiff University on
behalf of the Women members鈥� standing committee:
听听听听听 Add at the end:
Congress notes that there has not been time to consult
with the Equality Committee on the models as drafts (as envisaged by the 2012
Congress motion).
As such Congress instructs NEC in bringing forth
necessary rule changes to incorporate strengthening of the equality aspects of
the preferred model if these are not equal to current arrangements. This
should be subject to thorough consultation with the equality committee.
Liz Lawrence, Harriet Bradley and
Jean Crocker, all of the NEC, spoke in the debate.
Amendments 33A.1 and 33A.3 were
LOST.听 Amendments 33A.2 and 33A.4 were
PASSED.听 In a vote, 166 voted in favour
of motion 33, as amended, 156 against.听
Motion 33, as amended, was PASSED:
Congress receives the report of the Commission on Union Democracy,
elected by Congress 2012, which includes five different models for an NEC,
ranging from 30 to 72 members, including the status quo.
Congress also notes the report of the NEC's sub-committee on union
structure and democracy, which contains a further two NEC models.
Congress agrees that, following debate, a decision in principle should
be made by Congress between these seven models, allowing rule changes to be
brought to Congress 2014.
Congress agrees that arrangements will be made to conduct a ballot of
Congress delegates. The ballot shall take place by the single transferable vote
before the close of this Congress.
Congress instructs the NEC to bring rule changes to Congress 2014 to
implement whichever NEC structure Congress members vote in favour of in this
ballot.
Congress notes that there has not been time to consult with the Equality
Committee on the models as drafts (as envisaged by the 2012 Congress motion).
As such Congress instructs NEC in bringing forth
necessary rule changes to incorporate strengthening of the equality aspects of
the preferred model if these are not equal to current arrangements. This should
be subject to thorough consultation with the equality committee.
THIRD SESSION OF CONGRESS, FRIDAY MORNING, 31 MAY 2013
9听听听听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 4:听
RULE CHANGES (PRIVATE SESSION)
9.1听听听听 Motion 40 Organisation of members/retired members was moved by Ken
Childerhouse on behalf of the South East regional committee and seconded by
Mick Dawson of Brooklands College.听 Russ
Bowman of East Midlands retired members鈥� branch spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听 Motion 40 was PASSED (two-thirds
majority):
听听听听听听听听听 Rule 12.4, insert : 鈥榦r to a
Branch/Local Association local to them鈥� between "Branch" and
"unless" in line 1, and
add new
sentence to 12.4: 鈥極n retirement all members will be contacted by HQ to
ascertain their chosen Branch/Local Association.鈥�
Rule 12.4
shall then read 鈥楳embers who are retired shall belong to a Regional Retired
Members鈥� Branch, unless the member chooses to belong to their former
Branch/Local Association instead or to a Branch/Local Association local to
them. On retirement all members will be contacted by HQ to ascertain their
chosen Branch/Local Association/Regional Retired Members Branch鈥�.
9.2听听听听 Motion 41 Congress standing orders: unacceptable behaviour was moved by Ann
Blair of the NEC and seconded formally.听
Angie McConnell of Wigan & Leigh College spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听 Motion 41 was LOST:
听听听听听听听听听 Delete
existing Congress standing order 34. Replace with:
34 It shall not be in order for any participant on the floor of any conference
to speak or behave in a way which听
a. Is
threatening, intimidating or verbally abusive
b. Is
discriminatory 鈥� including ageist, disablist, homophobic, racist, sexist and
transphobic language
c. Is
derogatory or malicious to other individual delegates or 51福利 members or 51福利
staff
d. Makes
unsubstantiated allegations about others, in particular other 51福利 members or
51福利 staff, or make criticisms of individual members or union employees who have
no right to address conference
e. Makes
inflammatory statements
f. Prevents
other 51福利 members present from participating in the business of Congress
g. Prevents
51福利 staff from carrying out their duties
In the event of such behaviour, the chair shall immediately
ask the participant to withdraw their remarks and apologise to the Conference
and the individual(s) concerned. If the member refuses to do this, or persists
thereafter, in order to restore order to the meeting the Chair shall exclude
that individual for a period of part, or all, of the remaining Conference
proceedings.
9.3听听听听 Motions 42, Congress standing orders: submission of motions 鈥� local rules, and
43, Congress standing orders: submission
of motions 鈥� general branch meetings, were taken in the same debate and
moved by Roger Brooks and seconded by Martin Levy, both of the NEC.听听 Liz Lawrence of the NEC and Angie McConnell
of Wigan & Leigh College spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
42 was LOST:
Standing order 3.1, after 鈥榯he approval of a quorate
general meeting of that branch/local association鈥�, add 鈥榦r by a ballot of
members if required by the local rules鈥�.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
43 was LOST:
听听听听听 Delete
standing order 3.2
Standing order 3.3 (to be renumbered 3.2), third
sentence, delete 鈥榓nd 3.2鈥�; delete 鈥榦r by a quorate meeting of a branch/local
association committee鈥�.
9.4听听听听 Motion
44 Congress standing order change was
moved by Jean Crocker of the NEC on behalf of the Anti-casualisation committee
and seconded formally.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
44 was PASSED (two-thirds majority):
听听听听听听听听听 Congress standing order 3.3 add at
end:
However, in
the case of special meetings of National Congress or Sector Conferences called
under rule 16.10 amendments submitted by those Committees listed in 16.6.4 will
be accepted if the Committee Chair submitting the amendment can certify that at
least one third of the voting representatives have expressed an opinion and a
that a majority of those expressing an opinion are in favour of the amendment.
10听听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 3: STRATEGY AND
FINANCE (PRIVATE SESSION CONTINUED)听听听听听听听
10.1听听 Motion 34 51福利 democracy and representation was
moved by Tom Hickey of the NEC on behalf of the University of Brighton and
seconded formally.听 On the advice of the Congress Business Committee, as a
consequence of motion 33 being passed, motion 34 clause i) FELL.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
34, as amended, was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress notes
1.
financial
difficulties may require alteration to the democratic structures of the 51福利;
2.
rebuilding
the subscription-paying membership base depends on democratic representation
that ensures members鈥� control of the union, and that it remains a campaigning
organisation;
3.
proposals
for the size of the NEC from the Congress Commission established in 2012.
Congress
believes that
a.听听 committee reorganisation must minimise
adverse effects on democratic accountability, and ensure viable sectoral
representation if the union is to grow;
b. 听 reduction in NEC size is preferable to reduction in frequency of
meetings that must implement policy between Congresses;
d.
there must
be national and constituency representation;
e.
all
equality strands must be properly represented on the NEC.
Congress resolves that
i.
NEC and
sub-committees should, where possible, be scheduled for the same day.
10.2听听 Motion 35 Representation of members on casualised
contracts was moved by Regine Pilling of the NEC on behalf of the
Anti-casualisation committee and seconded by Liza van Zyl of Cardiff
University.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 35 was
PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress notes the critical, effective role
of the anti-casualisation committee in representing members on a wide range of
casualised contracts and in raising the profile of 51福利鈥檚 most vulnerably
employed members, especially given the increase in casualised employment.
Congress
believes that experiences of casualisation particular to FE and HE must be
represented on the NEC and within HEC and FEC to ensure proper representation
where 51福利鈥檚 industrial strategies, sector policies and membership development
policies are developed.
Congress
resolves to maintain separate elections for both a representative of casualised
members in FE and one in HE to sit on the NEC and in FEC/HEC.
10.3听听 Motion 36 Cuts to the Anti-Casualisation Committee and
other specialist committees was moved by Vicky Blake of the University of
Leeds on behalf of the Anti-casualisation committee and seconded by Mahmoona
Shah of the Anti-casualisation committee.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Motion 36
was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 While Congress notes the serious financial
situation facing 51福利 and the need for savings, Congress calls on NEC to resist
cuts in 51福利 representation of casualised staff. In the climate of austerity
this group needs the strongest possible representation.
Congress
notes the NEC decision to cut costs, but believes that this could be achieved
without reductions in meetings or in membership of the Anti Casualisation
Committee and that no cut should be proposed without first establishing that
this is essential to the financial stability of 51福利 as a whole.
Congress
calls on NEC to consult the ACC and all other special employment interest and
equality standing committees who wish to be consulted, and to provide them
with their costs over the last year, and with any operational budget that may
have been in place, so that they can propose ways of saving money with minimal
effects on their work.
11听听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 5: STRATEGY AND
FINANCE (OPEN SESSION)
11.1听听 Motion 45 Defending our pensions was moved by Brian
Hambidge of East Midlands retired members鈥� branch and seconded formally.
听听听听听听听听听 Amendment 45A.1 was moved by John Rose of
Eastern and Home Counties retired members鈥� branch:
Add at end:
Congress is also concerned that the TUC Pensions Committee still appears to be
working on an ad-hoc basis, with an appointed Chair, at a time when public
sector pensions are under attack as never before. Congress urges 51福利 to use its
influence to ensure the Pensions Committee be reconstituted as a proper
committee of the TUC with the right to pass on duly voted motions to the TUC
General Council.
听听听听听听听听听 Martin Levy of
the NEC proposed remission of amendment 45A.1. Malcolm Povey of the NEC spoke
in the debate.
Remission of amendment 45A.1 was LOST. Amendment 45A.1 was
PASSED. Motion 45, as amended, was PASSED:
Congress recognises that the attacks upon our pensions
have not ceased and there is a need for a continuing and active defence of our
rights. Congress is not persuaded that the government intends a settlement that
will 'last for 25 years'.
The current Public Sector Pensions Bill invites this
caution. Clause three allows the Treasury to amend any legislation, including
primary legislation and to make retrospective changes. Clause twenty allows the
government to change CARE arrangements, members' contributions and accrual
rates merely if there has been a consultation. The Lords' amendments have
improved the Bill but not resolved all the problems.
Accordingly Congress instructs the NEC to campaign, not
merely amongst our own members, but together with other unions to defend our
pensions. This must involve full participation in campaigns such as '68 is too
late' and against CPI indexation.
Congress is also concerned that the TUC Pensions
Committee still appears to be working on an ad-hoc basis, with an appointed
Chair, at a time when public sector pensions are under attack as never before.
Congress urges 51福利 to use its influence to ensure the Pensions Committee be
reconstituted as a proper committee of the TUC with the right to pass on duly
voted motions to the TUC General Council.
11.2听听 Motion 46 51福利 and constitutional change was moved
by Dave Anderson of 51福利 Scotland and seconded formally.听 Will Podmore of the Central Group HE and
Douglas Chalmers of Glasgow Caledonian University spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 46 was
passed:
听听听听听听听听听 This Congress notes that Scotland has a
significantly disparate Higher Education system compared to the rest of the UK
in terms of curriculum, quality assurance and funding. Policy on higher
education has historically been devolved but is now increasingly divergent from
the other UK nations with the potential for additional rapid and dramatic
change following any future referendum on independence or further devolution.
Congress
notes that UK 51福利 policy and campaigning on UK matters are potentially either
not relevant to Scotland or lack cognisance of the differing political
circumstances.
Congress
calls for a dialogue across 51福利 to ensure that UK policy reflects the devolved
nations, that the 51福利 is organised to meet these changes and that the devolved
nations have the capacity to respond to the increasingly divergent policy and
political situations.
11.3听听 Motion 47 Cuts and tax avoidance was moved by
Allister MacTaggart of Chesterfield College and seconded formally.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 47 was
PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress notes the widespread use of
tax avoidance loopholes by major companies like Amazon and Starbucks which
deprive the UK economy of billions annually and allow them to accumulate
super-profits while paying their workers low wages.
Education
workers cannot avoid paying taxes and companies should not be enabled to do so
by the Tory coalition who insist that ordinary people should pay the cost of UK
debt and deficit for example through education cuts and privatisation, and who
have cut corporation tax yet again in the autumn budget.
Congress
condemns such tax avoidance by companies and resolves to campaign against it
through the TUC and to use the data available in our campaigning activity
against cuts and privatisation.
Congress congratulates
campaigners such as UK Uncut who have highlighted these abuses and resolves to
support such campaigning by encouraging members to take part, including in
peaceful direct action.
11.4听听 Motion 48 Promoting the debate on public ownership of
banking and finances was moved by Darrall Cozens of West Midlands retired
members鈥� branch and seconded by Rob Behan of Lambeth College.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 48 was
PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress applauds the decision of the
2012 TUC Congress for passing Motion 27 which calls for a TUC-organised enquiry
into the banking crisis as well as stating that "the economic chaos and
devastation sparked by the major banks and financial institutions should be
ended through full public ownership of the sector and the creation of a
publicly owned banking service, democratically and accountably managed."
Matt Wrack
of the FBU moved the motion and subsequently, the FBU published its pamphlet
"It's Time to Take Over The Banks" as a contribution to the debate on
public ownership.
Congress calls on the NEC to
use the FBU pamphlet to promote a debate at all levels within 51福利 on the public
ownership of banking and finance as a first but necessary step in the battle to
put an end to capitalist austerity and to establish the basis for a real
alternative.
11.5听听 Motion 49 Equality and Europe was moved by Ann
Blair of the NEC and seconded formally.听
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 49A.1 was moved by David Goode
of the NEC on behalf of the Eastern and Home Counties regional committee:
听听听听听 Delete in
the second paragraph 'on the benefit of remaining in EU membership'
听听听听听听听听 William Craig
of Robert Gordon University, Jimmy Donaghey, Jane Hardy and Liz Lawrence, all
of the NEC, spoke in the debate.
In a vote, 137 voted in favour of amendment 49A.1, 130
against.听 Amendment 49A.1 was
PASSED.听 Motion 49, as amended, was
PASSED:
The coalition government has announced the desire to
attempt to re-negotiate terms, or exit from the European Union within 5 years.
At present obligations in European Law form an effective safety net for the
majority of our equality rights. These attacks are disguised within the
rhetoric of 'austerity' and the 'national interest', but an exit from Europe
would enable the government to 'slash and burn' the hard fought equality rights
that have been gained. The 'bonfire of regulations' and renegotiations are a
direct attack on those with protected characteristics in the workplace.
Congress calls on the NEC to join with other trade
unions to campaign vigorously to safeguard our already diminishing equality and
employment rights.
11.6听听 Motion 50 Free imprisoned Bahraini teachers was
moved by Steve Cushion of London retired members鈥� branch and seconded formally.
听听听听听听听听 Motion 50 was
PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress calls upon the NEC to:
1.
Contact
Education International for discussion of practical steps that the union should
take to advance the cause of colleagues imprisoned in Bahrain. These include
individuals in the leadership of the Bahrain Teachers Association, the chair
and deputy chair of which have been sentenced, by a military court, to
imprisonment for involvement in the movement for democratic political reform.
2.
Address
their plight in conjunction with Education International and MENA Solidarity;
3.
Publicise
on our union's website the campaign against the detention of our fellow trade
unionists in Bahrain and other countries;
4.
Commission
an article on the subject for the next issue of UC;
5.
Write to
the British government expressing our concerns and request that diplomatic
pressure be applied towards securing the freedom of all Bahraini political
prisoners;
6.
Raise the
situation in Bahrain with the TUC.
11.7听听 Motion 51 Stop the execution of Professor Bhullar
was moved by Sue Blackwell of the University of Birmingham and seconded
formally.
听听听听听听听听 Motion 51 was
PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress
notes with dismay:
1. The death sentence imposed on Professor Davinder
Pal Singh Bhullar for his alleged involvement in a bomb attack in 1993;
2. the denial of access to a lawyer during his
initial detention and trial;
3. the guilty verdict based on an unsubstantiated
鈥渃onfession鈥� which Prof. Bhullar later retracted;
4. the Indian Supreme Court's rejection on 12th
April 2013 of his plea for commutation;
5. The "urgent action" appeal for Prof.
Bhullar by Amnesty International.
Congress believes that Prof. Bhullar did not receive a fair
trial and may be innocent.
Congress resolves:
a.
to take up
Prof. Bhullar's case with the FCO, the Indian High Commission and Education
International;
b.
to call
upon the Indian government not to execute Professor Bhullar, to remove him from
death row immediately, and retry his case in accordance with international fair
trial standards.
Simon Renton, President
Elect, was in the chair.
11.8听听 Motion 52 Campaigning for women and girls鈥� education
was moved by Kathy Taylor, President, on behalf of the NEC.听
听听听听听听听听 Motion 52 was
PASSED unanimously:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress condemns the assassination
attempt in October 2012 on fourteen year old Pakistani schoolgirl Malala
Yousafzai for campaigning for girls' right to education.
Congress notes:
1.
Millions of
girls around the world are denied access to school because of poverty, cultural attitudes and the threat of sexual
violence.
2.
Girls are
still less likely to progress to secondary education and that women make up
almost two-thirds of the 796 million adults without basic skills.
3.
Girls鈥�
restricted access to schooling makes it harder to progress to higher education
and enhanced employment opportunities.
Congress calls on:
a.
governments
around the world to take action to eliminate all barriers to girls accessing
quality public education and to promote the teaching of equality in
curricula.听
b.
the NEC to
affiliate to the Global Campaign for Education and support its campaigns on girls鈥� education and
eliminating gender discrimination.听
11.9听听 Motion 53 Conditions of workers and education rights
for children in Bangladesh was moved by Ian Crosson of Tower Hamlets
College and seconded by Mike Cushman of LSE.
听听听听听听听听 Motion 53 was
PASSED unanimously:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress expresses its horror at the hundreds
of deaths and injuries caused in the disastrous fire and collapse of a building
that held clothes factories in Dhaka, Bangladesh.听 Many of the dead and injured are young women
forced to work in such sweat shops due to lack of educational opportunities.
Congress
believes that the prioritisation of cheapness over basic health and safety in
the buying priorities of Primark and other retailers makes them and their
customers complicit in killing workers in less developed countries who have few
options.
Congress
believes that compensation must be paid.
Congress
supports the call by the International Labor Rights Forum for international
corporations and brands to sign up to the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety
Agreement.
Congress
believes that support from Western countries is necessary but progress in
Bangladesh and other LDCs will only be achieved by the self-organisation of
workers through effective unions and urges the TUC to offer full support to the
Bangladesh National Council of Trade Unions in campaigns to organise and
represent clothing workers.
Congress
urges all members to consider the implications of their clothing purchases and
seek assurances from retailers of ethical supply chains.
Congress
calls for:
1. NEC to communicate
these things in a press release and to the appropriate authorities in
Bangladesh
2. NEC to urge the TUC
to put pressure on UK retailers to sign up to the Bangladesh Fire and Building
Safety Agreement.
3. a collection for
the victims of the disaster and their families
4. Education International
to press in whatever ways possible for the educational rights of Bangladeshi
children.
11.10 Motion 54 Colombian academics and peace in Colombia
was moved by Maire Daley of Liverpool Community College and seconded
formally.听 Harriet Bradley of the NEC
spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听 Motion 54 was
PASSED unanimously:
听听听听听听听听听 Last year 69 more trade unionists were
assassinated. Academics remain in the firing line: recently Olga Cadena
Corrales was assassinated, Carlo Andres Ospina imprisoned and Adolfo Atehortua
received a death threat.
Although
the issues that face trade unionists and teachers are known within this union
the extent of the war remains un-publicised. Colombia is the most unequal
country in South America 鈥� the root cause of the conflict.
There is an
urgent need for an open peace process, supported by a bilateral ceasefire.
Experience from other peace processes around the world, has shown that a
ceasefire is crucial in creating the necessary conditions for successful
negotiation.
Therefore
we call on the NEC to:
1.
maintain a
close monitoring of individual academics
2.
work with
JFC to support the peace process
3.
encourage
branch affiliation to JFC.
Kathy Taylor, President, was
in the chair.
11.11 The chair gave
guidance to Congress on motion L3 which referred to an employment tribunal case
against the union.听 She requested that
contributors to the debate respect the rights of the member who took the case
and that personalised comments should not be made.
听听听听听听听听 Motion L3 was
moved by Tom Hickey of the NEC on behalf of the University of Brighton and
seconded formally.听 Liza van Zyl of
Cardiff University proposed remission of motion L3 and removal of all
references to the tribunal case.听 Peter
Collins of St Mary鈥檚 University College Belfast spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听 Paul Cottrell,
national head of public policy, provided some points of clarification.听 The basis for the tribunal case was
harassment under the Equality Act rather than institutional racism which did
not exist as a category in employment law.听
The judgement of the tribunal did not affect advice repeatedly given to
the union that an academic boycott of Israel would be unlawful. 听The union鈥檚 position on that had not changed
and it did not have a policy supporting an academic boycott of Israel.
Litigation in respect of costs was continuing in this case which was covered by
the rules of subjudicey.
听听听听听听听听 In a vote,
remission of motion L3 was LOST.听 Motion
L3 was PASSED:
Congress notes:
1.
previous
overwhelming votes for BDS
2.
boycott
decision by Teachers' Union of Ireland, US-Asia Studies Association and Stephen
Hawkins
3.
ET
harassment case against 51福利 by member citing criticisms of Israel
4.
dismissal
of charges as baseless in law or fact; ET references to seeking political
objectives through litigation and importance of free debate; inappropriate
expense to public purse and 51福利; rejection of Zionism as 'protected
characteristic' of Jewishness.
Congress reaffirms:
a.
that while
some antisemites are also anti-Zionist, criticisms of Israel and Zionism are
not eo ipso antisemitic
b.
51福利 policy
supporting BDS and its lawful implementation
c.
opposition
to all forms of racism, including antisemitism.
Congress resolves to:
i.
publicise
the eventual ET outcome to branches, TUC unions, and sister unions
internationally
ii.
renew the
invitation to members to consider the appropriateness of Israeli institutional
relationships, accompanied by an update on conditions in Gaza and West Bank,
and a statement of the BDS objectives.
11.12 Motion 55 Global youth unemployment and vocational
education was moved by Loraine Monk of the NEC and seconded formally.听
听听听听听听听听 Motion 55 was
PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress
notes:
1.
75 million
young people are without jobs across the world;
2.
many
millions more are trapped in informal or precarious work;听
3.
women, BME,
LGBT and disabled youth are disproportionately affected by these trends;
4.
the threats
to quality vocational education and training (VET) as a result of spending
cuts, privatisation and labour market deregulation.
Congress supports the international trade union
movement鈥檚 call for an alternative youth strategy based on decent jobs,
workers鈥� rights and access to quality education and training.听
Congress
also welcomes the new ETUCE policy paper on VET in Europe ()
and the ongoing work of Education International鈥檚 global VET taskforce and
calls on the NEC to make sure that VET and FE issues remain part of the 51福利鈥檚
international agenda.
11.13 Motion 56 Greece was moved by Clive Rosen of the
University of Derby and seconded formally.听
Martin Ralph of the University of Liverpool spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听 Motion 56 was
PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress notes:
1.
the
continuing resistance by many trade unions in Greece to attempts by the
government to implement further austerity measures amounting to 拢10.8 billion
since November 2012 despite rapidly rising levels of poverty and unemployment.
A number of measures being sought by the so-called 鈥楾roika鈥� 鈥� the European
Central Bank, the IMF, and the European Union 鈥� have been halted by strike
action such as one and two day general strikes, and which has included strikes
by teachers in opposition to wage cuts, job losses and attacks on workers鈥� rights.
2.
the growing
threat posed by the fascist Golden Dawn party and recognises the crucial role
being played by workers organisations in combating this.
Congress
resolves:
a.
to
encourage branches to twin with branches of Greek further and higher education
unions.
b.
to call on
the TUC to mobilise in support of Greek unions.
11.14 Motion 57 Defend the Right of Public Education for
All: Greek HE was moved by Maria Pentaraki of Liverpool Hope University and
seconded formally.听 Sean Wallis of UCL
spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听 Motion 57 was
PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress notes that the savage
austerity measures imposed on Greece have amounted to 45% of cuts in the higher
education sector. The Greek government aims to decrease the student intake by
30%. A lot of departments are threatened with closure, students and staff
determined to protect their right to public education have been attacked and
demonized by the mainstream media.听 In
April 2013, some students of TEI Patras engaged in a fight to stop the closure
of the social work department were injured by opponents within their HEI.
Congress
resolves to:
1.
support the
struggles of the students and staff to protect and /or reclaim their right to
public education in conjunction with the international higher education union
and the student union;
2.
publicize
on our union's website the struggles of students and staff to protect their
right to education both in Greece and other countries.
11.15听 Congress ADOPTED section 2 of the
NEC鈥檚 report to Congress, business of the Strategy and Finance Committee.
12听听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 1:听
EDUCATION (CONTINUED)
12.1听听 Motion 6 Governance and accountability was moved
by Duncan Harris of New College Nottingham and seconded formally.听
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 6A.1 was moved by Alan Barker
of the NEC:
听听听听听 Add after
鈥榠nevitable鈥�, before the last sentence:
Congress notes that following the abolishment of the
FE model instruments and articles of governance, an increasing number of
colleges are planning new structures and forms of governance. 51福利 must remain
vigilant to ensure that any new structures continue to have proper
representation of staff and student governors.
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 6A.2 was moved by Helen
MacCarthy of the Academic-related staff committee on behalf of the University
of Hull:
Add 鈥楾hese bodies are being reduced in size, and
election of staff governors is increasingly being replaced by appointment,
ensuring the removal of alternative voices which ensure equity.鈥�
After sentence 2. Replace 鈥榃e assert the need for staff and
student governors to play a key role on governing bodies...鈥� with 鈥榃e assert
the need for elected staff and student governors to play a key role on
governing bodies that are fully representative of staff and students (and the
wider community where relevant)...鈥�
Add at end:
鈥楥ongress calls on 51福利 to undertake a review of the role of trade unions in
university and college governance.鈥�
听听听听听听听听 Amendments 6A.1
and 6A.2 were PASSED.听 Motion 6, as
amended, was PASSED:
This
Congress recognises the increasing need for effective governance across the HE
and FE sectors. Congress calls upon 51福利 to lobby for an acceptable level of
accountability in our publicly funded universities and FE colleges. We believe
that governing bodies, under the current system, are susceptible to cronyism,
leading to inappropriate use of funds, including payments to organisations
antagonistic to the interests of learners and professionals and the
implementation of cutbacks. We assert the need for elected staff and student
governors to play a key role on governing bodies that are fully representative
of staff and students (and the wider community where relevant); this would be a
step towards holding such bodies to account for fiscal responsibility at a time
when cuts and austerity measures are being presented to us as necessary and
inevitable. Congress notes that following the abolishment of the FE model
instruments and articles of governance, an increasing number of colleges are
planning new structures and forms of governance. 51福利 must remain vigilant to
ensure that any new structures continue to have proper representation of staff
and student governors. Additionally we call for the accounts of all FE and HE
bodies to be fully available for scrutiny as a further step toward transparency
and openness.
These bodies are being reduced in size, and election of
staff governors is increasingly being replaced by appointment, ensuring the
removal of alternative voices which ensure equity.
Congress calls on 51福利 to undertake a review of the role
of trade unions in university and college governance.
13听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 6: OTHER EMPLOYMENT-RELATED BUSINESS
13.1听听 Motion 58 Space for rest breaks was moved by Tim
Barrett of the University of Bath and seconded formally.听
听听听听听听听听 Motion 58 was
PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress notes the duty under the
Working Time Regulations for each workplace to provide space for staff to have
an uninterrupted break from work. This should be in the form of a staff only
space to ensure that rest breaks are not disturbed by students.
Congress
calls on NEC to raise this issue with employers in all appropriate fora.
13.2听听 Motion B4 Defending members鈥� health and safety was
moved by John Murphy of Blackburn College and seconded formally.听
听听听听听听听听 Motion B4 was
PASSED:
1.
the
unprecedented attacks on employee health and safety launched by the Con-Dem
administration continue apace.
2.
in order to
鈥榢ill off the health and safety culture鈥� they are promulgating:
Congress
believes:
a.
these
attacks are already impacting on our members physical and mental health.
b. the Hazards Campaign/Conference are crucial in
resisting these attacks
i.听听听 encourage
teams of workplace safety reps and the growth of regional networks
ii.
sponsor a
delegation to the Hazards Conference and make a significant donation
iii.
encourage
branches and regions to support the Hazards Campaign and Conference.
13.3听听 Motion 59 Better choices for a better future was
moved by Angie Birtill of South Thames College and seconded formally.听 Liam Carr of Newcastle College spoke in the
debate.
听听听听听听听听 Motion 59 was
PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 This branch believes that sustainable
development should be a core organising principal for the FHE and skills
sector. This means moving away from treating environmentalism as a token issue
or as a bolt-on to other activities. It means moving towards choices that
integrate sustainability into business practice. In particular:
1.
Using the
focus on employability to embed education for sustainable development across
the curriculum.
2.
Building
divestment campaigns from high carbon portfolios. The average pension fund has
55% of its assets invested in high-carbon sectors.
3.
Promoting
international, national and community based campaigns that address fuel poverty
and the de-carbonisation of energy supply.
Congress
calls upon the NEC to develop a coalition of unions and students that will
contribute to delivering these objectives.
Congress
calls upon sector employers to recognise the trade union role and establish
procedures that promote embedding sustainable development.
13.4听听 Motion 60 Performance related pay was moved by Ron
Mendel of the NEC on behalf of the East Midlands regional committee.听 Joan Harvey of Newcastle University spoke in
the debate.
听听听听听听听听 Motion 60 was
PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress notes
1.
The growing
evidence that employers in the HE and FE sectors are attempting to introduce
performance related pay outside the parameters of national pay agreements.
2.
Linking pay
with appraisal will undermine lecturers鈥� confidence in staff appraisal, which
purportedly aims to improve staff performance and to promote professional
development.
3.
Performance
related pay is misconceived because the fulfilment of performance objectives
hinges on the effort of teams and not individuals.
4.
Research
shows that performance related pay does not improve performance.
5.
Decisions
on performance pay are fraught with subjectivity and could lead to favouritism,
unfairness and resentment.
Congress
calls on the NEC to:
a.
monitor the
attempts by HEIs and FE colleges to introduce performance related pay
b.听 initiate
a national campaign against performance related pay
c.
work
closely with branches and local associations as well as regional offices to
resist the introduction of performance related pay.
13.5听听 Motion 61 Detrimental legislative changes: collective
consultation on redundancy at end of FTC was moved by Roger Brooks of the
NEC on behalf of the University of Liverpool.听
Lesley Kane of the NEC spoke in the debate.听 With the permission of the chair Christine
Sheehy of the University of Salford addressed the meeting about their ongoing
local dispute.
听听听听听听听听 Motion 61 was
PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress
condemns the government's proposed legislative changes to redundancy
consultation periods and the decision to remove the requirement on employers to
consult collectively on redundancies resulting from the ending of fixed-term
contracts.
The removal
of the obligation to consult when a fixed term contract finishes is likely to:-
1.
Give
unscrupulous employers an incentive to increase the use of fixed term
contracts.
2.
Remove
employment rights not only from staff in HE/FE, but from some of the poorest
and most vulnerable in society, who work in industries such as catering,
tourism and construction.
3.
Mitigate
against the principle of giving employees and their trade unions a chance to
propose alternatives when faced with mass redundancies.
4.
Prevent or
not allow long enough for a meaningful attempt at redeployment.
Congress instructs the NEC to follow up all possible avenues of
opposition to the proposed legislative changes, including
a.
obtaining
legal advice on whether this change puts UK legislation in breach of the EU
Directive on Fixed-Term Work or any other European regulation or directive,
with a view to mounting a legal challenge, working through the TUC in
conjunction with other trades unions as appropriate
b.
joint
campaigns with other unions
c.
action
against any attempt to renege on current procedures.
13.6听听 Motions 62 Deskilling and deprofessionalisation of
staff and 63 Management of change
were taken in the same debate and moved by Dom Kingsmill-Stocker of
Loughborough University on behalf of the Academic-related staff committee and
seconded formally.听
听听听听听听听听 Motion 62 was
PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress calls upon the NEC to
actively oppose the outsourcing, de-skilling and de-professionalisation of all
staff in the education sector. The rampant growth of such policies
disproportionately affects casualised, part-time, academic related and
professional staff, eroding our specialisms and our ability to perform our
roles directly working with colleagues, supporting students and working in a
collegiate manner. Across the sector, outsourcing, restructuring, use of
consultants, privatisation, shared services and the scaling down of provision
for staff and students is on the rise and this directly undermines the work of
all 51福利 members.
Congress calls on the NEC to investigate the extent of the
problem, to campaign vigorously against managerialist policies, and to provide
advice to local branches engaged in fighting these threats.
Motion 63
was PASSED:
Congress
notes:
1.
The stress
caused to staff by change and the effect this has on morale
2.
Failure to
meaningfully involve unions in restructuring
3.
The
enthusiasm with which institutions rush to make redundancies
4.
Lack of
training for staff who survive restructuring
5.
Commercial
management consultants do not understand the education sector
Congress
calls the NEC to develop a national model change management agreement
including:
a.
Union
involvement from the very start of the process
b.
A
transparent process revealing the full costs
c.
Meaningful
job descriptions so colleagues current and new are not set up to fail
d.
A
redeployment procedure that works
e.
Ensuring
consultants consider the character of the institution before making
recommendations
FOURTH SESSION OF CONGRESS, FRIDAY AFTERNOON, 31 MAY 2013
Simon Renton, President
Elect, was in the chair.
14听听听听听 Kathy Taylor,
President and Chair, addressed the meeting.
15听听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 1:听
EDUCATION (CONTINUED)
15.1听听 Motion 7 Teacher education was moved by Marion
Carty of Cumbria University on behalf of the East Midlands regional committee
and seconded by Pura Ariza of Manchester Metropolitan University.听 William Craig of Robert Gordon University and
Glyn Heath of the University of Salford spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听 Motion 7 was
PASSED nem con:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress re-affirms its belief that
the government鈥檚 decision to situate teacher education wholly within schools
will de-professionalise teachers, reduce school teaching to a 鈥榗raft鈥� and be a
terminal threat to educational research and researched based teacher-training.
It
recognises that the allocation of training places by the Teaching Agency this
year has drastically reduced allocations in the majority of HE institutions and
this could result in mass redundancies amongst our members in teacher
education. It calls on branches to audit the impact of this process on their
education departments.
Congress
agrees to
1.
mount the
strongest campaign at national level, alongside other education unions and
student bodies to oppose this attack on teacher education
2.
organise,
immediately, a joint conference with these interest groups, as agreed at
Congress 2012
3.
publish a
strong critique of current government policy.
15.2听听 Congress ADOPTED section 1 of the
NEC鈥檚 report to Congress, business of the Education Committee.
16听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 7:听 EQUALITY
16.1听 Section 7 of the NEC鈥檚 report to
Congress, business of the Equality Committee, was moved formally by Ann Blair,
chair of the Equality Committee.
16.2听 Motion 64 Equality and
collective bargaining was moved by Pat Roche of the NEC and seconded
formally.
听听听听听听听听 Amendment
64A.1 was moved by Pat Roche of the NEC:
听听听听听 Add after
first paragraph
'Congress further notes the attacks on workers鈥� rights in the
Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill including erosion of whistleblowers
rights, repeal of Equality Act provisions on third party harassment and removal
of employers statutory breach of duty on workplace injuries.
Add at end
To campaign with the TUC and others to oppose the Enterprise
and Regulatory Reform Bill and urges Labour to commit to its repeal and to
restore and strengthen workers' rights if they win in 2015.
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 64A.2 was moved by Mary
Jennings of the NEC on behalf of the LGBT members鈥� standing committee:
听听听听听 Add new
paragraph at the end
鈥楾o facilitate and enable progress institutions (including
51福利) should be encouraged to promote and undertake data collection on all
protected characteristics鈥�
听听听听听听听听 Amendments
64A.1 and 64A.2 were passed.听 Motion 64,
as amended, was PASSED:
Congress affirms the importance of equality as a collective bargaining
issue for 51福利. It welcomes the inclusion of equality issues in national and
local claims. It supports the equality proofing of all collective agreements to
ensure that equality is at the heart of our work as a union. Congress condemns
the failure of some employers and employers' associations to engage
constructively with unions in negotiating around equality.
Congress further notes the attacks on workers' rights in the Enterprise
and Regulatory Reform Bill including erosion of whistleblowers rights, repeal
of Equality Act provisions on third party harassment and removal of employers
statutory breach of duty on workplace injuries.
Congress notes the failure by employers in some institutions to involve
unions in local equality committees. It believes that equality policies should
be developed in partnership with trade unions and any relevant implications for
pay or conditions of service fully negotiated.
Congress calls on the NEC to keep equality on local and national agendas
through
1. providing model agreements and disseminating
success stories for local bargaining
2. inclusion of equality demands in national
bargaining
3. monitoring progress across institutions to hold
employers to account.
To campaign with the TUC and others to oppose the Enterprise and
Regulatory Reform Bill and urges Labour to commit to its repeal and to restore
and strengthen workers' rights if they win in 2015.
To facilitate and enable progress, institutions (including 51福利) should
be encouraged to promote and undertake data collection on all protected
characteristics.
16.2听听 Motion 65 Public Sector Equality Duty was moved by
Angi Lamb of the NEC on behalf of 51福利 Scotland.听
听听听听听听听听 Motion 65 was
PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress notes that the equality duty
in the Equality Act 2010 (s.149) obliges public authorities to have 鈥榙ue
regard鈥� to equality. The coalition government is currently undertaking a review
of the public sector equality duty as part of its response to the Red Tape
Challenge to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and consider alternatives to
legislation.
Congress
believes this review is premature as the equality duty only came into effect
two years ago and the specific duties a year ago.
Congress is
concerned about the degree of objectivity and rigour of the review as it is
being overseen by a steering group that lacks any public service user or worker
voice with no representation from the devolved administrations over a very
short timeframe.
Congress
calls on 51福利 to campaign for the retention of the public sector equality duty
in the Equality Act 2010 in conjunction with the TUC.
16.3听听 Motion 66 Visibility in 51福利 structures was moved
by Jim Thakoordin of the NEC and seconded formally.
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 66A.1 was moved by Darrall
Cozens of West Midlands retired members鈥� branch:
Point 3,
before 鈥榃omen鈥� delete 鈥榓nd鈥� and insert 鈥�,鈥�; after 鈥榃omen members鈥� add 鈥榓nd
Retired Members.鈥�
In the last sentence change
"four" to "five"
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 66A.2 was moved by Lee
Williamson of the University of St Andrews on behalf of the Anti-casualisation
committee:
Point 3,
first sentence delete 鈥渁nd鈥� before 鈥淲omen鈥� and add 鈥�,鈥� ; after 鈥淲omen members鈥�
add 鈥渁nd members on casualised contracts鈥�.
Last
sentence replace 鈥渇our鈥� with 鈥渇ive鈥�.
听听听听听听听听 Martin
Levy of the NEC spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听 Amendments
66A.1 and 66A.2 were PASSED.听 Motion 66,
as amended, was PASSED:
Congress notes that progressing equality in branches and regions is
important. Increasing the participation of members from all equality groups is
critical. In regions and branches we may not be doing all we can to utilise
this expertise and ensuring that lay structures reflect our membership.
Congress supports this cultural shift happening through guidance and support
but should consider if necessary, a rule change at future Congress.
Congress calls upon the NEC to
1. ensure training, development and mentoring opportunities
are targeted at under-represented groups
2. encourage through guidance and support branches to
take into account proportionality and fair representation within their
structures.
3. explore and report back on having equality seats on
regional committees for black members, disabled members, LGBT members, women
members, retired members and members on casualised contracts. These may not
necessarily be branch delegates. The report will also detail branch and
regional positions held by the six groups above.
16.4听听 Motion 67 Immigration was moved by Jane Hardy of
the NEC on behalf of the University of Hertfordshire and seconded
formally.听 Will Podmore of the Central
Group HE spoke in the debate. 听Martin
Levy of the NEC proposed remission of the final paragraph of motion 67. The
proposal was LOST.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
67 was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress notes:
1.
The
anti-immigration hysteria focused on Romanian and Bulgarian workers that has
appeared in some sections of the press
2.
The role of
politicians, including the Labour Party, in perpetuating this hostility
3.
That all
academic research shows that workers from New Member States make
disproportionately fewer demands on housing and welfare and contribute more in
taxes.
Congress believes:
a.
That this
tide of anti-immigration rhetoric is divisive and plays into the hands of
xenophobic and racist parties, causes social divisions in communities and
marginalises students and staff from these countries on our campuses.
b.
The 51福利 has
an important role to play as a trade union and in its representation of
researchers in defending labour mobility and speaking out against xenophobia.
Congress instructs the NEC in general and the General Secretary in particular, to condemn
such statements, strongly and urgently when and from whoever they arise.
Kathy Taylor,
President, was in the chair
16.5听听 Motion 68 Stop the BNP and EDL was moved by Graham
Mustin of Yorkshire and Humberside regional committee and seconded by Joan
Harvey of Newcastle University.
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 68A.1 was moved by Margot Hill
of Croydon College on behalf of the London regional committee:
Add after "at Eastleigh on 28th February":
and the breakthrough by UKIP in May鈥檚 local elections winning 139 seats, 25% of
the vote, can push British politics to the right and
Add after "Nick Griffin as
Euro MPs in 2014.":
And resolves to work with other unions and anti-racist
campaigns such as UAF to organise a major national conference on anti-racist
education in October. This event should launch a pack of teaching materials to
help teachers combat racism and xenophobia.
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 68A.2 was moved by Jim
Wolfreys of King鈥檚 College London:
Add, after 鈥楥ongress resolves to support the campaign
to unseat Andrew Brons and Nick Griffin as Euro MPs in 2014鈥�: "and to
donate 拢500 to this campaign"
听听听听听听听听 Will
Podmore of the Central Group HE spoke in the debate.听 Roger Walters of the NEC proposed remission
of amendments 68A.1 and 68A.2.听 Remission
of amendments 68A.1 and 68A.2 was LOST.
听听听听听听听听 Amendments
68A.1 and 68A.2 were PASSED.听 Motion 68,
as amended, was PASSED:
Congress recognises that while the BNP has been in
disarray for much of the last year and the EDL has suffered significant
reversals through mass resistance at Walthamstow, Cambridge and Manchester
recently, there can be no room for complacency. Growing inequality, escalating
benefit cuts, mass unemployment and media scapegoating provide fertile ground
for racist and fascist ideas to flourish. UKIP's second place at Eastleigh on
28th February and the breakthrough by UKIP in May's local elections winning 139
seats, 25% of the vote, can push British politics to the right and is a warning
of the potential for far-right solutions to gain an audience.
The coalition government's refusal to implement
respectful, effective, inclusive, economic and social regeneration measures in
areas hit by industrial decline and to invest in education more broadly to
address skills shortages and re-training constitutes a major systemic
class-based failure of governance and denial of education rights which plays
into the hands of the fascists.
Congress also recognises the dangerous growth of
fascist organisations in parts of Europe, such as France, Greece and Hungary,
linked to economic crisis, widespread disenchantment with mainstream political
organisations, and the impact of austerity measures across the continent.
Congress notes that Nick Griffin, BNP, and Andrew Brons
are standing for re-election as MEPs in 2014. The fascist platform on which
Griffin and Brons stand is one which is hostile to trade unionism and equal
rights for disadvantaged groups. They support reactionary educational policies
and promote a curriculum which seeks to re-write history in the interests of
imperialism, nationalism, racism and Islamaphobia.
Congress supports campaigning organisations like UAF in
opposing Griffin's and Brons's attempts to retain their foothold in European
politics and encourages members to actively support the campaign through
seeking affiliations, financial contributions, distributing leaflets in the
relevant constituencies, and branch endorsements.
Congress resolves to support the campaign to unseat
Andrew Brons and Nick Griffin as Euro MPs in 2014 and to donate 拢500 to this
campaign, and resolves to work with other unions and anti-racist campaigns such
as UAF to organise a major national conference on anti-racist education in
October. This event should launch a pack of teaching materials to help teachers
combat racism and xenophobia.
16.6听听 Motion L4 Don't let fascists and racists divide us
was moved by Richard McEwan of the NEC.听
Sue Blackwell of the University of Birmingham spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
L4 was PASSED:
51福利 sends its condolences to the friends and family of
Drummer Lee Rigby, the soldier murdered in Woolwich.
A backlash, fuelled by the media and politicians,
against Muslims, has led to attacks on mosques around the country including
firebombings.
The EDL and BNP are attempting to exploit the
situation, and have called protests around the country. The BNP has announced
plans to demonstrate in Woolwich this Saturday (01/06/13).
Congress resolves to:
1.
send
condolences to the family
2.
put a
statement on the website opposing Islamaphobia and racism, and in support of
unity
3.
support the
'Unity in the Community' demonstration (initiated by Unite against Fascism).
16.7听听 Motion 69 Racism and anti-Semitism was moved by
Patricia McManus of the University of Brighton and seconded formally.听
听听听听听听听听 Motion
69 was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress notes the
1.听听 trend to overt expressions of racism in
recent political debate;
2.听听 documented
anti-Muslim rhetoric of the UKIP candidate in Rotherham, Caven Vines
3. 听 attack by all three main party leaders on
migrant workers and their families in March;
4.
unanimously adopted emergency motion at NUT conference
opposing any attempt to use teachers to identify children of 鈥榠llegal鈥�
migrants.
Congress
resolves to:
a.
organise a
UAF official fringe meeting for Congress 2014 particularly addressing
Islamophobia and antisemitism;
b.
publish the
delayed pamphlet on antisemitism;
c.
reissue
members鈥� advice not to engage in discriminatory monitoring of overseas
students, or expose themselves to legal risk from passport or visa checks;
d.
instruct
the General Secretary publicly to communicate 51福利 policy to all party leaders,
and issue a press statement.
16.8听听 Motion 70 Mental health toolkit was moved by Pat
Roche of the NEC on behalf of the Disabled members鈥� standing committee and
seconded formally.
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 70A.1 was moved formally:
听听听听听 Add new
bullet point (bullet point 4) at end
鈥榚nsure that documents and training include specific
reference to mental health issues including around LGBT people and issues鈥�
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 70A.2 was moved by Dave Morris
of the LSE:
听听听听听 Add at end
Congress further notes that training for HE staff in
managing relationships with colleagues and students suffering mental health
problems is generally inadequate or absent.
While stress related health issues receive some, if
inadequate, attention; difficulties faced by those with pre-existing mental
health issues are almost totally neglected.
Congress urges branches to press managements to introduce training
for all staff in recognising and appropriately responding to issues caused by
mental health conditions and in combating stigmatisation.
听听听听听听听听 Amendments
70A.1 and 70A.2 were PASSED.听 Motion 70,
as amended, was PASSED:
51福利 has made good progress in developing resources for members with
mental health impairments. This includes the one in four guide to mental health
and a casework briefing. This year 51福利 launches the mental health toolkit.
Caseworkers and negotiators often struggle to support members with
mental health impairments as we all can lack understanding of how it may impact
on a members' ability to participate in decisions and actions in their own
case.
The toolkit will enable caseworkers and negotiators to support members
effectively as well as ensuring that there is a collective approach to tackling
mental health in the workplace. 51福利 is also developing a training module to
accompany the toolkit.
Congress calls upon 51福利 to:
1. disseminate the toolkit to all branches and request
feedback on its effectiveness
2. provide updates on case law and changes to
legislation
3. provide training for branch officers on mental
health issues
4. ensure that documents and training include specific
reference to mental health issues including around LGBT people and issues.
Congress further notes that training for HE staff in managing
relationships with colleagues and students suffering mental health problems is
generally inadequate or absent.
While stress related health issues receive some, if inadequate,
attention; difficulties faced by those with pre-existing mental health issues
are almost totally neglected.
Congress urges branches to press managements to introduce training for
all staff in recognising and appropriately responding to issues caused by
mental health conditions and in combating stigmatisation.
16.9听听 Motion 71 Reasonable adjustments was moved by Joe
Gluza of the NEC on behalf of the Disabled members鈥� standing committee.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
71 was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Employers have a legal duty to
make reasonable adjustments for disabled workers. Adjustments
include altering working hours, modifying computer equipment or providing a
reader or interpreter. Disability Leave is also an example keeping leave
relating to a disability separate from sick leave. Additional funding is often
available through Access to Work and guidance from the Equality and Human
Rights Commission.
51福利
is committed to the 'social model' of disability and this is often not
recognised by employers. There is evidence that disabled members right to
reasonable adjustments is being eroded as cuts to services, funding and jobs
hit hard.
Reasonable
adjustments are a collective issue and 51福利 needs to help create work
places that enable a disabled member to safely disclose and get the adjustments
they need.
Congress
calls upon 51福利 to provide guidance to branches to ensure we safeguard disabled
workers鈥� right to adjustments in the workplace.
16.10 Motion 72 Coming out was moved by Mark Sully of
Cornwall College on behalf of the LGBT members鈥� standing committee.听
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 72A.1 was moved by Laura Miles
of the NEC on behalf of the Yorkshire and Humberside regional committee:
Insert new paragraph before 鈥楥onference calls on NEC
to鈥�:
Conference notes that coming out can result in significant adverse
publicity and harassment for trans people as in the recent case of Lucy
Meadows, a trans teacher who apparently committed suicide following transphobic
media attacks, despite support from her school.
After 鈥�1, Promote the 51福利 LGBT training for reps鈥� add:
To ensure college managements understand the needs of LGB and trans staff and
students, including pastoral support.
Add to 3:
, including encouraging branches to support events commemorating Lucy Meadows
and to mark Transgender Remembrance Day in November.
听听听听听听听听 Amendment
72A.1 was PASSED.听 Motion 72, as amended,
was PASSED:
Many advances in sexual orientation equality have been made since the
implementation of the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations
2003. Social attitudes at work and beyond are more accepting for lesbian, gay,
bisexual and trans people despite the continuation of homophobia and
transphobia in workplaces, classrooms and elsewhere. Congress believes that,
whilst needing supportive environments, monitoring should always include
options for lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals to state their presence through
boxes for sexual orientation. Congress also believes that in monitoring,
organisations should review the range of boxes for sex, as gender identities
are beyond the traditional binary of male and female.
Conference notes that coming out can result in significant adverse
publicity and harassment for trans people as in the recent case of Lucy
Meadows, a trans teacher who apparently committed suicide following transphobic
media attacks, despite support from her school.
Congress calls on NEC to:
1.
promote the 51福利
LGBT training for reps
2.
ensure college
managements understand the needs of LGB and trans staff and students, including
pastoral support
3.
survey the
prevalence of homophobia and transphobia in the sector and publish results
4.
campaign against
homophobia and transphobia, including encouraging branches to support events
commemorating Lucy Meadows and to mark Transgender Remembrance Day in November
5.
campaign for
monitoring processes that enable people to come out and encourage completion.
16.11 Motion 73 International working was moved by Mary
Jennings of the NEC on behalf of the LGBT members鈥� standing committee.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
73 was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 The increasing portfolio of international
work in HE and FE comes with concerns around hard fought-for equality gains.
For example staff have expressed concerns about being placed in countries where
there is little regard, or worse, for LGBT rights. A perception that people in
other countries have negative views of sexual orientation diversity was found
to have negative impact on doing LGBT equality work (Forum 2010 鈥楳anaging the
Interface鈥�). Little evidence has been found of good equality practice when
organisations establish franchises or campuses internationally. Recognising
work already undertaken in this area within 51福利 Congress calls upon NEC to
1.
support
higher profile international working advice to reps, particularly LGBT equality
issues in staff placements, student recruitment, and employment of
international staff within the UK.
2.
provide
encouragement and support for those organisations, such as the TUC and the
Forum, that engage with work in this area.
16.12 Motion 74 Maternity provision was moved by
Veronica Killen of the NEC and seconded formally.
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 74A.1 was moved by Peter
Mitchell of the University of Manchester:
Append 5.
to 4. Add new 5:
5. That individuals employed
on casualised (fixed-term, hourly-paid and agency) contracts often miss out on,
or lose, maternity benefits, with some even feeling compelled to conceal
pregnancy in an attempt to protect their employment.
Expand b.: 鈥榓nd for improved
provision (underwritten by employers, not funding bodies) for staff employed on
casualised contracts.鈥�
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 74A.2 was moved by Veronica
Killen of the NEC:
听听听听 Add at end of
motion
Congress
also notes that employers can respond differently to miscarriage, still birth
and neo natal death. This not only relates to leave and pay but an empathetic
response about returning to work. Congress supports the research being undertaken
by Maternity Action and calls upon the NEC to use the findings to develop
policy.
听听听听听听听听 Amendments
74A.1 and 74A.2 were PASSED.听 Motion 74,
as amended, was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress welcomes the move to encourage more men
and partners to become more involved in family life through the new
arrangements on flexible parental leave and flexible working.
Congress is concerned:
1. that paternity provision will not be in addition to
existing maternity leave and the level of funding is inadequate to encourage
uptake
2. changes in workplace culture already put pressures
on family life
3. women may give up maternity leave, or feel
pressurised to take the minimum. This will have an adverse impact on women's
health.
4. it will erode maternity provision and is a further
attack on a woman's right to work
5. that individuals employed on casualised
(fixed-term, hourly-paid and agency) contracts often miss out on, or lose,
maternity benefits, with some even feeling compelled to conceal pregnancy in an
attempt to protect their employment
Congress calls on the NEC to:
a. monitor maternity and paternity provision in both
sectors
b. campaign to improve provision at local levels to
the best of the public sector and for improved provision (underwritten by
employers, not funding bodies) for staff employed on casualised contracts.
c.
work with the
NUS as a joint campaign
d. affiliate to Maternity Action.
Congress also notes that employers can respond differently to
miscarriage, still birth and neo natal death. This not only relates to leave
and pay but an empathetic response about returning to work. Congress supports
the research being undertaken by Maternity Action and calls upon the NEC to use
the findings to develop policy.
16.13 Motion 75 Childcare including change in ratios of
staff and children was moved by Monica Goligher of the NEC.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
75 was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress notes with alarm government
proposals to address the high cost of childcare in the UK with a 鈥減ile 鈥榚m high
鈥� sell 鈥榚m cheap鈥� alternative.
Congress
firmly believes that childcare needs to be made more affordable so that all
parents and carers of young children, but especially mothers, can afford to
maintain a foothold in the workplace when their children are young. However
Congress also believes that this must rest on investment in high quality training
and in proper subsidy of places.
Congress
rejects the notion that the increases proposed for child:staff ratios can be
introduced without detriment to the quality of childcare.
Congress
instructs NEC and the Equality committee to:-
1.
participate
fully in any consultations on this proposal
2.
support any
campaigns opposing these proposals
3.
campaign
for the increased professionalisation of the childcare workforce
4.
continue to
fight to protect the rights of those with childcare responsibilities.
16.14 Motion 76 Violence against women was moved by
Loraine Monk of the NEC on behalf of the Women members鈥� standing committee and
seconded by Pura Ariza of Manchester Metropolitan University.
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 76A.1 was moved by Lesley
McGorrigan of the NEC:
听听听听 In 鈥楥ongress notes鈥�
add:
5. the recent NUS report: 'That's What She said:
Women students' experiences of 'Lad culture' in Higher Education'
Add to 鈥楥ongress resolves to鈥�:
d. Work with the NUS in developing joint campus
strategies and campaigns for identifying and addressing the serious problems
that 'Lad Culture' has on many female students' educational experiences and its
continuing effects throughout their lives.
听听听听听听听听 Amendment
76A.1 was PASSED.听 Motion 76, as amended,
was PASSED:
Congress notes
1. the continued existence of violence against women
both in UK and in every country of the world
2. the UK government's economic policy has cut funding
to women's refuges, rape-centres and services for trafficked women
3. UN figures for women aged between 15 and 44, list
acts of violence causing more death and disability than cancer, malaria,
traffic accidents and war combined
4. the role of education in promoting equality and
justice
5. the recent NUS report: 'That's What She said: Women
students' experiences of 'Lad culture' in Higher Education'.
Congress resolves to:
a. work with individual unions, women's organisations
and the TUC to mount a sustained campaign to reverse cuts to services that
support women who have experienced violence, and promote education
b. work with international organisations and sister
unions to build networks and campaign against violence to women
c.
work with UN
organisations to campaign against femicide and harmful practices such as
genital mutilation, and to promote the rights of girls and women to Education
without fear of violence
d. work with the NUS in developing joint campus
strategies and campaigns for identifying and addressing the serious problems
that 'Lad Culture' has on many female students' educational experiences and its
continuing effects throughout their lives.
16.15 Motion 77 Black members within 51福利 structures was
moved by Blaise Nkwenti-Azehi of the University of Manchester on behalf of the
Black members鈥� standing committee.
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 77A.1 was moved formally:
听听听听听听听听听 Add after 5 at the end:
6. Work with the BMSC to train听 and
support more black caseworkers and enable black members facing race
discrimination to have access to black caseworkers
7. Provide more specific training courses within the regions and devolved
nations designed to encourage and empower black activism across the 51福利
structures
8. Monitor and report all grievances and complaints from Black members to
the BMSC
9. Positively work with students, local communities and anti-racist
organisations to oppose all discrimination in Education
听听听听听听听听 Amendment
77A.1 was PASSED.听 Motion 77, as amended,
was PASSED:
Congress notes that progressing race equality within the entire 51福利
structures is vital for winning the trust, support and confidence of current
and potential Black members. There are over 9,000 Black members within the 51福利
and whilst membership has doubled in recent years, Black activism has
substantially reduced.
Congress recognises the marginalisation, under-representation and
discrimination faced by Black members at work, and the whitening of the
workforce in education.
Congress calls upon the NEC to:
1. increase participation of Black members
2. utilise the expertise of Black members and ensuring
that the 51福利 structure reflect its membership
3. encourage involvement through renewed guidance and
support and production of an annual report to Congress indicating changes
4. ensure training, development and mentoring
opportunities for all under-represented groups
5. encourage workplaces, branches, regions and the NEC
to take into account proportionality and fair representation within their
structures
6. work with the BMSC to train and support more black
caseworkers and enable black members facing race discrimination to have access
to black caseworkers
7. provide more specific training courses within the
regions and devolved nations designed to encourage and empower black activism
across the 51福利 structures
8. monitor and report all grievances and complaints
from Black members to the BMSC
9. positively work with students, local communities
and anti-racist organisations to oppose all discrimination in education.
16.16 Motion 78 Race equality and collective bargaining
was moved by Jim Thakoordin of the NEC on behalf of the Black members鈥� standing
committee. 听听The chair advised that amendment
78A.1 was passed as it was identical to part of amendment 77A.1 previously
passed:
听听听听听听听听听 Add
after 4 at the end:
5.
Work with the BMSC to recruit, train and support more
black caseworkers and enable black members facing race discrimination to have
access to black caseworkers
6.
Provide more specific training courses within the
regions and devolved nations designed to encourage and empower black activism
across the 51福利 structures
听听听听听听听听 Motion
78, as amended, was PASSED:
Congress affirms the importance of anti-racism strategies as a
collective bargaining issue.
Congress recognises the difficulties Black members are facing due to
individual and institutional racism.
Congress notes and condemns the failure by employers to involve unions
in local equality committees. It believes that both the employer and trade
unions should be involved in developing and monitoring policies and practices
to ensure race equality in pay and conditions. Also to redress the imbalance on
Black representation within senior and management levels in HE and FE.
Congress calls on the NEC to:
1.
strengthen race
equality on local and national agendas
2.
include race
equality demands in all local and national bargaining
3.
monitor and
report equality progress across institutions to hold employers to account
4.
ensure that all
51福利 negotiators at local and national levels reflect the diversity of the 51福利
membership
5.
work with the
BMSC to recruit, train and support more black caseworkers and enable black
members facing race discrimination to have access to black caseworkers
6.
provide more
specific training courses within the regions and devolved nations designed to
encourage and empower black activism across the 51福利 structures.
16.17 Motion 79 Defence of pensioners鈥� rights, universal
benefits, the state pension and social care was moved by Ken Childerhouse
of South East retired members鈥� branch and seconded by Norman Jemison of Northern
retired members鈥� branch.听
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 79A.1 was moved by Malcolm
Povey of the NEC on behalf of the University of Leeds:
In para 4 Delete 鈥榬ecent鈥� and insert 鈥淒raft鈥�. Insert after
the 鈥�2017鈥� 鈥渇or those with a minimum of 35 years of National Insurance
Contributions, anything less than that will give a pension on a pro rata basis.
Those with less than around 10 years National Insurance contributions will not
receive any pension鈥�. Delete 鈥�. This will lead to an increased pension for
some, particularly for women, but鈥� and insert 鈥渁nd鈥�.
Insert at end a new paragraph
鈥淐ongress resolves to oppose the Draft Pensions Bill and in addition will
campaign with others to achieve improvements in the pensions鈥� regulatory environment.鈥�
听听听听听听听听 Amendment 79A.2 was moved by Tina Downes
of Yorkshire & Humberside retired members鈥� branch on behalf of the North
West retired members鈥� branch:
Add at end:
Congress further recognises the important role that Retired Members Branches
and retired members can play in any campaigns relating to pensions and
retirement issues and requires the NEC to support these branches in this role
according to the rules of 51福利.
听听听听听听听听 John Williams of North West retired
members鈥� branch spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听 Amendments 79A.1 and 79A.2 were
PASSED.听 Motion 79, as amended, was
PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress continues to be concerned at the attacks
on retired members' standard of living and quality of life, and notes recent
attacks from politicians of the three main parties: Nick Clegg, Paul Burstow
and many Tories, calling for withdrawal or means testing of pensioners'
universal benefits - winter fuel allowance; free bus pass; free prescriptions
and free TV licences for over 75's. Meanwhile UK state pensions are among the
poorest in Europe, with over 2.5 million pensioners living in poverty, 1.6
million of whom are women.
As means testing of low-cost benefits is not cost effective Congress
believes that these proposals are part of a softening up process, leading to
more attacks on all pensioners' rights and the welfare state.
Congress also notes that this government is forcing our members and
other workers to work longer and pay more in contributions to get less on
retirement.
The Draft Pensions Bill proposes a flat-rate state pension of 拢144 pw
from 2017 for those with a minimum of 35 years of National Insurance
Contributions, anything less than that will give a pension on a pro rata basis.
Those with less than around 10 years National Insurance contributions will not
receive any pension and all current and future pensioners with no other income
will continue to live in poverty.
Congress believes:
1. it is time to campaign against means testing of all
pensioners benefits
2. the state pension should be no less than the
official level of poverty, which currently stands at 拢178 per week.
Congress calls on the NEC to:
a. work with the National Pensioners Convention and
the TUC in organising a national demonstration as part of a campaign to defend
and advance pensioners' rights
b. oppose any attempts to restrict pensioners
universal benefits - winter fuel payment, free bus travel and TV licences
c.
campaign
alongside the National Pensioners Convention, and within the TUC for the state
pension to be set at or above the poverty level in the UK and up-rated annually.
The support of transport trade unions is of particular importance, as
reductions in pensioners' travel concessions would mean less income for public
transport services, resulting in job losses.
Congress also notes that, despite the government's long awaited plans
for the reform of the social care system, 51福利 members will continue to face a
retirement overshadowed by the threat of having to pay 拢75,000 towards their
care if they become unable to care for themselves.
This amount will in fact be far more as it excludes 'hotel' costs of
care, and will only cover the local authority's rate for payment.
Family carers will continue to face increasing pressure to provide free
care, with little or no support and/or pay for care, whether at home or in a
care home.
Congress reiterates its support for the National Pensioners Convention
policy for an integrated system of health and social care, free at point of use
and funded through taxation, and commits NEC to work with the NPC and other
unions to campaign for this policy.
Congress resolves to oppose the Draft Pensions Bill and in addition will
campaign with others to achieve improvements in the pensions' regulatory
environment.
Congress further recognises the important role that Retired Members
Branches and retired members can play in any campaigns relating to pensions and
retirement issues and requires the NEC to support these branches in this role
according to the rules of 51福利.
16.18 Motion B12 Insurance
discrimination against older people was moved by John Rose of Eastern and
Home Counties retired members鈥� branch and seconded formally.
听听听听听听听听 Motion B12 was PASSED:
Congress recognises that retired people, like the
general population, enjoy different conditions of health.
Congress deplores the presumption made by the majority
of insurance companies that retired people automatically pose a greater risk
than other members of the population and therefore charge significantly higher
insurance fees to this section of the populace.
Congress urges 51福利 to campaign for fairer insurance
rates for retired members as part of their equalities campaign for all sectors
of society.
16.19听 Congress ADOPTED section 2 of the NEC鈥檚 report to Congress,
business of the Equality Committee.
17听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 2: RECRUITMENT,
ORGANISING AND CAMPAIGNING (CONTINUED)
17.1听听 Motion 14 Impact of benefit cuts on recruitment to FE
and HE was moved by Peter Bicknell of Lewisham College and seconded
formally.听 Liza van Zyl of Cardiff
University, Veronica Killen and James Eaden, both of the NEC, spoke in the
debate.听 Joe Gluza proposed that the last
paragraph of the motion be voted on separately.听
The proposal was LOST.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
14 was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress notes and condemns the impact that
cuts to universal benefits, housing benefit, Disability Living Allowance,
Education Maintenance Allowance etc, plus the introduction of FE loans and the
鈥渂edroom tax鈥� will have on many people鈥檚 incomes and living standards,
including eviction and relocation, unless local councils refuse to implement
them.
These savage
cuts will inevitably hit many of our members and our students and will impact
on people鈥檚 opportunities to access FE and HE. Such measures can only
exacerbate recruitment problems.
Congress
further condemns the cut in the top rate of income tax from 50% to 45% for the
wealthy.
Congress
applauds initiatives such as the Campaign for Benefit Justice and Boycott
Workfare.
Congress
urges local councillors to collectively refuse the implementation of such cuts
and to appeal to other workers, claimants and service users for solidarity
through networks of activists such as Unite the Resistance.
17.2听听 Motion 15 Resisting austerity was moved by Graham
Mustin of Yorkshire and Humberside regional committee on behalf of Leeds
Metropolitan University and seconded formally.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
15 was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress regrets the failure of trade union
leaders to build on the strike action by the public sector pensions campaign of
2011, particularly November 30th. Further strike action would have been the
best way to block the coalition鈥檚 assault on workers鈥� pay, pensions, benefits
and services. Instead this opportunity was let slip.
Congress
notes that Osborne鈥檚 autumn and March budgets intensified the attacks on
benefits and services, despite the clear failure of the coalition鈥檚 strategy,
the loss of the UK鈥檚 AAA credit rating, and the likelihood of a triple dip
recession.
51福利
welcomes the resolution passed at last September鈥檚 TUC to explore the
practicalities of a general strike and, believing the case for a general strike
is stronger than ever, calls on the TUC to lay urgent concrete plans for a
general strike against Tory austerity.
Congress
resolves to support a demonstration at the Tory Party conference in September.
17.3听听 Motion 16 The privatisation of welfare services
was moved by Adelardo Clariana-Piga of the Southern regional committee on
behalf of the Southern region retired members鈥� branch.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
16 was PASSED:
听听听听听听听听听 Congress notes with great concern the
government鈥檚 policy of further extending privatisation in all sectors of public
welfare provision. This reflects both a flawed approach to the 鈥榤odernisation鈥�
of services and the extent to which coalition policies are increasingly driven
by neo-liberal dogma. Congress believes that privatisation does not produce
better welfare services for users and recognises that, for employees, fair
wages and conditions of service will often be jeopardised. In particular trades
union recognition, membership and representation will be permanently weakened.
Congress instructs the NEC to join other trades unions in vigorously opposing
the privatisation of welfare services.
17.4听听 Motion B8 Halesowen College was moved by Rhiannon
Lockley of Halesowen College on behalf of the West Midlands regional committee and
seconded formally.听 Darrall Cozens of West
Midlands retired members鈥� branch spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
B8 was PASSED:
Congress notes with concern:
1. the decision of Halesowen College to dismiss 4
members of the maths teaching team, including the branch secretary, Dave Muritu
2. there were no issues relating to competence and
none of them had any conduct issues cited in their dismissal letters
3. no individual classroom capability issues were
identified for their dismissals
4. that Halesowen College systematically failed to
properly resource and support the maths team.
Congress believes at a time when colleges and universities are piling
the pressure through increasing workloads and performance management coupled
with Michael Gove's enthusiasm for blaming and scapegoating teachers, the
arbitrary and improper dismissal of teaching staff for 'failing to realise the
students full potential and their expected levels of attainment' sets a
dangerous precedent.
Congress resolves to:
1. provide maximum support for branches faced with a
similar scenario
2. to continue with full support for Halesowen branch
including full legal support for any tribunal hearings
3. campaign for changes to employment law to ensure
such action by employers is deemed unlawful.
17.5听听 Congress ADOPTED section 2 of the
NEC鈥檚 report to Congress, business of the Recruitment, Organising and
Campaigning Committee.
17.6听听 The
time for debate of motions having been exhausted, the chair proposed that
Congress remit those motions remaining on the agenda to the NEC.听 This proposal was AGREED.
18
CLOSING BUSINESS AND THANKS
18.1 听 Election results
听听听听听听听听 The chair announced the following election results:
听听听听听听听听 Congress Business Committee:
听听听听听听听听 FE members: Alan Barker (New College Nottingham) and Angie
McConnell (Wigan & Leigh College) were elected unopposed.
听听听听听听听听 HE members: Randy Banks (University of Essex) and Malcolm
Povey (University of Leeds) were elected.
听听听听听听听听听 Appeals Panel: Randy Banks (University of Essex) was
elected unopposed.听听
18.2听听 The
President called on Congress to welcome the incoming President, Simon Renton.听 She thanked the officers for their support, committee
chairs and delegates for a听 听successful Congress.听 She paid tribute to the work of Alan Carr,
outgoing Honorary Treasurer, for his contribution to both AUT and 51福利 for over
30 years.听 This was applauded by the
meeting.
18.3听听 The
incoming President addressed Congress and, on behalf of Congress, thanked Kathy
Taylor for all her work as President.听 He
thanked the staff at the Brighton Centre and cr猫che, the signers, 51福利 staff and
delegates for attending.听