51福利/869听听 27 April 2018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听 Branch and local association
secretaries
Topic听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Unconfirmed minutes of 51福利
Congress 2017
Action听听听听听听听听听听听听 For information; for adoption at Congress 2018
Summary 听听听听听听 Minutes of the Congress meeting held 27 鈥� 29 May 2017听 听听听听听
Contact听听听听听听听听听听 Catherine Wilkinson, head of constitution and committees
(cwilkinson@ucu.org.uk)
Meeting
of the Congress of the University and College Union (51福利)
27 鈥�
29 May 2017, Brighton Centre, Brighton
FIRST SESSION OF
CONGRESS, SATURDAY MORNING, 27 MAY
1
OPENING BUSINESS
1.1
Rob Goodfellow, President and Chair, welcomed delegates.
1.2
Congress appointed Regional Officials and Regional Support
Officials of the union to act as tellers.
2
REPORT OF THE CONGRESS BUSINESS COMMITTEE
2.1
Alan Barker, Chair of the Congress Business Committee moved the
second (51福利/799) and third (51福利/799B) reports of the Congress Business
Committee.听 A request had been received
from the Black Members鈥� Standing Committee that its amendment 58A.2 be
withdrawn.听 John James of Coleg Gwent Newport requested that text omitted from motion C31
be added to composite motion FE27. Terry Brotherstone of the Scottish Retired
Members鈥� branch moved that motion B3 be ordered onto the agenda. 听Carlo Morelli of the NEC proposed that the
Congress Business Committee鈥檚 advisory note to amendment 14A.4 be
withdrawn.听听 Alan Barker responded to
these points.
2.2
A
minute鈥檚 silence was held to remember the victims of the Manchester bomb.
2.3
The
proposal to order B3 onto the agenda was LOST.听 The reports of the Congress Business
Committee were ADOPTED.
3
ADOPTION
OF MINUTES OF CONGRESS 2016
3.1听听听听 Matter
arising (item 14.7, motion 58): the chair responded to a request for information
about advice provided on immigration issues under the union鈥檚 legal scheme.听 134 members had used the service, mainly for
Brexit-related queries and advice on applying for residency status.
3.2听听听听 The minutes of Congress 2016 set out in
51福利/795 were ADOPTED.
4
Address by ROB GOODFELLOW, 51福利 PRESIDENT
Rob
Goodfellow, President, addressed Congress.
Joanna de Groot,
President Elect, was in the chair.
5
CONGRESS
BUSINESS SECTION 1: STRATEGY AND FINANCE (open session)
5.1听听听听 Motion
L1, Manchester, was moved by Rob
Goodfellow, President.
Motion L1 was CARRIED by acclaim:
Congress sends our deepest
condolences vice-president to the families of the victims of the Manchester bomb.
The victims include
students from schools and colleges across the North West and beyond and we
know that staff will be doing everything possible to help with the grief and
trauma caused.
51福利 as a union of educators believes
it is only through unity and understanding that society can move forward from
such a devastating attack.
51福利 condemns any organisation or
individual that creates disunity or a climate of fear.
We extend our solidarity to the
people of Manchester who, in the aftermath, have demonstrated the city's values
of community, openness and warmth.
The President announced that the
General Secretary and Honorary Treasurer had agreed a donation of 拢1,000 to the
Manchester victims鈥� fund.
Rob Goodfellow,
President, was in the chair.
5.2听听听听 Motion
1, 51福利's
international campaigns and solidarity work, was
moved by Vicky Knight, Vice President, on behalf of the NEC. 听Congress approved a request through the chair
that Elane Heffernan (observer, incoming NEC) of Hackney Community College be
permitted to speak in the debate. Amendment
1A.1 was moved by Christina Paine of the London Regional Committee on
behalf of the Disabled Members鈥� Standing Committee:
Insert new sentence at the end of
point 4.
鈥�5. To provide guidance to branches
on the education rights of refugees and asylum seekers to enable branches to
challenge poor and discriminatory practice.听
This to include the particular rights given to disabled refugees and
asylum seekers;鈥�
Renumber existing point 5 as 6.
Amendment 1A.1
was CARRIED.听 Motion 1, as amended, was CARRIED:
Congress recognises the value of international solidarity
work, e.g. the role played by 51福利 and others in securing the release of Miguel
Beltr谩n and Huber Ballesteros in Colombia.
Congress, however, recognises the ongoing nature of many of
these campaigns, including a continuing need:
1.
to defend academic freedom and thousands of dismissed educators in Turkey
2.
to demand 'Truth for Giulio Regeni' and Justice for Egypt's Disappeared
3.
to strengthen 51福利's links with sister unions in countries such as
Colombia, Turkey, Palestine and Zimbabwe
4.
to fight for the rights of refugees, including access to further and
higher education
5.
to provide guidance to branches on the education rights of refugees and
asylum seekers to enable branches to challenge poor and discriminatory
practice. This to include the particular rights given to disabled refugees and
asylum seekers
6.
to challenge the UK government's role in promoting the privatisation of
education in the global south.
Congress calls on 51福利 to build on existing work in these core
areas and to continue to engage regions, branches and members in relevant
international activities. Congress invites regions and branches to consider how
they can contribute.
5.3听听听听 Motion
2, Oppose Trump鈥檚 UK visit, was moved
by Saira Weiner of Liverpool John Moores University on behalf of the North West
Regional Committee and seconded by Rhiannon Lockley of Halesowen College. 听Amendment 2A.1 was moved by Sean Wallis of the NEC:
听听听听听听听听听 Add to 鈥楥ongress further notes鈥�:
听听听听听听听听听 鈥榖.听听听听听 Congress
recognises that there are real tensions between some protestors
听听听听听听听听听 c.听听听听听听 Welcomes
the TUC offer to coordinate protest to ensure one demonstration
听听听听听听听听听 d.听听听听听听 The
importance for 51福利 members to mobilise fully for this event.鈥�
Amendment 2A. 2
was moved by John Murphy of Blackburn College:
Add to (end of) resolves:
鈥榠颈颈 听听听听听 To work with Stand Up to Trump and Stop
Trump campaigns, Stop the War, Stand Up to Racism, the TUC and TUC-affiliated
unions, the NUS and other campaigning organisations to build the largest
possible united protests 鈥� if Trump鈥檚 planned visit goes ahead.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听 Jim Thakoordin of the Eastern and Home
Counties Regional Committee spoke in the debate.
Amendments 2A.1 and 2A.2 were CARRIED.听 Motion 2, as
amended, was CARRIED:
Congress notes:
1.
Trump's election has given confidence to the Right globally
2.
his administration's 'Muslim ban' and plan to 'Build a wall' to exclude
Mexican migrants demonstrate the reactionary nature of his presidency
3.
other measures will seriously impact on women, LGBT+ people and other
vulnerable groups and on tackling climate change
4.
a Trump-led USA will want post-Brexit trade deals with the UK which will
further marketise, monetise and privatise UK educational provision.
Congress further notes:
a.
that resistance to Trump is growing, with waves of protests across the
world
b.
congress recognises that there are real tensions between some protestors
c.
welcomes the TUC offer to coordinate protest to ensure one demonstration
d.
the importance for 51福利 members to mobilise fully for this event.
Congress congratulates the Women's March, Owen Jones, Stand
Up To Racism, Stop the War and other organisations that have organised
opposition to Trump on the streets.
Congress therefore resolves:
i. that following Theresa May's
invitation we oppose any visit by Trump to the UK
ii. to support calls for a united mass
protest to oppose such a visit
iii. to work with Stand Up to Trump and
Stop Trump campaigns, Stop the War, Stand up to Racism, the TUC and
TUC-affiliated unions, the NUS and other campaigning organisations to build the
largest possible united protests - if Trump's planned visit goes ahead.
5.4听听听听 Motion 3, Syria, was moved by Julia
Roberts of the NEC on behalf of Lambeth College and seconded by Margot Hill of
the NEC.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 3 was CARRIED:
Congress
believes that:
1.
the US's self-appointed role as moral agent is not justified
2.
Trump's bombing of Syria and the dropping of a MOAB on ISIS militants
will ultimately risk sharpening existing conflicts
3.
military intervention, whether by the West or Russia, has added to the
pain and suffering experienced by civilians and has forced millions to become
refugees
4.
if Trump and May wish to help Syrian and Afghan people, they should facilitate
a serious programme of refugee settlement in the US and UK.
Congress resolves to continue to publicise the plight of
refugees and to encourage practical support for measures to defend and support
migrant workers and refugees.
5.5听听听听 Motion
4, Defend academic freedom and campaign
against repression in Turkey, was moved by Keith Simpson of City, University of London.听
Joanna
de Groot, President Elect, was in the chair.
听听听听听听听听听 Amendment 4A.1 was moved by Rob
Goodfellow, President:
After point 3,
insert new point 4:
鈥�4.听听听听听 Congress also notes the result of the 16
April referendum to give additional new executive powers to the President of
Turkey and expresses its deepest concerns, given the alleged irregularities,
one-sided media coverage and limitations on fundamental freedoms during the
referendum campaign.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听 Amendment 4A.1 was CARRIED.听
Motion 4, as amended, was CARRIED:
Congress notes and
condemns:
1.
attacks on Turkish academics who signed the Academics for Peace petition,
together with associated journalists and politicians
2. suppression of free press in Turkey
3.
violence against Kurdish people
4.听听 Congress
also notes the result of the 16 April referendum to give additional new
executive powers to the president of Turkey and expresses its deepest concerns,
given the alleged irregularities, one-sided media coverage and limitations on
fundamental freedoms during the referendum campaign.
Congress instructs the
NEC and the general secretary to:
a.
campaign for the immediate release of arrested university teachers,
journalists, and politicians
b.听 call
on the Turkish government to stop the persecution of 'Academics for Peace', to
re-instate all academics (with compensation), and ensure signatories are
protected against public threats
c.听听 call
on UK universities, colleges and other institutions to support persecuted
academics and to freeze collaboration with Turkish universities taking action
against academics
d.听 initiate
a campaign of protest letters and emails to Turkish universities which have
taken action against signatories of the 'Academics for Peace' petition
e.听听 call
on the British government to demand reinstatement of democratic freedoms in
Turkey and an end to violence against Kurds
f.听听 call
for a ban on arms sales to the Erdogan regime until these are achieved.
Rob Goodfellow, President, was in the
chair.
5.6听听听听 Motion 5, Professor Kamel Hawwash, was moved by Ruth Barley of Sheffield
Hallam University.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 5 was CARRIED:
Congress notes with dismay that Professor Kamel Hawwash, a 51福利 member at
the University of Birmingham, was prevented from entering Israel on 7th April
on a trip with his wife and young son to visit relatives in occupied East
Jerusalem.
Congress notes that Prof. Hawwash was banned under the new Israeli
boycott law, which prevents activists accused of supporting BDS (Boycott,
Divestment and Sanctions) from entering Israel.
Congress notes that BDS is a non-violent human rights movement and
believes that Israel's action is an attack on basic freedom of speech as well
as on the right to family life.
Congress instructs the general secretary to write to the Israeli embassy
and the FCO to urge that the ban on Prof. Hawwash and all non-violent human
rights campaigners be lifted.
5.7听听听听 Motion
6, Violence against gay men in Chechnya,
was moved by Marion Hersh and seconded by Steve Boyce, both of the NEC.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion
6 was CARRIED:
Congress condemns the violence against gay men in Chechnya. More than 100
men have been rounded up, beaten, tortured and some killed on suspicion of
being gay. Congress applauds the work of the Russian NGO helping gay men to
escape but believes that LGBT people are entitled to safety wherever they are.
Congress calls on 51福利 to:
1.听听 with the TUC, issue a public
statement and write to the Russian and Chechen authorities urging them to cease
their denials of the existence of gay people, stop the violence and any men
rounded up are released immediately
2.听听 make representations to the UK
government and devolved nations to put pressure on the Russian and Chechen
authorities to stop the violence
3.听听 ensure the 51福利 LGBT Conference
includes this issue at its autumn conference
4.听听 continue working with
organisations like LGS Migrants, Amnesty and ILGA to ensure Chechen gay
men can achieve a place of safety.
5.8听听听听 Motion
7, French elections, was
moved by Sean Wallis of the NEC.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion
7 was CARRIED:
Congress believes that:
1.听听 Marine Le Pen's entry into the
second round of the French Presidential elections should be seen as a warning
to us all of the potential for fascist organisations to become mainstream
2.听听 campaigning by Unite Against
Fascism and other organisations has helped to marginalise the fascist BNP and
EDL in the UK but we cannot be complacent
3.听听 the Tories' attacks on
migrants and refugees backed up by UKIP and the right wing press could lay the
basis for the resurgence of the far right here.
Congress resolves to continue supporting anti-racist and anti-fascist
organisations to defend the rights of migrant workers and refugees in
campaigning on campuses and in communities to oppose the growth of racism and
islamophobia.
5.9听听听听 Motion
8, Central European University, was
moved by Joanna de Groot, President Elect, on behalf of the NEC.
Motion 8 was CARRIED:
Congress notes with dismay the attack on the Central European University
[CEU] from legislation recently passed by the Hungarian government. This
legislation poses a direct threat to the autonomy and perhaps the existence of
CEU by establishing requirements about the courses they provide and the staff
who they may employ, challenging basic principles of academic freedom.
Congress urges all 51福利 members to add their names to the petition
supporting CEU and ask the incoming NEC to ensure that 51福利 works with its
European and international union colleagues to campaign on CEU's behalf.
5.10听听 Motion
9, Hard, clean and red, white and blue
Brexits, was moved by Allister MacTaggart of Chesterfield College on behalf
of the East Midlands Regional
Committee.听 Amendment 9A.1 was
moved by Marion Hersh of the NEC:
In final sentence, after 'work with other' add
'trade union, equality, community and other'.
Add at end of
motion after 'students':
'and specifically to campaign for:
1. all existing equality, human rights and environmental legislation to
be maintained and strengthened
2. the continuing entitlement of UK organisations and individuals to
participate in Horizon 2020, Erasmus and other EU funding and exchange programs
to be maintained
3. for a further referendum on EU exit once the conditions are known.'
William Podmore of the Central Group HE,
Steven Watson of the University of Cambridge, Jimmy Donaghey of the NEC,
Aberlado Clariano-Piga of the Southern Regional Committee and Paul Hubert of
the University of Kent spoke in the debate.听
Richard McEwan of
the London Regional Committee proposed that amendment
9A.1 be taken in parts. The proposal was CARRIED.
Parts 1 and 2 of amendment 9A.1 were CARRIED;
part 3 was LOST.听 Motion 9, as amended, was CARRIED:
Congress notes:
1.听听 the recent EU referendum was
won by the 'Leave' campaign.
2.听听 the
British government seem to be planning for a 'hard Brexit', accompanied by
provocative, xenophobic and sometimes racist language by government ministers.
Congress believes:
a.听听 that
members and students are suffering from uncertainty about their futures
following the promised 'clean' break
b.听听 there may
be a sharp movement away from workers' rights won over the last decades, many
of which only exist as a result of our relationship with the EU
c.听听 that the
interests of post-16 education are best served by following a less strident
policy and attempting to maintain a reasonable working relationship with
Europe.
Congress instructs the NEC to work with other organisations to help
fight government policies that will have a deleterious effect on the rights of
our members or the future of our students and specifically to campaign for:
1. all existing
equality, human rights and environmental legislation to be maintained and
strengthened
2. the
continuing entitlement of UK organisations and individuals to participate in
Horizon 2020, Erasmus and other EU funding and exchange programs to be
maintained.
5.11听听 Motion
10, Incorporating legal protections into
collective agreements post Brexit, was moved by Elizabeth Lawrence,
Immediate Past President, on behalf of the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional
Committee and seconded by Sara Weiner of Liverpool John Moores University.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion
10 was CARRIED:
Congress notes that European Union law addresses important areas of
legal protection in respect of equality, employment rights, health and safety
and the environment. Depending upon the final form in which the UK exits
the European Union, these legal protections may be significantly modified or
wholly repealed.
Congress therefore calls on the NEC
to:
1.听听 campaign for the continuation
of these legal protections post-Brexit
听 2.听听 develop a programme of work to ensure that
these legal protections are embedded in collective agreements and institutional
policies as far as possible, in order to minimise any negative impact of Brexit
on these rights.
This programme of work should consist
of:
听听听听听 a. an audit of existing national and local
collective agreements to check for areas where aspects of EU law could
helpfully be incorporated in these agreements
b.听听 a
programme of negotiating work to extend collective agreements to maintain
employment protection, legal rights and other fundamental rights.
5.12听听 Motion
11, Permanent residence rights for EU
nationals, was moved by Jen Broadhurst of Glasgow Caledonian University.听
Will Podmore of the Central Group HE spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 11 was CARRIED:
Congress condemns the UK government's use of EU
nationals currently living in the UK as 'bargaining chips' in the upcoming
Brexit negotiations and calls on the government to provide them with a
unilateral guarantee of residence rights.
Congress condemns the Home Office's labyrinthine permanent residence
procedures and supports Sophie in 't Veld MEP's stated intention to set up a
European parliament cross-party taskforce in order to investigate EU nationals'
experiences in this respect.
Regarding the permanent residence qualifying criteria, congress calls
for the removal of the requirement that EU nationals must have Comprehensive
Sickness Insurance in order to qualify as exercising their treaty rights as
self-sufficient residents.
Congress notes the immense contribution EU and non-EU immigrants make to
our society, economy and culture and calls on members to write to MPs and MSPs
from all parties to demand that they give voice to the positive case for
immigration.
5.13听听 Motion
12, Impact of post-Brexit
dispensation and higher education in Northern Ireland, was moved by
Veronique Altglas of Queen's
University Belfast and seconded
by Renee Prendergast of the NEC on behalf of Queen's University Belfast.听 Lucy Michael of the University of Ulster
spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 12 was CARRIED:
This Congress notes with concern how future cross-border higher
education research and teaching collaborations between institutions, north and
south, will be jeopardised by the introduction of a 'hard' border in post-Brexit
Ireland. Significant academic collaborations - many of which are and have been
EU-funded - have made an invaluable contribution to peace-building and
cross-community dialogue on the island.
51福利 calls on MLAs and MPs to commit
to ensuring that:
1.听听 peace
and political stability in Northern Ireland is not a casualty of Brexit
2.听听 HE
institutions across the island can continue to collaborate on major research
projects
3.听听 the
right to remain is guaranteed to all existing EU staff and their families by
granting permanent residence and waiving the five year residency requirement
4.听听 the
current levels of protection given to EU workers are defended and extended to
all UK workers.
5.14听听 Motion L2, Fraud in EU Referendum, was moved by Marion Hersh of the NEC.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion L2 was CARRIED:
Congress notes allegations published in the Guardian on 14 May of
serious fraud by the Leave Campaign in the EU Referendum Campaign involving
expenditure very significantly above the legal limits, involvement of the
American billionaire who financed the Trump campaign and measures to cover this
up. In addition, despite evidence of this fraud the UK government has
failed to investigate it.
Congress notes the potentially very significant impacts of 'Brexit' on
education, trade unions and equality and environmental legislation.
Congress agrees to support calls for the immediate launch of a full
public inquiry into the Leave campaign funding and the cover-up and for the
Metropolitan police to pursue a criminal investigation.
5.15听听 Motion
13, Free movement of labour, was
moved by Anna Duncan of the University of Oxford.听 Michael McKrell of the NEC, Will Podmore of
the Central Group HE, Michael Carley of the University of Bath and Ioanna
Ioannou of University College London spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion
13 was CARRIED:
Congress agrees that, while continuing to campaign against the
Points-Based Immigration Scheme, we must defend existing free movement
arrangements, both within and without the EEA.
Congress resolves urgently to
campaign for the following:
1. the free movement of labour and opposition to the Points-Based
Immigration Scheme
2. an up-front guarantee for existing EU/EEA citizens in the UK to stay
3. protection for EU research funding and EU students
4. full recognition of workers' rights throughout EU withdrawal 听negotiations.
5.16听听 Motion
14, Freedom of movement of labour, was
moved by Phoebe Moore of Middlesex University on behalf of the London Regional
Committee and seconded by Demetrios Hadjidemetriou of City and Islington
College.
Amendment 14A.1 was moved by Adefemi
Adekunle of Newman University on behalf of the West Midlands Regional
Committee:
Add to Congress notes: '6. the
necessity to recognise migration beyond the dimension of labour and to value
free movement for all.'
In 51福利 resolves to campaign urgently
with UNISON and other unions bullet point A:
Delete 'both', 'and without' and 'against Point Based Immigration
Schemes'
and add 'B. to extend the right of
freedom of movement to migrants from across the globe and oppose Point Based
Immigration Schemes'
(So that it reads:'A. to defend
existing free movement of labour within the EEA.B. to extend the right of
freedom of movement to migrants from across the globe and oppose Point Based
Immigration Schemes')
Re-letter existing points.
Amendment 14A.2 was moved by Paul Russell
of the Yorkshire and Humberside retired members鈥� branch on behalf of the Yorkshire
and Humberside Regional Committee:
Add new clause B. under 'Given the
current threats.....to campaign.....:
New clause B.:
'B. To guarantee full UK state
pension rights to UK citizens living in the EU.'
Re-letter subsequent clauses.
Amendment 14A.3 was moved
by Ioanna Ioannou of University College London on behalf on the LGBT Members鈥�
Standing Committee:
Add a new point E under 51福利 resolves to:
'rights of LGBT+ people should be
recognised across the world . For those from nations where this is not the case
there should be much better support and protection.' Re-letter subsequent
points.
Add to point b. under further
resolves: 'and increased work with and promotion of the work of organisations
that support and protect LGBT+ migrants and LGBT+ rights globally.'
Amendment 14A.4 was moved
by Carlo Morelli of the NEC on behalf of the University of Dundee:
Add further action point to '51福利
further resolves to:'
d. propose this motion to TUC
Congress
Michael McKrell of the NEC spoke in the debate.听 The chair read out a request that point 5 of
the motion and points a - c under 鈥榝urther resolves to鈥� be taken in parts.听听 The proposal was LOST.听 Steven Watson of the University of Cambridge
spoke in the debate.
Amendments
14A.1, 14A.2, 14A.3 and 14A.4
were CARRIED.听 Motion 14, as
amended, was CARRIED:
Congress notes:
1.听听 the threat to existing free
movement of labour within the European Economic Area (EEA)
2.听听 the further threat to secure
employment and residency of all migrant workers
3.听听 that at Congress 2016 51福利
committed to campaigning 'for no change in the immigration status of EU
residents if UK leaves EU'
4.听听 there is no reason why leaving
the EU single market could not be combined with a unilateral decision to
recognise the right of freedom of movement
5.听听 the lack of clear leadership
from the trade union movement in the defence of the free movement of labour
across Europe
6.听听 the necessity to recognise migration
beyond the dimension of labour and to value free movement for all.
Congress condemns:
a.听听 the actions of those in trade
union leadership positions calling for control of borders, which reinforces the
power of bosses in dividing the working class. To lift workers up we must
organise for all, not reinforce division.
Congress believes:
i.听听听 that any restrictions on
freedom of movement of labour, and our right to work without discrimination
based on nationality, will put increasing competitive pressure on European
Economic Area (EEA) staff, and thus affect staff as a whole and weaken our
union
ii.听听 the policy of austerity has
been the cause of falling wages and rising workloads and that the current
crises in vital services is the impact of continued under-investment in the
country's infrastructure and public services by successive governments.
Given the current threats to freedom of movement within the European
Economic Area, 51福利 resolves to campaign urgently with UNISON and other unions:
听听听听听听听听听 A.听听 to defend existing free movement of labour
within the EEA.
B.听 to
guarantee full UK state pension rights to UK citizens living in the EU.
C.听 to extend the right of freedom
of movement to migrants from across the globe and oppose Point Based
Immigration Schemes.
D.听 to publicise the benefits of immigration to
this country.
E.听听 rights of
LGBT+ people should be recognised across the world. For those from nations
where this is not the case there should be much better support and protection.
F. 听 for an up-front guarantee for existing EU/EEA
citizens in the UK to stay.
听听听听听 G.听 for improved rights for all workers and for
full recognition of workers' rights throughout EU withdrawal negotiations.
H.听 for
removal of international students from net migration targets.
听for
protection for EU research funding and EU students.
51福利 further resolves to:
a. lobby principals and VCs
publicly to guarantee that for the indefinite future there will be no change in
the employment or student status (including fee conditions) of EU/EEA staff and
students.
b. and increased work with and
promotion of the work of organisations that support and protect LGBT+ migrants
and LGBT+ rights globally.
c. affiliate to the free movement
of labour - campaign to defend freedom of movement across Europe post-Brexit.
d. to support any branch/LA that
walks-out in defence of a member of staff or student threatened with
deportation.
e. propose this motion to TUC
Congress.
SECOND
SESSION OF CONGRESS, SATURDAY AFTERNOON, 27 MAY
6听听听听听听听 ADDRESS BY SALLY HUNT, 51福利 GENERAL
SECRETARY
听听听听听听听听听 Sally
Hunt, General Secretary, addressed Congress.
7听听听听听听听 REPORT
OF THE CONGRESS BUSINESS COMMITTEE
听听听听听听听听听 Alan
Barker, Chair of the Congress Business Committee, moved the fourth report of
the Congress Business Committee (51福利/799C).听
The fourth report was ADOPTED.
8听听听听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 2: STRATEGY
AND FINANCE (private session)
8.1听听听听 Motions 21, Appointment of auditors, 22, Audited financial statements, 23, Budget 2017-2018, and 24, Subscription rates, were taken in the
same debate and moved by Angela Roger, Honorary Treasurer, on behalf of the
NEC.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 21 was CARRIED:
Congress approves the appointment of Knox Cropper as the
union's auditors for the year ending 31 August 2017.
Motion
22 was CARRIED:
Congress receives the union's audited financial statements
for the 12-month period ending 31 August 2016 as set out in .
Motion
23 was CARRIED:
Congress endorses the budget for September 2017 - August 2018
as set out in .
Motion
24 was CARRIED:
Congress endorses the subscription rates from 1 September
2017 set out in .
8.2听听听听 Motion 25, Subscriptions, recruitment, and student membership, was moved by Sam
Morecroft of the University of Sheffield on behalf of the Anti-Casualisation Committee.听 Amendment
25A.1 was moved by Jenny Prideaux of the NEC:
Point i: Delete 鈥楢dd further graduations of鈥�
and replace with 鈥楨xamine further our鈥�; between 鈥榝or鈥� and 鈥榣ower鈥� insert 鈥榯hose
in鈥�.
Delete point ii and replace with:
ii.听听听听听听 Insert
the NEC and SFC to work on these issues as matters of urgency in their
consideration of membership and subscription matters and introduce changes at
the earliest opportunity with rule.鈥�
Mark Dunkerley of Bradford College and Vicky
Blake of the NEC spoke in the debate.
Amendment
25A.1 was CARRIED.听 Motion 25, as
amended, was CARRIED:
Congress notes:
1. greater
variance between 51福利 subscriptions at the bottom of the scale than at the top;
fees essentially double when earnings increase from <拢9,999 to 拢10,000+
2. a
fair membership subscription scale is an important recruitment tool for those
at the lower end of the salary scales, especially those on minimum wages
3. those
at the lower end of the scales are often of a younger demographic, quite often
harder to reach yet represent the future of 51福利
4. free
'student membership' is a useful recruitment tool for PGR students (potential
future 'full' 51福利 members)
5. confusion
among students who teach and are eligible to join as paying members, and over
voting rights ('student members' cannot currently vote in union elections).
Congress recognises:
a. subscription
fees are a major income stream for 51福利 and its operations
b. the
importance of balancing income with recruitment, especially earlier career
members who are typically paid less
c. the
reality of precarious work and difficulties recruiting younger staff, those on
lower salaries and casualised staff.
Congress resolves to:
i.听 examine
further our subscription levels for those in lower income brackets to ensure
membership is genuinely affordable for all, and that subs are proportionate to
income
ii. instruct
the NEC and SFC to work on these issues as matters of urgency in their
consideration of membership and subscription matters and introduce changes at
the earliest opportunity within rule.
8.3听听听听 Motion 26, Subscription rates and low ARPS membership density, was moved by
Sunil Banga of Lancaster University on behalf of the Academic Related,
Professional Staff Committee.听
Motion 26 was CARRIED:
Congress notes:
1.
the ever-increasing cost of living
2.
the real-terms pay cuts ARPS members are facing year on year
3.
the lack of career progression opportunities and absence of a promotion
process
4.
that the current subscription rates discourage some new ARP staff from
joining 51福利, which might explain low membership numbers of academic related,
professional staff in some branches.
Congress calls on the
NEC to:
a. collate information about ARPS
membership density in all branches
b. collate information about ARPS pay
c.
investigate new subscription rate structures, for example a discounted
rate for the first year of membership
d. choose a model that is believed to
encourage new ARPS to join 51福利
e.
bring proposals for the new subscription rate structure to Congress 2018
for discussion and ratification.
8.4听听听听 Motion
27, Union merger, was moved by Justin
Wynne of Sussex Coast College Hastings on behalf of the South East Regional
Committee.听 Douglas Chalmers and Jimmy
Donaghey, both of the NEC, and Ken Childerhouse of the South East retired
members鈥� branch spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听听 A vote on motion 27 needed a count which
was CARRIED (for: 143, against: 129,
abstentions: 16).听 听
Motion 27 was CARRIED:
Congress is watching with interest the proposed merger of our
sister unions the NUT and ATL. Their message of one strong union for all
education is a strong one, and with continued pressure on workload and the
further marketisation of education within the HE and research bill and stranglehold
on trade unions in the TU act, this Congress calls on the general secretary and
NEC to explore the possibility of a further merger with the proposed new union
to create one strong, and united voice for workers in the UK education
profession.
8.5听听听听 Motion 28, Trade union victimisation, was moved by Glyn Heath of the
University of Salford on behalf of the North West Regional Committee.听 Christina Paine of
the London Regional Committee moved amendment
28A.1:
Add at end: 鈥楾hat the
victimisation of reps such as Mark Campbell and David Hardman at LMU weakens
the position of all our activists.听 That
51福利 must defend its reps with all the means at the union鈥檚 disposal especially
against the backdrop of new anti-union laws.鈥�
Amendment 28A.2 was moved by Christina Paine of
the London Regional Committee on behalf of the Anti-Casualisation Committee:
Add at the end:
鈥楥ongress notes
that victimisation of 51福利 members and reps on casualised contracts often goes
unrecorded, taking the form of non-renewal of an FTC or not allocating hours to
HPLs or ZHC staff.
Congress asks the
NEC and branches to ensure that cases of victimisation are reported, including
those involving members on casualised contracts, and include the latter in
campaigns against victimisation and in anti-casualisation campaigns.鈥�
Bernadette
Driscoll (observer) of the London Regional Committee spoke in the debate.
Amendments 28.1 and 28.2 were CARRIED.听 Motion 28, as amended, was CARRIED:
The University of Salford 51福利 Branch raised the issue of
trade union victimisation at National Congress in 2016 and Congress were almost
unanimous in their support for the motion which called for greater protection
of trade union safety reps, activists etc.
We call upon the NEC to engage in a vigorous and effective
national campaign centred on the number of trade union reps who are currently
discriminated against, harassed, made redundant etc.
That the victimisation of reps such as Mark Campbell and
David Hardman at LMU weakens the position of all our activists. That 51福利 must
defend its reps with all the means at the unions disposal especially against
the backdrop of new anti-union laws.
Congress notes that victimisation of 51福利 members and reps on
casualised contracts often goes unrecorded, taking the form of non-renewal of
an FTC or not allocating hours to HPLs or ZHC staff.
Congress asks the NEC and branches to ensure that cases of
victimisation are reported, including those involving members on casualised
contracts, and include the latter in campaigns against victimisation and in
anti-casualisation campaigns.
8.6听听听听 Motion 29, TU victimisation and loss of membership, was moved by Carol Cody of
the City of Liverpool College.听 Amendment 29A.1 was moved by
Michael Mckrell of the NEC:
Insert
after fourth paragraph:
鈥楥ongress
notes that the elected Legal Services Panel have delegated authority from NEC
on decision on whether to support individual members鈥�.
Delete:
Point
2. And final paragraph and replace with:
鈥�2.
For the NEC to instruct the Panel to have due regard to the importance of
victimisation claims and ensure all possible legal avenues are explored and
followed.鈥�
Amendment 29A.2 was moved by Alison
Cottell of the University of Surrey:
听听听听听听听听听 Add point 3:
鈥�3.听 For 51福利 to review its legal support threshold,
put members鈥� welfare above financial caution and invest in effective legal
representation in all cases affecting members鈥� employment status.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听 Pura Ariza of Manchester Metropolitan
University and Karen Bruin of NOVUS Prison Education branch spoke in the
debate.
Amendment 29A.1 was LOST.听 Amendment
29A.2 was CARRIED.听 Motion 29,
as amended, was CARRIED:
The victimisation of a 51福利 rep has a
deleterious effect on branches and membership.
Reps are encouraging members to fight injustices yet when
reps are targeted the arguments are obfuscated by the impression that 51福利 legal
does not fight on behalf of its reps.
When members realise that 51福利 legal cannot support the rep
because of perceived weak employment law the members vote with their
feet.
If 51福利 legal is unable to support the case, over perceived
weaknesses in evidence, members may lose trust.
Congress resolves:
1. for
51福利 to make provision for a sustained and targeted publicity campaign against
colleges and universities on their TU victimisation
2. for
51福利 to fund a test case on trade union victimisation
听听听听听 3. for 51福利 to review its legal support threshold,
put members' welfare above financial caution and invest in effective legal
representation in all cases affecting members' employment status.
For 51福利 Legal to accept all cases of trade union
victimisation by any legal avenue available.
9听听听听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 1: STRATEGY
AND FINANCE (open session) (continued)
9.1听听听听 Motion 15, Free movement of labour and impact on women, was moved by Elane
Heffernan (observer, incoming NEC) of Hackney Community College on behalf of
the Women Members鈥� Standing Committee.
Motion 15 was CARRIED:
Regardless of different positions on the referendum, we are
united in defending the rights of our EU colleagues, as part of our commitment
towards migrant workers and opposition to points based immigration system.
EU workers in Britain, many of them women workers, face an
uncertain future and a government set on using them as a bargaining chip in
Brexit negotiations. At the same time university and college workers from non
EU countries face increasing difficulty in gaining and maintaining permission
to work or bring family members, which especially affects women.
Conference demands that Theresa May confirm the rights of EU
nationals working here to stay.
51福利 pledges to defend
migrant colleagues' rights.
Conference believes that every university and college should
support staff with right to reside or leave to remain applications with advice
and financial support where needed.
10听听听听听 MESSAGE
FROM GENERAL SECRETARY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE WORKERS鈥� UNION (EGITIM-SEN),
TURKEY
Mesut Firat, General Secretary, Education and Science
Workers鈥� Union (Egitim-Sen), Turkey addressed Congress via Skype.
Congress responded to the address with a standing ovation.
The President reported that it had not been
possible for Mesut Firat to attend Congress as the Turkish government had
confiscated his passport.
11听听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 1: STRATEGY AND FINANCE (open session)
(continued)
11.1听听 Motion 16, Just Transition, was moved by Eurig Scandrett of Queen Margaret University
on behalf of the 51福利 Scotland Executive Committee.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 16 was CARRIED:
Congress notes and welcomes the agreement of a joint
statement between 51福利 Scotland, the STUC, UNITE, UNISON, PCS, CWU, WWF
Scotland, and Friends of the Earth Scotland in support of a Just Transition
towards a low-carbon economy which protects the livelihoods of workers in
industries affected by the transition. Congress notes the work of 51福利 members
in bringing the statement together; supports a Just Transition; and resolves to
work with members affected by a move to a low carbon economy, other trade
unions, and environmentalists to ensure that the change from a fossil fuel to
low carbon economy is one which is fair and just to all workers employed in
those sectors affected.
11.2听听 Motion 17, Climate change, jobs and airport expansion, was moved by Peter Murry
of the London retired members鈥� branch.听
Steve Cushion of the London retired members鈥� branch spoke in the
debate.听 Paul Cottrell, National Head of
Democratic Services, advised Congress that if passed the status of the motion
would be advisory only as it was for the decision of the National Executive
Committee to agree motions submitted to TUC Congress.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 17
was CARRIED:
听听听听听听听听听 We
call upon 51福利 to move the following motion at TUC congress:
To halt climate change we need to leave most of the reserves
of carbon fuels in the ground. We need workers to insulate homes and buildings
to conserve energy. Workers to build enough renewable power to meet all our
energy needs. Workers to maintain the new systems the future of humanity
depends on.
The conversion to a sustainable energy policy will provide
millions of jobs world-wide as the pamphlet 'One Million Climate Jobs'
demonstrates.
We campaign therefore
for:
1.听听 energy
democracy and a rapid transition from fossil fuels
2.听听 stop
all airport expansion
3.听听 government
funding for green jobs training
4.听听 no
fracking
5.听听 promote
alternatives to short-haul flights, including publicly owned rail services
6.听听 a
genuine commitment to reducing lethal air pollutants
7.听听 a
just transition employment strategy to climate jobs and well-paid, skilled,
sustainable employment
8.听听 support
for improved links between anti-war, refugee and climate campaign movements
9.听听 action
against TTIP, CETA and other trade treaties threatening climate justice
10. a
Climate Justice Fund funded by wealthy nations and polluting companies.
11.3听听 Motion 18, Air quality, was moved by Angie Birtill of South Thames
College.听
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 18 was CARRIED:
Air pollution in the UK is a public health emergency. Over
40,000 people die each year from the air that they breathe - more than obesity
and alcohol combined. A significant cause is carbon pollution arising from work
and travel to work. It is an occupational health issue that employers take
little responsibility for.
In the FHE sector many workplaces are in high pollution
areas. Recent research shows that 43% of colleges in London are in locations
that breach legal standards. Congress calls on 51福利 to:
1.
campaign for a legal framework that addresses this health emergency
2.
promotes a programme of awareness raising for staff and students in the
sector
3.
provide training and support for 51福利 environment and health and safety
reps to tackle this issue in their workplace and communities
4.
work with the Greener Jobs Alliance, the Hazards campaign and other
organisations promoting air quality action to deliver these objectives.
11.4听听 Motion 19, Supporting the work of the National Pensioners Convention, was
moved by Paul Russell of the Yorkshire and Humberside retired members鈥� branch
and seconded by Norman Jemison of the Northern retired members鈥� branch.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 19 was CARRIED:
Congress recognises
that:
1. many
51福利 members will face retirement with an unsatisfactory occupational pension
and a similarly unsatisfactory state pension
2. they
also face retirement in which they may need to rely on a chronically
underfunded social care system and an underfunded and partly privatised NHS
3. the
National Pensioners Convention, to which 51福利 is affiliated, and which is the
only national voice of organised pensioners, campaigns tirelessly for improved
pensions, for free social and health care, and many other services used by
older people
4. the
NPC relies predominantly on affiliation fees from trade unions as income from
other sources diminishes.
Congress therefore agrees to ask the NEC to explore, together
with the 51福利 representatives on the NPC Executive Committee, ways in which 51福利
members could contribute to the NPC, noting that a voluntary annual levy of 拢1
per head could raise over 拢100k.
11.5听听 Motion 20, Job sharing of elected positions, was moved by Jenny Prideaux of
the NEC and seconded by Joanna de Groot, President Elect.听 A delegate (no name given) spoke in the
debate.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 20
was CARRIED:
Congress recognises
that:
1. all members have the right to
participate in the union at all levels
2. the
dual occupancy of elected posts on a 'job-share' basis enables people to take
up office who might not otherwise be able to do so
3. joint-officership
(eg. branch secretary) already successfully functions at branch level
4. job-share
of NEC, national officer and other elected positions would require the
consideration of appropriate rule changes and the development of appropriate
procedures and protocols.
In the interests of inclusivity and encouraging wider
participation, Congress instructs NEC:
to investigate the pros and cons and practicalities involved
in introducing dual occupancy within 51福利 structures. The investigation to
include widespread consultation with members, branches, regional and national
committees, including the equality committees. NEC to report back to Congress
2018 with any proposals for changes to the union's rules and procedures in the
light of the outcome of the investigation/consultation.
11.6听听 Motion L6, Supreme Court ruling, was moved by Elane Heffernan (observer,
incoming NEC) of Hackney Community College.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion L6 was CARRIED:
Congress notes:
The Supreme Court judgement on 24 May 2017 that deductions of
strike pay for teachers should be at 1/365 not 1/260 per
strike day.
Congress instructs:
NEC to investigate the legality of reclaiming from employers
all strike deductions over the preceding 6 years higher than the 1/365.
Joanna de Groot, President Elect, was in the chair.
12听听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 4: EDUCATION 听
12.1听听 Julia Charlton, Chair of the Education
Committee, moved section 4 of the NEC鈥檚 report to Congress, business of the
Education Committee.
12.2听听 Motion 35 was moved by Julia Charlton of the
NEC.
Motion
35 was CARRIED:
Congress commends progress made by the Education Committee
during 2016/17 in four key areas:
1.听听听听听听 Proposals for a fairer
post-qualifications admissions system
2.听听听听听 Research
into the transformational impact of FE which has become the brilliant 鈥楩E
Transforms鈥� campaign
3.听听听听听听 A major comparative survey of staff鈥檚
views on academic freedom
4.听听听听听听 A
clear policy response to government legislation, including HE and Research Bill
Congress believes that while policy development is important,
engagement with members and stakeholders is equally vital, congratulates the
Committee on its successful 2017 Cradle to Grave conference and supports the
Committee's efforts to generalise its impact through local policy events.
In 2017/18, Congress asks the Committee to look at how
universities and colleges support refugees; enable branches to localise the FE
Transforms campaign; provide an effective critique of TEF and REF; produce the
policy foundation for a campaign in support of Additional Learning Support
funding.
12.3听听 There was no mover for motion 36, Government education policy - Institutes of
Technology, submitted by Activate Learning (City of Oxford College), and
the motion FELL.
12.4听听 Motion 37, Apprenticeship Reforms, was moved by Peter Monaghan of Cambridge
Regional College on behalf of the Eastern and Home Counties Regional Committee.
Amendment 37A.1 was moved by Kamie
Kitmitto of the University of Manchester on behalf of the Academic Related,
Professional Staff Committee:
Add at the end of point 2.: 鈥楢s part of this
advice, ensure apprenticeships, particularly for academic related professional
staff, feed into genuine and appropriately graded progression pathways.鈥�
Amendment 37A.1 was CARRIED.听 Motion 37, as amended, was CARRIED:
Congress recognises that all political parties are supportive
of increasing and expanding apprenticeships both in FE and also in HE with
Degree Apprenticeships. From April this year reforms have been introduced that
will have an effect on funding of these apprenticeships with the Apprenticeship
Levy and at the same time changes to curriculum content is also being phased in
from traditional 鈥渇rameworks鈥� to new 鈥榮tandards鈥�. Both initiatives give
employers a greater influence over the development of apprenticeships then
currently exists.
Congress asks for the
following actions:
1.听听听听听听 Research and
develop a briefing paper on Apprenticeships in all sectors that includes what
51福利 thinks a quality apprenticeship should look like.
2.听听听听听听 Give clear and
detailed advice to branches on negotiating and organising around apprenticeship
provision. As part of this advice, ensure apprenticeships, particularly for
academic related professional staff, feed into genuine and appropriately graded
progression pathways.
3.听听听听听听 Nationally
campaign to recruit and support staff working in apprenticeships who are very
often expected to teach on non-lecturing contracts etc. often off-site and
invisible.
12.5 听 Motion 38, Marking,
was moved by Justin Wynne of Sussex Coast College Hastings on behalf of the
South East Regional College.听 Mike Barton
of Redbridge College spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 38 was CARRIED:
Congress:
1.听听听听听听 recognises the
negative role of marking in speeding up, standardising and rendering less
autonomous the process of teaching;
2.听听听听听听 deplores what
systems like NSS have done to deform relationships between students and tutors;
3.听听听听听听 notes the ways
in which a hollowed-out model of feedback has become politicised as an
instrument with which institutions discipline tutor relationships with
students;
4.听听听听听听 affirms the
importance to learning of well-designed, rigorous, timely and constructive
feedback but commits to resist the model of feedback which turns marking into
an alienating business for 鈥榮atisfying鈥� students as consumers;
5.听听听听听听 commits to:
a.听听听听听听 protecting
鈥榯urnaround time鈥� as a measure of time determined by tutors not by centralised
systems or league tables;
b.听听听听听听 working with
NUS to promote a participatory model of marking and feedback which recognises
the rights of staff;
c.听听听听听听 work at
local/Regional level to combat reductions in 鈥榯urnaround鈥� time not accompanied
by a corresponding reduction in marking load.
12.6听听 Motion 39, Education and training of workers in adult social care, was moved
by Samuel Eccleston of the Eastern and Home Counties retired members鈥� branch.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 39 was CARRIED:
Finally there seems to be a wider recognition of the
inadequate provision of adult social care and that a proper service is vital to
the efficient functioning of a comprehensive national health service.
However, despite surveys showing that many care workers feel
that they have not been trained for the tasks they are asked to undertake,
education and training of workers has not featured in the public debate.
A bewildering array of qualifications already exists but it
is not clear who has been charged with ensuring that workers have access to
appropriate courses and are required to gain the consequent qualifications.
Congress calls on 51福利 to investigate this situation,
preferably in concert with Unison and any other interested unions, with a view
to establishing a nationally recognised and required framework of initial
qualifications and continuing professional development.
12.7听听 Motion 40, Academic freedom, was moved by Allister MacTaggart of Chesterfield
College on behalf of the East Midlands Regional Committee and seconded by Julia
Charlton of the NEC. 听
Amendment 40A.1
was moved by Vicky Blake of the NEC on behalf of the Academic Related,
Professional Staff Committee:
Add
in point 1. after 鈥榓cademics鈥� 鈥� 鈥榓nd academic related professional staff鈥�.
Amendment 40A.2 was moved
by Michael Carley of the University of Bath:
In second paragraph, replace 鈥榳ording of this
amendment鈥� with 鈥榬ule change鈥�.听 Delete
鈥榯he Academics for Academic Freedom (AFAF) principles of Academic Freedom鈥� and
replace with 鈥榯he following principles鈥�.
In point 1., delete 鈥�, both inside and outside
the classroom, have unrestricted liberty鈥� and replace with 鈥榮hould be free
within the law鈥�
In point 2., delete text after 鈥榯hat鈥� and
replace with 鈥榚mployers have no right to curb the free speech of their staff,
academic or otherwise, whether on political or commercial grounds, or to
penalize them for the honest expression of a point of view.鈥�
Sean Wallis of the NEC spoke in the debate.
Amendments
40A.1 and 40A.2 were CARRIED.听 Motion 40, as amended, was CARRIED:
Congress instructs the NEC to bring to Congress in 2018 a
statement in defence of Academic Freedom as an addition to 51福利 Rules Section 2
鈥楢ims and Objects鈥�.
In reflecting on the rule change the NEC will consider the
following principles:
1.听听听听听听 that academics,
and academic related professional staff, should be free within the law to
question and test received wisdom and to put forward controversial and
unpopular opinions, whether or not these are deemed offensive, and
2.听听听听听听 that employers
have no right to curb the free speech of their staff, academic or otherwise,
whether on political or commercial grounds, or to penalize them for the honest
expression of a point of view.
12.8听听 Motion 41 and amendment 41A.1 were moved by Paul Errington of the NEC.
Delete
point 2 and replace with:
鈥榗hallenge, and support members who challenge,
fake news and deliberate distortion of evidence.鈥�
Sam Morecroft of the University of Sheffield
spoke in the debate.
Amendment
41A.1 was CARRIED.听 Motion 41, as
amended, was CARRIED:
Congress notes with concern the worrying trend towards
post-truth political narratives and believes that 51福利 has a unique
responsibility to stand up for evidence, enquiry and the truth.听 Congress also recognises that the Karran
report commissioned by the Education Committee raises serious questions about
the level of protection for academic freedom within universities and colleges
and calls upon the Committee to:
1.听听听听听听 instigate,
alongside ROCC, a major campaign on academic freedom in the UK, focusing on the
key issues of autonomy about what to teach or research, security of employment
and academic governance;
2.听听听听听听 challenge, and
support members who challenge, fake news and deliberate distortion of evidence;
3.听听听听听听 engage with the
wider public on the importance of evidence, expertise and truth as the
foundations upon which a civilised society is built.
12.9听听 Motions 42 and 43 on Prevent were taken in the same debate.听 Motion 42 was moved by Allister MacTaggart of
Chesterfield College and seconded by Dave Muritu of the NEC.听 Motion 43 was moved by Chris Cocking of the
University of Brighton and seconded by Mark Abel of the South East Regional
Committee.
Motion 42 was CARRIED:
Congress notes that:
1.听听听听听听 The statutory
duty imposed on schools, colleges and universities has been widely discredited
across a broad range of opinion, including the Muslim community, education and
student unions, legal specialists and even within law enforcement agencies.
2.听听听听听听 The
government鈥檚 refusal to repeal this legislation or conduct an independent
public enquiry.
Congress believes
that:
a.听听听听听听 The Prevent
narrative in colleges and universities is fuelling the climate of Islamophobia
and anti-Muslim hate crime and feeding into the general climate of racism
against minorities, including migrants and refugees.
Congress resolves to:
i.听听听听听听听 Call for and campaign for withdrawal of
the Prevent statutory duty.
ii.听听听听听听 Support
members boycotting Prevent where there鈥檚 a clear breach of equality and
anti-discrimination duties.
iii.听听听听听 Encourage
branches to order the Stand Up to Racism pamphlet: 鈥楶revent: Why We should
Dissent鈥� (with contributions from 51福利 NEC, NUT NEC, NUS, Michael Mansfield QC
and Muslim Engagement and Development).
Motion
43 was CARRIED:
Congress notes the rapidity and extent of the reach of
Prevent into College and University Campuses.
It notes and deplores the way College and University leaders
have engaged with their duty to implement Prevent.听
Congress notes further the difficulty staff have in
discussing Prevent at work. The restrictions on external speakers in HE, for
example, the duty to demonstrate 鈥楤ritish Values鈥� in FE, have contributed to a
context of increasing surveillance, fear and intolerance. These are racialized
structures: they have a heavier impact by far on our Muslim colleagues and students
even as they also hold the potential to impact other forms of identity and
activity in HE and FE.
Congress commits 51福利 to redouble its efforts to defeat
Prevent in education, and to do this by finding ways to publicly articulate our
core values of equality, diversity, academic freedom and debate as central to
post-16 education.
12.10听 Motion L7, Stop
the Climate of Fear, No troops on Campus, was moved by Margot Hill of the
NEC and seconded by Mark Dunkerley of Bradford College. Ashley Tiffen of the
University of Cumbria and Abelardo Clariana-Piga of the Southern Regional Committee
spoke in the debate.
Motion
L7 was CARRIED:
The Government鈥檚 decision to raise the terror threat to
critical has seen increased deployment of armed police and military on our
streets and on our campuses. We are concerned that there is a danger that this
could prove counter-productive.
Congress recognises that the deployment of armed police and
troops and the Government threat to extend the prevent agenda will further
divide our communities and lead to a climate of fear.
Congress opposed the deployment of armed police or troops on
campus and any extension of the prevent agenda and resolves to make this
position clear to Government.
12.11听 Martin Ralph of the University of Liverpool
read out a statement in support of the cleaners on strike at LSE and thanked
Congress for agreeing to a collection for the strikers鈥� hardship fund.
12.12听 Motion 44, Anti-racist
education, was moved by Martin Ralph of the University of Liverpool and
seconded by Richard McEwan of the London Regional Committee. Will Podmore of
the Central Group HE spoke in the debate.
Motion 44 was CARRIED:
Congress notes that the election of Donald Trump, the rise in
support for the European far right and the poisonous debate (from both official
鈥淟eave鈥� and 鈥淩emain鈥� campaigns) during the EU referendum have led to a spike in
hate crime in the UK and fear of the growth of racist and fascist movements.
With 'fake news' dominating the dialogue around the question
of immigration it is vital that as teachers we combat the myths being peddled
by politicians and the media.
Congress believes
that:
1.听听听听听听 The use of
Prevent on our campuses is at the centre of demonising Muslim students and the
wider Muslim community.
2.听听听听听听 51福利 members have
to be pro-active in opposing Prevent and combating racist ideas on the campuses
and in the colleges.
Congress instructs:
a.听听听听听听 the NEC to
organise a national conference on anti-racist education and to encourage 51福利
regions and branches to develop a strategy to develop an anti-racist
curriculum.
12.13听 Motion 45, Decolonise
kyriarchal education by resourcing collaboration to Liberate The Curriculum,
was moved by Dave Muritu of the NEC on behalf of the Black Members鈥� Standing
Committee. Congress approved a request made through the chair that Nathaniel
Adam Tobias Coleman (observer, Black Members鈥� Standing Committee) be
permitted to speak in the debate. Emma-Jane Phillips proposed remission of motion
45. Sam Morecroft of the University of Sheffield asked a question about resourcing
the action called for in the motion.听
Dave Muritu of the NEC responded.
听听听听听听听听听 A vote on remission
of motion 45 needed a count which was LOST
(for: 101, against: 125, abstentions: 7).听
听
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 45 was CARRIED:
Conference notes that:
1.听听听听听听 Kyriarchy, as
defined by Elisabeth Sch眉ssler Fiorenza, is 'a complex pyramidal system of
intersecting multiplicative social structures of superordination and
subordination, of ruling and oppression'.
2.听听听听听听 In supposedly
"post"-colonial education, the legacy of the British Empire is
colonial kyriarchy: perspectives from the peak of this colonial pyramid are
promoted, as if they set a universal standard.
3.听听听听听听 This structural
propping-up of these minority perspectives unjustly determines what:
鈥�听 research is funded,
鈥�听 curricula are taught, and
鈥�听 assessments
are made, in recruiting, retaining, and progressing both students and staff.
Conference further
notes that:
a. 'Liberate The Curriculum' aims to
empower students with tools to decolonise kyriarchal education.
b.听听听 It
does this by amplifying local decolonial campaigns鈥攕uch as 'Why Is My
Curriculum White?', 'Rhodes Must Fall', 'Decolonising SOAS'鈥� spreading their
good practice nationally.
Conference resolves to resource local branches to work
strategically with (decolonial groups within) local student unions to 'Liberate
The Curriculum'.
12.14听 Congress
ADOPTED section 4 of the NEC鈥檚 report, business of the Education
Committee.
12.15听 Blaise Nkwenti-Azeh of the University of
Manchester raised a point of order and moved that motion 30 now be taken. The chair
responded that motion 30 would be taken on 29 May.听 Alan Barker, Chair, Congress Business
Committee, clarified that any delegate could propose any motion.
12.16听 A mass photo in support of 鈥業鈥檓 standing up
to racism in the general election鈥� was taken.
THIRD SESSION OF
CONGRESS, MONDAY MORNING, 29 MAY
13听听听听听 INDRO SEN, COLLEGE OF NORTH WEST LONDON
听听听听听听听听听 Indro Sen from the College of North
West London addressed Congress.
14听听听听听 REPORT OF
THE CONGRESS BUSINESS COMMITTEE
Alan Barker, Chair of the Congress Business
Committee, moved the fifth report of the Congress Business Committee.听 Jenny Prideaux of the NEC moved that motion
L9 should not be ordered onto the agenda.听
The chair of the Congress Business Committee responded.听 A vote on the ordering of motion L9 needed a
count which was CARRIED (for: 122,
against: 50). The fifth report of the Congress Business Committee was ADOPTED.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听听听听听听
15听听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 1: 听 STRATEGY
AND FINANCE (private session)(continued)
15.1听听 Motion
30, 51福利 legal support for race equality cases, was moved by Kamie
Kitmitto of the University of Manchester and seconded by Glyn
Heath of the University of Salford. 听Amendment 30A.1 was moved by Michael
McKrell of the NEC:
Point 3.:听 delete all after 鈥榥otes鈥� and replace with:
鈥榯he fact that
51福利 has not supported some race discrimination cases because race
discrimination cases can be difficult to prove, and hence expensive to
challenge.鈥�
Point 4.:
after
鈥榚xploiting鈥� insert 鈥榯his鈥�; delete from 鈥榯he fact鈥� to 鈥榠ncidents鈥�; after
鈥榠mplications鈥� insert 鈥榯o claimants and 51福利鈥�. (Point 4 to read:
鈥楥ongress believes that universities are exploiting this because of the
financial implications to claimants and 51福利 arising from unsuccessful
litigation.鈥�)
Point 5.: delete from 鈥榩ut
members鈥� to 鈥榠nvest in鈥�; before 鈥榚ffective鈥� insert 鈥榓nd ensure鈥�.
听听听听听听听听听 Jim Thakoordin of the Eastern and Home
Counties Regional Committee spoke in the debate.听听听听听听听听
Amendment
30A.1 was CARRIED.听 Motion 30, as
amended, was CARRIED:
1.听听听听听听 Congress welcomes the recent 51福利 efforts to progress the
race equality agenda in our workplaces, particularly, the Day of Action against
Workplace Racism. However, more needs to be done in practical terms to
challenge racism in the form of legal support for Black members facing
discrimination.
2.听听听听听听 It
is becoming apparent that employers in the sector are using in-house legal
teams to thwart grievances and disciplinary cases relating to alleged race
discrimination.
3.听听听听听听 Congress
notes the fact that 51福利 has not supported some race discrimination cases
because race discrimination cases can be difficult to prove, and hence
expensive to challenge.
4.听听听听听听 Congress
believes that universities are exploiting this because of the financial
implications to claimants and 51福利 arising from unsuccessful litigation.
5.听听听听听听 Congress
calls on 51福利 to review its legal support threshold, and ensure effective legal
representation in race equality cases.
15.2听听听 Congress ADOPTED section
1 of the NEC鈥檚 report, business of
the Strategy and Finance Committee.
16听听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 3: RULE CHANGES
(private session)
16.1听听 Motion 31, Embedding equalities Congress motions, was moved by Michael Carley
of the University of Bath on behalf of the South West Regional Committee.听
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 31 was CARRIED:
Amend standing order 49 in list following 鈥楥ongress Business
Committee shall determine its recommendations on:鈥� to add:
鈥榠x the addition of an amendment to include all appropriate
protected characteristics in the categories covered by a motion.鈥�
16.2听听 Motion 32, Local branch/association rules, was moved by Douglas Chalmers of
the NEC. Amendment 32A.1 was moved by
Sean Wallis of the NEC on behalf of the London Regional Committee:
In the first sentence of the new 12.6, add at the end 鈥榦r varied by Rules
motions to subsequent Congresses.鈥�
In the second sentence, replace the
words 鈥榯he rules in Schedule D鈥� with 鈥榯hese Model Local Rules鈥�.
Delete final sentence referring to
Schedule D.
Mark
Wilson of Cardiff and Vale College and Lesley Kane of the Open University spoke
in the debate.听
Amendment 32A.1 was CARRIED.听 Motion 32, as amended, was CARRIED:
In Rule 12.6, delete
final sentence and replace with:
鈥楤ranches/local associations shall by
1 December 2017 adopt their own rules which shall be consistent with the Model
Local Rules agreed by Congress 2016 or varied by rules motions to subsequent
Congresses.听听 Thereafter these Model
Local Rules will be deemed to have been adopted by all remaining branches/local
associations as their local rules.鈥�
Delete final
sentence referring to Schedule D.
The General Secretary responded to a question raised
in the.
16.3听听 Motion 33, Qualifying period, was moved by Liz Lawrence, Immediate Past President,
on behalf of the NEC.听 Amendment 33A.1 was moved by Vicky Blake
of the NEC on behalf of the Anti-Casualisation Committee:
After '6 months', replace full stop with comma,
and add at end:
鈥榰nless a pattern of casualised work in the
post-16 education sector can be proven within the preceding 24 months.鈥�
Amendment
33A.1 was CARRIED. Motion 33, as amended, was CARRIED.
听听听听听听听听听 In rule 4.1, delete '12 months' and
substitute '6 months', unless a pattern of casualised work in the post-16
education sector can be proven within the preceding 24 months.'
16.4听听 Motion 34, New political fund rules, was moved by Simon Bruce-Jones of the
NEC.
Motion
34 was CARRIED:
Delete Rule 2.6 and
replace with:
'To pursue political objects in accordance with the relevant
legislation as set out in Schedule C to these rules.'
Delete Rule 38 and replace with new Schedule C which can be
found as appendix 2 in the Congress agenda.
Congress moved into open session.
17 听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 5: EQUALITY
17.1听听 Motion 46, Defending the equality agenda, was moved by Dave Muritu, Chair of
the Equality Committee, on behalf of the NEC.听
Amendment 46A.1 was moved by Elaine
White of the NEC on behalf of the Women Members鈥� Standing Committee:
听听听听听听听听听 After fourth paragraph, insert new
paragraph:
Congress
particularly condemns the call by UKIP to ban the burka because we believe that
it will lead to an increase in hate crime.听
Congress also condemns the racist misogynist call from UKIP to subject
girls to invasive medical surveillance under the claim of reducing FGM.听 The French 鈥榖urkini鈥� ban last summer showed
how this demonised the Muslim community and women have the right to wear what
they wish without state interference.
Remission
of motion 46 was proposed by a delegate (no name given).听 Marion Hersh of the NEC raised a point of
order and proposed a drafting amendment to the motion: to replace 鈥業slamophobia鈥�
with 鈥榓nti-muslim racism鈥�.听 The chair responded
to the proposal.听 Anita McGowan of
Croydon College spoke in the debate.听
Chris Whyley of the NEC asked a question and the chair responded.
A
vote on remission of motion 46 needed a count which was LOST (for: 73, against: 112; abstentions: 4).
A
delegate (no name given) proposed the motion be taken in parts: that a decision
be taken on the exclusion of the following words from the first paragraph: 鈥�and propagate racism, sexism,
anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and discrimination against disabled and LGBT+
people鈥� and
then the remainder of the motion.
Amendment 46A.1 was CARRIED.听 The amendment from the floor to delete from the
first paragraph 鈥榓nd propagate 鈥�. LGBT+ people鈥� was CARRIED. Motion 46,
as amended, was CARRIED:
Congress condemns the rise of authoritarian populism and of
politicians and parties who attack equal rights.
Congress affirms 51福利's commitment to defending all aspects of
the equality agenda and the rights of refugees and migrants.
Congress supports the professional work of 51福利 members who in
their teaching, research and other duties promote equality, diversity,
inclusion and widening participation.
Congress congratulates all those who have protested against
Trump and other hate-mongers. It calls on 51福利 members to participate in
relevant campaigns and protests in defence of equal rights and against the
politics of hate.
Congress particularly condemns the call by UKIP to ban the
burka because we believe that it will lead to an increase in hate crime.
Congress also condemns the racist misogynist call from UKIP to subject girls to
invasive medical surveillance under the claim of reducing FGM. The French
'burkini' ban last summer showed how this demonised the Muslim community and
women have the right to wear what they wish without state interference.听
Congress calls on the government to cancel the proposed state
visit of President Trump.
A delegate (no name given) and Michael Carley
of the University of Bath raised points of order.听 The chair responded. 听
The chair called for the mover of motion 47.
Safia Flissi of South and City College
Birmingham challenged the chair which was seconded formally.
Joanna de Groot, President Elect, was in the
chair.听
Safia Flissi of South and City College
Birmingham spoke to the challenge to the chair. 听Liz Lawrence, Immediate Past President, spoke
against the challenge to the chair.听 Rob
Goodfellow, President, responded.
On a vote, the challenge to the chair was
LOST.
Rob Goodfellow, President, was in the chair.
17.2听听 Motion 47, Enforcing the DDA, was moved by Kate Clayton of the West Midlands
retired members鈥� branch.听 Sharon Sweeney
of the University of Dundee proposed remission of motion 47.听 Marion Hersh of the NEC and Paul Lunn
(observer, Coventry University) spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 47 was REMITTED:
Today in Britain, 22 years after the DDA,
disabled people still experience humiliation on public transport, when there
are no accessible toilets on trains, no announcements on buses and taxis refuse
to carry them.
They feel despair as their benefits and care
budgets are cut and the work assessment process is prejudiced against them.
People with sensory impairments face
constant discrimination when they cannot access information, at colleges and
universities, at work, in the high street.
Individuals with mental health issues or
learning difficulties are demonised or handed over to the Police to be dealt
with.听 Language is changing, the
Government now talks about being "really disabled".
Congress calls on
the NEC and the Equality Unit, now that surveys, campaigns and supporting
literature are in place, to focus on enforcement of the legislation, with
politicians, the TUC, employers and service providers and report back at
Congress 2018.
Joanna de Groot, President Elect, was
in the chair.
17.3 听 Motion 48, The disability pay gap, was moved by
Emma-Jane Phillips of the NEC on behalf of the Disabled Members' Standing
Committee.
Motion 48 was CARRIED:
This Congress welcomes the priority of gender pay by national 51福利 and
the move towards local claims. The pay penalty for disabled people remains
perniciously high. According to the EHRC's 'How Fair is Britain' disabled men
experience a pay gap of 11% compared with non-disabled men, while the gap
between disabled women and non-disabled women is double this at 22%. Disabled
women experience a 31% pay penalty compared to non-disabled men.
Disabled people may also have higher living costs related to their
disability. Analysis of the situation in HE and FE is challenging due to the
reluctance of members to disclose a disability due to discrimination and
prejudice.
Congress calls
upon 51福利 to:
1. run a confidence in disclosure campaign and
disseminate resources
2. request data from employers on
disabled workers pay through equal pay audits
3. identify actions for branches to
assist in the eradication of the disability pay gap.听听听听听听听听
17.4听听 Motion 49, Defending the right of life affirming
education for all, was moved by Dave Muritu on behalf of the Disabled Members
Standing Committee. Congress approved a request through the chair that
Elane Heffernan (observer, incoming NEC) of Hackney Community College be
permitted to speak in the debate. 听
Motion 49 was CARRIED:
Congress believes that recent developments in FE and the split between
academic and technical education enshrined in the Green Paper threaten the
participation of disabled students.
GCSEs requirements and funding rules requiring progression, have encouraged
many principals of merged FE colleges to weed out those who they perceive may
hold down success rates and require expensive ALS.
Disabled staff are threatened by reorganisation redundancies. DSA cuts
damage participation in HE. Disabled people's participation in apprenticeships
is 50% of that in traditional FE.
Congress reaffirms the right of disabled people to generalised FE, to HE
and insists upon the right to inclusion in apprenticeship/skills training.
Congress
instructs NEC to:
1. highlight impact of Tory post-16
education policy on people with impairment
2. work with disabled organisations
& other unions in campaigning for sufficient resources for Reasonable Adjustments
in apprenticeships, ALS and DSA
3. call a national day of action in
2017.
Rob Goodfellow, President, was in the chair.
17.5听听 Motion 50, Women's value in the workplace, was
moved by Christina Paine of the London Regional Committee on behalf of the
Women Members鈥� Standing Committee.
Amendment 50A.1 was moved by Sue Abbott,
of the NEC on behalf of the Women Members鈥� Standing Committee and was seconded
by Emma Nagouse of the University of Sheffield:
Add after point 4:
In particular Congress agrees to:
a.听听 work with other campus trade
unions and NUS on the theme 'sexual harassment is a trade union issue',
including meetings and high profile publicity
b.听听 launch regional 51福利 women's
networks to address this and other gender equality issues
c.听听 ensure gender equality is a
standing item on regional and branch committees.
Amendment 50A.1 was CARRIED.听 Motion 50, as amended, was CARRIED:
Women's work and contribution to society is valued less than men's. This
creates pay inequality; blocked progression and aspirations; poor maternity
rights, lack of affordable childcare to support work/life balance; and
precarious contracts. 51福利's guidance on sexual harassment and domestic abuse
showed the effects of both on women at work. In the Trump era equality and
value are under threat from an increasingly aggressive male extremism. For
black women this is exacerbated further. We need a collective voice to say no
to discrimination.
Congress calls
for:
1. a national campaign to ensure these intersecting issues are at the
forefront of 51福利's work
2. 51福利 to campaign about the lack of access to the tribunal system
3. 51福利 to publicise guidance on domestic violence and sexual harassment
through branches and ensure the Istanbul convention is recognised in workplaces
4. the Rate for the Job website to include women's career progression
and casualisation.
In particular Congress agrees to:
a. work with other campus trade unions and NUS on the theme 'sexual
harassment is a trade union issue', including meetings and high profile
publicity
b. launch regional 51福利 women's networks to address this and other
gender equality issues
c. ensure gender equality is a standing item on regional and branch
committees.
17.6听听 Dave Muritu, Chair of the
Equality Committee, moved section 6 of the NEC鈥檚 report, business of the
Equality Committee, which was ADOPTED
by Congress.
17.7听听 Motion L9, A commission: making it democratic, was
moved by Jo McNeill of the NEC and seconded by Liz Lawrence, Immediate Past
President. Angela Roger, Honorary Treasurer, provided a point of information on
the costing of the motion.听 Catherine
Pope of the University of Southampton, and Sean Vernell and Amanda Williams,
both of the NEC, spoke in the debate.听
听听听听听听听听听 Motion L9 was CARRIED:
Congress notes:
1.听听听听听听 the General Secretary's announcement that she wishes to launch
a commission into industrial action and bargaining strategies.
Congress
resolves:
a.听听听听听听 that the membership of that commission must be elected by and
from this annual Congress and must be made up of lay members from all the
devolved nations and regions
b.听听听听听听 regional committees, devolved nations and branches must be strongly
encouraged to organise specific meetings to discuss the issues that are to be
discussed by the commission
c.听听听听听听 the commission to draw up recommendations to put to a one day
special Congress to discuss industrial bargaining and action strategies
d.听听听听听听 the Congress should be
made up of cross sector and sector sessions.
听听听听听听听听听 Iain
Banks of the University of Glasgow asked a question about election of the
Commission.听 Liz Lawrence, Immediate Past
President, responded with a point of information and the chair also responded.听
18听听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 6:
RECRUITMENT, ORGANISING and CAMPAIGNING
18.1听听 Motion 62, Key issues in 2017/18, was moved by Jenny
Prideaux, Chair of the Recruitment, Organising and Campaigning Committee on
behalf of the NEC.听 Amendment
62A.1 was moved by Sean Wallis of the NEC:
At the end of the
motion, add
鈥業n furtherance
of these objectives after the general election, Congress resolves to propose a
National Demonstration in Defence of Education, inviting other education
unions, NUS, and campaign groups such as Action for ESOL and the HE Convention,
to participate.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听 Douglas Chalmers of the
NEC spoke in the debate.
Amendment 62A.1 was CARRIED.听 Motion 62, as amended, was CARRIED:
Congress notes progress made in 2016/17 with the
following priority campaigns: in support of EU nationals and international
colleagues; working with NUS on Prevent, boycott of NSS, refugee issues and the
successful national demonstration; highlighting the transformative impact of
FE, opposing the disastrous HE Bill; standing up for fair pay and transparency;
working alongside the ACC and BMSC against casualisation and workplace racism;
and supporting branches in dispute.
Congress welcomes the high profile of 51福利 in
standing up for education and those who work in it and instructs the Committee
to continue to focus its energy and resources on these key issues in 2017/18.
In furtherance of these objectives after the
general election, Congress resolves to propose a National Demonstration in
Defence of Education, inviting other education unions, NUS, and campaign groups
such as Action for ESOL and the HE Convention, to participate.
18.2听听 Motion 63, Staff subsidising employers, was moved
by Kate Servant of the Open University.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion was 63 was CARRIED:
Congress notes that:
1. there have been complaints from members who have had difficulty
claiming legitimate expenses from their employers and have ended up out of
pocket in some cases
2. that some institutions do not provide clear information to staff
about expense rates, how to claim, or about maximum amounts that can be claimed
for certain things (eg. overnight accommodation)
3. that some members have ended up paying for equipment that they have
been assessed as needing as a reasonable adjustment.
Congress asks the NEC to contact branches with
guidance on employers' obligations, negotiating advice, and asks branches to
press employers to provide clear, up to date, and easy to access information on
institution web sites including expense rates, how to claim, and maximum
amounts.
18.3听听 Motion 64, Bilingualism of documentation for use in
Wales, was moved by John James of Coleg Gwent Newport on behalf of Wales
Congress and seconded by Josh Robinson of Cardiff University.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 64 was CARRIED:
The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011, gave the
Welsh Language official status in Wales. The Welsh language's official status
has a legal effect, which means that Welsh should be treated no less favourably
than the English language in Wales.
Public bodies in Wales, which include FE and HE
institutions, must comply with the standards set out in the measure and as such
the use of English language only posters and leaflets on their premises is no
longer acceptable.
The union must be able to use appropriate materials
to recruit, inform and publicise the union to both members and non-members.
Congress calls on 51福利 head office to recognise this
requirement and to produce all written materials bilingually for distribution
in Wales.
18.4听听 Motion 65, Union learning and training, was moved
by Marion Hersh of the NEC on behalf of the University of Glasgow.
Amendment 65A.1 was moved
by Elaine White of the NEC on behalf of the Anti-Casualisation Committee:
In first
paragraph: after 'more flexible', add 'and accessible,'; after 'different
ways,' add 'or who face additional difficulty in accessing training (e.g.
obtaining paid time for training, accessing training venues).'
Point 1, add at
end: 'recognising that discrimination is often on multiple, intersecting
fronts.'
Add new point 4:
'Ensure all training recognises that casualisation is both a factor in and tool
of discrimination and includes practical approaches for activists and branches
to build the fight against this.'
Add new point 5:
'Provide tangible, practical help for staff on casualised contracts to obtain
paid time for union learning and training.'
John James of
Coleg Gwent Newport proposed remission of the following words in point 2 of the
motion: 鈥榠ncluding online, as well as face to face鈥�.听 Marion Hersh of the NEC responded on behalf
of the University of Glasgow.
Amendment 65A.1 was CARRIED.听 The remission of 鈥榠ncluding online, as well
as face to face鈥� proposed from the floor was CARRIED. 听Motion 65, as
amended, was CARRIED:
This meeting recognises the importance of union
learning and properly trained reps, but notes that current learning and
training opportunities could be more flexible and accessible, and support
members who learn best in different ways or who face additional difficulty in
accessing training (e.g. obtaining paid time for training, accessing training
venues).
This meeting requests that 51福利 NEC:
1. step up the recruitment of union learning reps, with a particular
focus on women, disabled, black and LGBT+ members recognising that
discrimination is often on multiple, intersecting fronts.
2. investigate and implement more flexible ways of providing union
learning and training.
3. investigate and implement ways of providing accreditation for
experience as well as training, particularly in the case of established
activists who have gained experience at a time when little training was on
offer.
4. ensure all training recognises that casualisation is both a factor
in and tool of discrimination and includes practical approaches for activists
and branches to build the fight against this.
5. provide tangible, practical help for staff on casualised contracts
to obtain paid time for union learning and training.
18.5听听 Motion 66, Support for newly joined members, was
moved by Michael Carley of the University of Bath:
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 66 was CARRIED:
Congress instructs NEC to develop proposals for a
consistent set of rules covering newly-joined members who approach the union
for support, in particular after the start of disciplinary or other management
process. At present, there is no framework for branch officers to decide on
whether, to support such members. The only rule covering support for members
with reference to length of membership is the rule on qualifying period for
access to legal scheme.
Any proposed framework should consider:
1.听听 whether the member has been in the union for a short period
because they are in their first job in the sector
2.听听 whether they have joined only after management action against them
3.听听 any previous membership in another trade union before entering the
sector
4.听听 whether they are lapsed members of 51福利.
Guidance should be issued in the form of a policy
which branch officers can apply to new personal cases.
18.6听听 Motion 67, Developing the national anti-casualisation
campaign, was moved by Amy Jowett of the NEC on behalf of the Anti-Casualisation
Committee.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 67 was CARRIED:
Congress recognises the importance of the national
anti-casualisation campaign and celebrates its successes. Congress also notes
that the campaign needs to reach out to more branches in supporting them to
fight the use of casual contracts in their work places.
This meeting welcomes the promise of 拢1 million to
support the campaign from the General Secretary and hopes the money can be put
to good use as quickly as possible.
Congress requests that relevant officers:
1. begin plans for an anti-casualisation road show that will visit as
many areas of the country as possible
2. support the development and roll-out of the anti-casualisation
branch pledge which branches can publicly sign up to, committing to improving contracts
for casually employed staff
3. ensure that anti-casualisation is at the heart of all our union's
activities.
18.7听听 Motion 68, Back door zero-hours contracts, was
moved by Christina Paine of the London Regional Committee on behalf of London
Metropolitan University, City branch.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 68 was CARRIED:
Congress congratulates all those activists who have
campaigned over years to expose the unfairness of zero-hour contracts. It
welcomes 51福利's negotiating efforts to end these contracts and replace them with
contracts with guaranteed hours.
Congress notes that some employers, while
ostensibly moving away from zero-hours contracts, are trying to bring in
zero-hours contracts through the back door by creating new contracts which
still do not provide guaranteed hours or pay.
1. Congress calls on branches to be vigilant about the danger of back
door zero-hours contracts.
2. It resolves that these contracts do not merit ratification and
should be energetically resisted in negotiations and campaigns.
18.8听听 Motion 69, The future of trade union education, was
moved by Simon Bruce-Jones of the NEC on behalf of Shrewsbury Colleges Group
and seconded by John James of Coleg Gwent.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 69 was CARRIED:
Congress notes that trade union education faces the
twin threats of funding cuts and the decline of classroom based training due to
the TUC's move to online learning. Congress agrees that trade union education
should be fully funded and multi union and where possible classroom based.
Therefore the 51福利 is instructed:
1. to research and prepare a report on the advantages of classroom
based training over online training. The final report should be submitted to
the appropriate TUC bodies to ensure TUC policy supports the principle of
classroom based learning
2. to set up a working group to explore the options for the future
funding of trade union education. Including the option of being fully funded by
the unions. The working group should involve trade union studies tutors. The
agreed final report should be submitted to the TUC for adoption and
implementation.
18.9听听 Motion L3, Tolpuddle Martyrs Correspondence, was
moved by Michael Carley of the University of Bath on behalf of the South West
Regional Committee and remission of paragraph 3 proposed:
Therefore,
Congress resolves to donate 拢200 to the Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum to support the
purchase of the Vicar of Tolpuddle's correspondence.
Remission of
paragraph 3 was CARRIED:
Therefore, Congress resolves to donate 拢200 to the Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum to support the purchase of the Vicar of Tolpuddle's correspondence.
Motion L3, as
amended, was CARRIED:
The Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum has recently (18 May)
requested support from trade unions for the purchase of letters written by the
then Vicar of Tolpuddle concerning the case of the Tolpuddle Martyrs. The vicar
betrayed the Martyrs by falsely denying the existence of an agreement on pay,
an act for which the vicarage windows suffered just retribution, so he is a
central figure in the Martyrs' story.
In the words of the museum 'These letters will add
considerably to the discussion around the Martyrs, trade unionism, justice and
democracy.' It is estimated that the cost of acquiring the correspondence, and
of appropriate security and environmental conditions, will be 拢5000.
18.10 A Justice
for Colombia video (Huber Ballesteros) was shown followed by a mass photo in support of 鈥楾ruth for Giulio Regeni鈥�.听
FOURTH SESSION OF
CONGRESS, MONDAY AFTERNOON, 29 MAY
19听听听听听 The
chair announced amounts raised in the following collections:
路
Education and Science Workers鈥�
Union (Egitim-Sen), Turkey: 拢659 to be rounded up to 拢2,000 by 51福利;
路
LSE cleaners: 拢437.60.
20 听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 6: RECRUITMENT, CAMPAIGNING AND
ORGANISING (CONTINUED)
20.1 听 Motion 70, Electronic meetings and tele- and video-conferencing, was moved by
Michael Carley of the University of Bath on behalf of the South West Regional
Committee.
Motion
70 was CARRIED:
Electronic means of conducting meetings are becoming more
common, and are especially valuable for regions and nations with
widely-scattered branches and poor transport links, and for branches with
multiple sites. Given the increasing use of video-conferencing facilities, it
is probable that important decisions will be taken at meetings where not all of
those present are physically in attendance.
Congress therefore instructs NEC to draw up guidance for the
electronic conduct of meetings. This guidance should include, but would not be
limited to:
1. the
definition of a quorum
2. advice
for chairs on ensuring full participation, with equitable speaking rights for
those physically and virtually present
3. amendments
to standing orders, including rules for voting where necessary.
Guidance should not be excessively prescriptive but is
intended to establish a framework for electronic meetings and avoid the risk of
a decision being contested because procedures were not clear.
20.2听听 Motion 71, Recruiting health & safety reps and right
to time off, was moved
formally.听
听听听听听听听听听 Motion
71 was CARRIED:
Health, safety and welfare, including stress, are major and
serious issues across the education sector. With expected attacks on our
members鈥� conditions, rights and safeguards it is imperative that 51福利 responds
and actively develops H&S reps in each branch with reasonable time off from
duties.
Congress supports and actively encourages 51福利 branches using
the Safety Reps and Safety Committee Regulation 1977 to recruit and establish
H&S reps in all branches with 'reasonable' remission from duties.
Congress notes that health and safety reps have the right to
time off 'as is necessary' to carry out their functions. This is clear under
the SRSC regulations 1977.
Congress believes that this time should be in addition to any
local facility arrangement. This should be organised so that no undue burden is
placed on the 51福利 health and safety rep which may hinder them in undertaking
inspections, attending meetings and communicating with members.
Congress requests that
all branches:
1.听听听听听 look
to their own arrangements in order to secure the full rights to time off for
their health and safety rep
2.听听听听听 ensure
the 51福利 health and safety rep has sufficient facilities to undertake
inspections of all premises
3.听听听听听 wherever
possible, have at least one 51福利 health and safety rep per campus
4.听听听听听 ensure
all 51福利 health and safety reps attend training to enable them to carry out
their functions.
20.3听听 Motion 72, Work related stress, was moved by Eurig
Scandrett of Queen Margaret University on behalf of 51福利 Scotland Executive
Committee. Amendment 75A.1 was moved
by Justin Wynne of Sussex Coast College Hastings on behalf of the South East
Regional Committee:
听听听听听听听听听 Add at end:
'Congress also notes statements made regarding workload in FE and HE
such as 鈥�26% of further and higher education staff work in excess of 50 hours a
week during term time; 75% describe their job as stressful; and 46% say their
work involves unrealistic time pressures鈥�.
Congress agrees it is now time for a concerted effort to reduce this
pressure and calls on 51福利 to bring a national campaign on workload to a head.'
听听听听听听听听听 John James of
Coleg Gwent Newport spoke in the debate.
Amendment 72A.1 was CARRIED.听 Motion 72, as amended, was CARRIED:
51福利 recognises the work and commitment of members who have
campaigned to ensure university workplaces and practices are not detrimental to
physical or mental health. Health and safety is rightly a key priority for our
union.
Numerous factors across the sector, including workload,
performance management, managerialism, and precarious employment have
contributed to growing numbers of colleagues being medically unfit for work due
to work-related stress. However, many employers have been slow to tackle
work related mental health issues or to identify steps to support safer
working.
Congress urges HESA to introduce an annual sector wide survey
of all University staff, to include the HSE Management Standards Indicator
questionnaire, and that HEIs be required to collect data on work-related stress
absences as part of their HESA return. By collectivising the issue 51福利
can highlight poor practices, support members, and tackle the underlying causes
of work-related stress.
Congress also notes statements made regarding workload in FE
and HE such as '26% of further and higher education staff work in excess of 50
hours a week during term time; 75% describe their job as stressful; and 46% say
their work involves unrealistic time pressures'.
Congress agrees it is now time for a concerted effort to
reduce this pressure and calls on 51福利 to bring a national campaign on workload
to a head.
20.4听听 Motion 73, Retired members, was moved
by Elizabeth Lawrence, Immediate Past President, on behalf of the NEC and
seconded by Norman Jemison of the Northern retired members鈥� branch.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 73 was CARRIED:
Congress recognises the importance of encouraging all 51福利
members to continue in membership on retirement, their rights to participate in
the work of the union and the valuable contribution that they make to 51福利.
Congress notes that the current arrangements for the participation and support
of retired members have not been reviewed since the formation of 51福利 and still
reflect the traditions of the predecessor unions, eg, half of 51福利 retired
members are in retired member branches with concomitant rights under rule and
half are attached to ordinary branches.
In light of this, and the call for a review agreed by
Congress 2016 (motion 56), Congress instructs the NEC to carry out a review of
the arrangements for the organisation, rights and support of retired members
and to bring any proposals to Congress 2018. The review to include consultation
with retired member branches, retired members, other branches and regional
committees.
20.5听听 Motion 74, Excessive pay and remuneration for FE and HE leaders, was moved
by Marian Mayer of the Southern Regional Committee.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 74 was CARRIED:
Congress notes the excessive increases in pay and
remuneration within senior leadership teams in both FE and HE sectors, at a
time when real pay for the vast majority of employees has continued to be
severely eroded.
Noting the excellent work done by 51福利 in producing the
'Transparency at the Top?' report, we instruct the NEC to coordinate with other
trade unions to mount a sustained campaign to challenge the endemic inequity in
pay in every sector of the economy.
20.6听听 Motion 75, Government Withdrawal of Bursaries for Nurse Training, was moved by a delegate (no name given) on behalf of the Southern
Regional Committee.听 Amendment 75A.1 was moved by Paul Errington of the NEC on behalf of
Teesside University:
Delete: 鈥榥urse training鈥� in first sentence of
second paragraph and replace with 鈥榩rofessional health care training鈥�.
Delete second sentence of second paragraph.
Third paragraph, delete text after 鈥楥ongress calls
on the NEC鈥� and replace with:
鈥榯o work with
sister unions through the HEJLC and campaign for the re-introduction of
bursaries for professional health care training and to produce an impact
assessment report investigating the dangers to health education provision and
the diminishing applications as a result of the removal of bursaries and to
organise a special conference for health educators and health professionals, to
discuss and develop strategy for campaigning for its restoration.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听 Maureen Harrison of the
University of Southampton spoke in the debate.
听听听听听听听听听 Amendment 75A.1 was CARRIED.听 Motion 75, as amended,
was CARRIED:
Congress recognises that the crisis facing the NHS is
underpinned by a variety of factors, prominent amongst which is the growing
shortfall in trained staff. This shortfall compromises patient safety, creates
workplace stress and low morale for existing staff and has led to increased
spending on expensive agency staff. Recruitment of NHS health workers from the
EU has been badly affected by uncertainties resulting from the government's
approach to Brexit.
In such challenging circumstances it makes no sense at all to
withdraw training bursaries provided to those undertaking professional health
care training. Congress considers that this ill-conceived policy will
inevitably lead to fewer applications for nurse training and the shortfall of trained
nurses in the NHS becoming much greater.
Congress calls on the NEC to work with sister unions through
the HEJLC and campaign for the re-introduction of bursaries for professional
health care training and to produce an impact assessment report investigating
the dangers to health education provision and the diminishing applications as a
result of the removal of bursaries and to organise a special conference for
health educators and health professionals, to discuss and develop strategy for
campaigning for its restoration.
20.7听听 Motion 76, Early
retirement on a decent pension, from East Midlands retired members鈥� branch
was moved formally.
Motion 76 was CARRIED:
Congress notes the pressure to accelerate the rise
in State Pension Age and consequently the Normal Pension Age of both USS and
TPS pensions which is an easy way to cut the cost of pensions. The government
intends that people spend only a third of their life on state pension. However,
the Centre for Policy Studies, influential with the government, advocates
putting the state pension into 'run-off' and introducing a 鈥榮enior citizens'
pension', payable from the age of 80.听
The ONS has shown that whereas life expectancy in UK rises so do years
spent in bad health and inability to work.
Congress calls on the 51福利 in conjunction with other
unions, especially in the educational sector, to organise a campaign to lessen
the impact of actuarial reduction on pension entitlement and make it easier to
achieve retirement with enhancement on the basis of bad health.
20.8听听 Motion 77, Protection of public open space, was
moved by Ken Childerhouse of the South East retired members鈥� branch.
Motion
77 was CARRIED:
51福利 recognises that the standard of living of its members
depends not only on salaries and pensions but on a wide range of publicly
provided and financed services. Many of these make use of public open
space. Congress condemns widespread private incursions into public open space,
including the selling off of schools/college playing fields. Congress calls on
51福利 to lobby for the protection and adequate resourcing of these vital,
environmentally friendly public assets so beneficial to its members.
20.9听听 Motion 78, General election, was moved
by Sean Vernell of the NEC on behalf of the London Regional Committee and seconded
by Jo McNeill of the NEC.听 Douglas
Chalmers of the NEC proposed that point 5 of the motion be taken
separately.听 The proposal was CARRIED.听
Parts 1 - 4 of the motion were CARRIED.听听听 A vote on part 5 of the motion needed a
count which was CARRIED (for: 107,
against: 79, abstentions: 7).听 听听
Motion 78 was CARRIED:
Congress believes:
a Tory win in the 8 June general election will be a disaster
for workers and public services.
Congress resolves:
1. to
campaign with a message of defend education, defend workers' rights, no to
austerity, racism and war
2. to
engage our members around this message through all possible means and to take
part in campaigning activities on such themes, particularly with Stand Up To
Racism
3. to
encourage branches to hold hustings meetings for candidates (except fascists),
if possible alongside other unions and student organisations
4. to
take part in marches and protests that highlight our areas of concern during
the election period鈥攕uch as marches against the school funding cuts
5. while
recognising that our union is not affiliated to any political party, to call in
this election for a vote for Labour.
20.10听 John
Murphy of Blackburn College proposed that paragraph 7.9, section 5,
Recruitment, Organising and Campaigning, of the NEC鈥檚 report to Congress be
remitted to the NEC.听 Jenny Prideaux, of
the NEC and chair of the Recruitment, Organising and Campaigning Committee,
responded.听 The proposal to remit paragraph
7.9, section 5, of the NEC鈥檚 report to Congress was CARRIED.听 Subject to the
remission of paragraph 7.9, Congress ADOPTED
section 5 of the NEC鈥檚 report,
business of the Recruitment, Organising and Campaigning Committee.
21听听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 5:
EQUALITY (CONTINUED)
21.1听听 Motion 51, Improving equality, from Wales Congress
was moved formally.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 51 was CARRIED:
With the success of the 'leaders equality training' event in
January, it is important to monitor the representation of all strands of
equality within all levels of an organisation, including, operational, academic,
operational management levels, and strategic management.
To help achieve this, congress requests that 51福利 officials
request all educational establishments to supply detailed breakdown of
information relating to all the different strands of equality within all the
levels within their organisations.
21.2听听 Motion 52, Dying to work, was moved by Ron Mendel
of the University of Northampton.听 Amendment 52A.1 was moved Pauline Hall
of the South East Regional Committee:
Insert a new point 2 and renumber accordingly:
'2. the application of some institutions' sickness policies,
particularly in the case of hourly paid staff, fails to recognise that being
able to make a monthly pay claim to ensure sick pay is paid is impractical';
Amendment 52A.1 was CARRIED.听 Motion 52, as amended, was CARRIED:
Congress notes:
1.听听 facing
a terminal illness can be traumatising
2.听听 the
application of some institutions' sickness policies, particularly in the case
of hourly paid staff, fails to recognise that being able to make a monthly pay
claim to ensure sick pay is paid is impractical
3.听听听听听听 losing one's
job can have dire consequences, such as:
鈥� reduced income and financial insecurity
鈥� a loss of 'Death in Service' and/or Life Assurance
payments to family member
鈥� undergoing a stressful HR procedure
鈥� a loss of dignity associated with employment
4.听听 that
universities and colleges have a duty of care to their employees
Congress agrees to support the TUC's
Dying to Work Voluntary Charter which would:
a. treat terminal illness as a
'protected characteristic' and
b. 听 offer terminal ill employees
protection against dismissal on capability grounds.
Congress resolves to:
i.听听听 launch
a coordinated campaign with each 51福利 branch to seek the endorsement of the
Voluntary Charter by every university and college
ii.听听 work closely with the regional
TUC secretaries on the campaign; and
iii.听 promote
the voluntary charter through its regular communications with members.
21.3听听 Motion 53, Campaigning
for a woman's right to choose,
was moved formally.
Motion 53
was CARRIED:
Congress notes:
1.听听听听 that
worldwide, anti-choice activists want to restrict women's access to safe and
legal abortions. In the USA, there are new restrictions in many American states
and President Trump has already indicated wanting further restrictions
including on overseas aid funding. Poland is proposing severely
restricting access and Ireland has not yet repealed the 8th amendment. About
25% of the world's population live in countries with highly restrictive
abortion laws including Northern Ireland. It is the 50th anniversary of the
1967 Abortion Act, which in England, Wales and Scotland gives access to safe,
free and legal abortion yet these women who have made difficult choices, face
aggressive anti-abortionists outside clinics
2.听听听听 the
impact pregnancy discrimination has in reproductive choice
3.听听听 the
global threat to women's health and agency in relation to reproductive choice
4.听听听听 the
UK growth of intimidation tactics and the danger these present
5.听听听听 the
role of education in defending the position of women as rational decision
makers.
Congress resolves
to:
a.听听听听 stand
in solidarity with women throughout the world supporting the right to choose
b.听听听听 reaffirm
its policy to defend the right to free, safe, legal and accessible abortion
c.听听听听 supports
the campaign to extend the 1967 Act to Northern Ireland
d.听听听 continue
to work with Abortion Rights UK
e.听听听听 campaign
for all pregnancy issues to be recognised within maternity legislation and
workplace maternity policies, and for paid time-off to attend appointments
related to pregnancy-decision counselling and abortion procedures
f.听听听听 campaign
for the recognition of women's agency in our classrooms, institutions and
communities.
21.4听听 Motion 54, Inclusion
of non-binary facilities and sport provision, was moved by Ioanna Ioannou of UCL on behalf of the LGBT Members鈥�
Standing Committee.
Motion 54 was CARRIED:
Congress believes that post-school education institutions
should include all staff and students in the life of the organisation including
sports. Congress is concerned that, during construction or renovation of
facilities, institutions are neglecting their duty of care by not providing
gender-neutral toilets, and changing facilities that are accessible to all.
Congress calls on:
1.
branches to advise their organisations that provision of gender-neutral
facilities are not at the expense of accessible facilities or single sex
provision but additional to these
2.
branches to ensure 51福利 equality reps sit on institution planning
boards/committees
3.
branches to work with student unions to adopt BUCS guidance and policies
around gender identity facility provision
4.
51福利 to research and provide guidance on LGBT+ inclusion in university and
college sporting provision
5.
51福利 to work with BUCS, Out Sport, and the EGLSF to campaign for sporting
provision that is clearly inclusive of all gender identities.
21.5听听 Motion 55, Gender identity, was moved by Marion
Hersh of the NEC.听 Saladin Meckled-Garcia
of UCL proposed that points 1 and 2 of the 听motion be taken separately.听 Pura Ariza of Manchester Metropolitan
University spoke in the debate.听 The
proposal to take the motion in parts was CARRIED.听
听听听听听听听听听 Parts 1 and 2
of the motion were CARRIED.听 Motion 55 was CARRIED.
Congress recognises that the disadvantages of gender
assignment at birth, including contributing to stereotypical socialisation
based on assigned gender, the gendering of employment and income, and the
invisibility and marginalisation of non-binary people.
Congress asks the Equality Committee in consultation with the
Equality standing committees to:
1. develop policy which challenges the
thinking and practices which underpin gender assignment at birth
2. develop and implement proposals for a
campaign to remove the requirement and practice of gender assignment at birth.
This should involve other trade unions, human rights organisations and
community groups
3. develop and carry out training on
gender identity and the rights of all genders in the workplace
4. review and propose revisions to 51福利
policies and procedures to avoid discrimination against non-binary members
while maintaining measures to increase the representation of women.
22听听听听听 ADDRESS BY KATE ALLEN, DIRECTOR OF AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL
听听听听听听听听听 Kate Allen,
Director, Amnesty International, addressed Congress.
23听听听听听 CONGRESS BUSINESS SECTION 5: EQUALITY
(CONTINUED)
23.1听听 Motion 56, Education,
sex worker safety and collective organising, was moved by Rhiannon Lockley of Halesowen College and seconded by Bob
Jeffery of the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Committee.听 Douglas Chalmers and Rachel Cohen both of the
NEC, and Eurig Scandrett of Queen Margaret University spoke in the debate.听 A delegate (no name give) proposed that the motion
be now put which was seconded formally and CARRIED
by Congress.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion 56 was CARRIED:
Congress notes:
1. as many as 1 in 20 students are
involved in work in the sex industry
2. recent NUS findings that students
work in this area for primarily financial reasons
3. the high proportion of LGBT and
disabled students represented in sex work
4. the impact of FE cuts and rising
tuition fees in blocking exit from the sex industry.
Congress believes:
a. that sex workers, like all oppressed
groups, have the right to organise collectively
b.
that criminalisation of sex work prevents collective working and
increases risk to sex worker safety.
Congress resolves:
i. to work with the NUS and any other
relevant group to highlight the impact cuts and fees have in trapping workers
in the sex industry, and campaign for free access to education
ii. to support self-organised sex workers
in their call for decriminalisation of sex work to allow collective working and
improved safety for sex workers.
23.2听听 Motion
57, International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of
anti-semitism, was moved by Mark Abel of the South East Regional Committee
on behalf of the University of Brighton.
Amendment 57A.1 was moved by Kamie Kitmitto of the University of Manchester on behalf
of Queen鈥檚 University Belfast:
Under 鈥楥ongress notes鈥�,
Insert after point 2.:
鈥�3.听听听听听听听 the close similarity between the IHRA
and EUMC definitions, including their conflation of antisemitism with criticism
of Israel;鈥�
Renumber subsequent points accordingly.
Delete from existing point 4:
鈥榓nd close similarity between IHRA and EUMC definitions鈥�
In existing point 5, replace 鈥業srael Apartheid
Week鈥� by 鈥業sraeli Apartheid Week鈥�.
Add new point after existing point 5:
鈥楾he legal
opinion from Hugh Tomlinson QC, obtained by PSC and other groups,
characterising the IHRA definition as confusing, not legally binding, and
putting public bodies that use it at risk of 'unlawfully restricting legitimate
expressions of political opinion'.鈥�
Add after 鈥楥ongress resolves that 51福利 dissociates
itself from the IHRA definition鈥�:
鈥榓nd will make no
use of it (e.g. in educating members or dealing with internal complaints)鈥�
Amendment 57A.2 was moved by Steve Cushion
of London Retired Members鈥� Branch:
Add at end:
鈥楻ecalling the experience of Fraser vs 51福利, we call upon the NEC to take
a position against any university management that reacts to spurious
accusations of anti-semitism by banning speakers who are opposed to the
policies of the State of Israel but who have not in any way expressed racism
against Jewish people.鈥�
Sarah Brown of the NEC, Marian Carty of
Goldsmiths, University of London and Judith Suissa of UCL Institute of Education
spoke in the debate.
Amendments
57A.1 and 57A.2 were CARRIED.听 Motion 57, as amended, was CARRIED:
Congress notes:
1.
51福利's exemplary anti-racist work, eg. Holocaust Memorial Day materials
2.
policy (2011) dissociating 51福利 from the 'EUMC working definition' of
anti-semitism
3.
the close similarity between the IHRA and EUMC definitions, including
their conflation of antisemitism with criticism of Israel
4.
that government has formally adopted the
5.
that this definition conflates anti-semitism with criticism of the state
of Israel and has been used to intimidate academics who are engaged in
activities that are critical of the policies of the Israeli government but that
are not anti-semitic
6.
government-inspired attempts to ban Palestine solidarity events, naming
Israeli Apartheid Week
7.
The legal opinion from Hugh Tomlinson QC, obtained by PSC and other
groups, characterising the IHRA definition as confusing, not legally binding,
and putting public bodies that use it at risk of 'unlawfully restricting
legitimate expressions of political opinion'.
Congress re-affirms:
a. 51福利's condemnation of all forms of
racial or religious hatred or discrimination
b. 51福利's commitment to free speech and
academic freedom
c. the importance of open campus debate
on Israel/Palestine.
Congress resolves that 51福利 dissociates itself from the IHRA
definition and will make no use of it (eg. in educating members or dealing with
internal complaints).
Congress instructs:
i. NEC to contact all members in a
dedicated communication urging report to NEC of all repressive uses of the IHRA
definition
ii. conduct research about the
implications of the use of the IHRA definition
iii. general secretary to write to
VCs/principals urging staff protection from malicious accusations, and freedom
of political criticism
iv.听 president
to issue, and circulate to members, a detailed press statement on 51福利's
criticism of the IHRA definition
v.听 lobby
government to seek a review of its endorsement of the IHRA definition and to
replace it with one that will both protect free speech and combat
anti-semitism.
Recalling the experience of Fraser vs 51福利, we call upon the
NEC to take a position against any university management that reacts to
spurious accusations of anti-semitism by banning speakers who are opposed to
the policies of the state of Israel but who have not in any way expressed
racism against Jewish people.
23.3听听 Motion 58, Equality
reps attending the equality conference, was moved by Sussanh Hanlon of Northumbria University.听 Amendment
58A.2 had been withdrawn.听 Amendment 58A.1 was moved by a delegate
(no name given) on behalf of the LGBT Members鈥� Standing Committee:
In second sentence, delete from 'Granting' to
'their characteristics' in line 3.
Replace
with:
'Ensuring key points from these conferences are
reported to all equality reps through, for example, a briefing to equality reps
and/or the equality reps conference'
Second
paragraph, second sentence delete from 'sympathetic' to 'attending'.
Replace
with:
'constantly
developing their understanding and solidarity with the issues raised.'
Delete final two sentences of the motion (from
'There already is'), and replace with new paragraph:
'Conference resolves to ensure that all
equality reps are informed about all aspects of the equality conference.'
The chair
advised that as Congress was now out of time for completion of Equality Committee
business motions 58-60 would be remitted to the NEC.听听 Motion 61 had been withdrawn.听 Mark Wilson of 51福利 Wales challenged the
chair.
Joanna de Groot,
President elect, was in the chair.
Mark Wilson
of 51福利 Wales spoke to the challenge to the chair.听 Julia Charlton of the NEC spoke against the
challenge to the chair. 听Rob Goodfellow,
President, responded.
On a vote,
the challenge to the chair was LOST.
Rob Goodfellow, President, was in the
chair.
23.4听听 Congress ADOPTED section 6 of the NEC鈥檚
report, business of the Equality Committee.
24听听听听听 CLOSING
BUSINESS
24.1听听 Election results
听听听听听听听听听 The Chair
announced the following election results:
Congress Business Committee:
HE members
elected: Alan Barker (University of Lincoln), Malcolm Povey (University of
Leeds), Martin Levy (Northumbria University)(casual vacancy)
FE members,
elected: Robert Clunas (Leeds City College), Carol Cody (City of Liverpool
College)
USS Superannuation Working Group:
Negotiators:
Marion Hersh (University of Glasgow), Carlo Morelli (University of Dundee),
Renee Prendergast (Queen鈥檚 University Belfast)
Reserve: Amanda
Williams (University of East Anglia)
24.2听听 The President called on Congress to welcome
the incoming President Joanna de Groot. The incoming President addressed Congress and introduced the
officers for 2017-18.听 She thanked the
staff at the Brighton Centre, 51福利 staff and the Congress Business
Committee.听 She thanked Rob Goodfellow
for his chairing of Congress and delegates for their contribution.