General Meeting Tuesday 8th October 2024 - UCL University & College Union

Motions submitted

Appendix 1: Rules Motions
These motions concern changes to the UCL UCU rules, and require a 2/3 majority to be accepted.
MOTION R1: Timely circulation of motions for General Meetings
MOTION R2: Who can submit motions

Appendix 2: General Motions
These motions are decided by a simple majority vote in a branch meeting.
MOTION 1: 35 hour week
MOTION 2: London Weighting
MOTION 3:Logistical and financial support for the BRICUP and University&College Workers for Palestine tour
MOTION 4: No to the Far Right and Fascism on our campuses
MOTION 5: Supporting the UCU London Region conference ‘Defending post-16 education under Starmer’s Labour’

Appendix 1: Rules Motions
These motions concern changes to the UCL UCU rules, and require a 2/3 majority to be accepted.

MOTION R1: Rule change: Timely circulation of motions for General Meetings
Proposed: Ilektra Christidi

After current 13.2, Other general meetings, insert

13.3 Motions for a General Meeting are to be accepted until the day that is [5 days] before the day on which the meeting is to be held, and the secretary will take all reasonable steps to circulate the motions to members by the next day. Amendments to the motions for the GM are to be accepted until the day that is [3 days] before the day on which the meeting is to be held. The secretary will take all reasonable steps to circulate the final notice for the GM to members by the next day, and no later than 24 hours before the GM. This notice will include the GM agenda, proposed motions, and amendments.

13.3.1 Any motions not ordered onto the agenda of a particular meeting due to time constraints or the theme of an Extraordinary GM or Emergency GM, will be included in a future branch meeting.

13.4 The formal business of a Branch Meeting will end at its advertised time. However, it may be extended for a specific amount of time beyond its end time, if voted so before the end of the meeting by a majority of attendees while still quorate.

At end of 14, Extraordinary General Meetings, insert

Timings for motions and amendments for EGMs are as follows: motions will be accepted until [3] days before the meeting and circulated to members within the next day. Amendments will be accepted until [2] days before the meeting, and final notice circulated to members no later than 24 hours before the meeting.

Rationale: To increase participation of the membership in the decision-making and democratic control of the branch, by ensuring that motions and amendments are circulated in time for all categories of General Meetings. This rule change aims to empower the membership to make well-informed policy decisions in the meetings, having had time to read the motions and propose amendments, instead of being rushed into a vote.

To make sure meetings don’t run over time unless decided in advance by the meeting. This way members have the opportunity to vote on the motions discussed in the meeting, and decisions are not made by a small subset of those attending.

MOTION R2: Rule change: Who can submit motions
Proposed: Ilektra Christidi

At end of 18, Motions, add paragraph:

Any branch member can submit motions to Branch Meetings, covering local policy or to be submitted to national or regional bodies of the Union (Congress, HESC, etc). Those motions will be circulated to members in advance according to the timings defined in 13.2, 14, and 15. The name of the proposer will be included in this circular.

Rationale: To make explicit the fact that all members can submit motions to all meetings and for all purposes.

Appendix 2: General Motions
These motions are decided by a simple majority vote in a branch meeting.

MOTION 1: 35 hour week
Proposed: Sean Wallis

UCL UCU notes that part of the joint union claim at JNCHES was for a 35 hour working week in all universities. UCL still has a standard 36.5 hour week, although most universities in London have a 35 hour week. UNISON has already called on UCL to adopt a 35 hour working week.

UCL UCU believes the total cost to UCL would be modest, but the main beneficiaries would be hourly-paid staff and part-time staff on ‘shrink-wrapped’ FTE fractions calculated by the hour, who could expect to see their pay increase by 4%.

UCL UCU agrees to support UNISON’s call for UCL to adopt a 35 hour week with no loss of pay.

MOTION 2: London Weighting
Proposed: Sean Wallis

UCL UCU notes that

Last year UCL increased London Weighting for staff on Grades 1-7 to £5,000 and on Grades 8 and above to £4,500.
These figures were increased by 2.5% in August to £5,125 per annum (Grades 1-7) and £4,613 per annum (Grades 8 and above).
Other professions have higher London Allowances, e.g. Met Police receive £7,224; NHS staff receive a 20% uplift in pay.

UCL UCU agrees to delegate to the Executive Committee the submission of a revised claim for London Weighting to UCL in conjunction with the other campus trade unions.

MOTION 3: Logistical and financial support for the BRICUP and University&College Workers for Palestine tour
Proposed: Feryal Awan

UCL UCU Branch notes that:

A speaking tour is being co-organised by BRICUP and University and College Workers 4 Palestine with support from UCU, following a decision at UCU national Congress 2024.

The tour will provide a national platform for speakers from the Emergency Committee of Universities in Gaza and Right2Education Campaign at Birzeit University to speak to staff and students across the UK, defend academic freedom and political speech about Palestine on campus and advocate for the expansion and consolidation of boycott, divestment and sanctions campaigns in response to Israeli destruction of the Palestinian education system and other violations of international law.

UCL UCU believes:

The tour comes at a critical juncture in the development of a mass Palestine solidarity movement and calls to support Palestinian education.

UCL UCU Branch resolves to:

Support the tour, and will take responsibility for organising a room and time, and local promotion and hosting speakers;

Provide financial support by donating £300 towards speaker(s) travel costs and accommodation.

MOTION 4: No to the Far Right and Fascism on our campuses
Proposed: Sean Wallis

UCL UCU condemns the series of violent racist attacks by far right activists and supporters targeting refugees, solicitors firms, hotels and hostels and Black and ethnic minority people in the street over the summer.

UCL UCU expresses grave concern about the recent large votes for far right and openly fascist parties in Europe, including Hungary, Italy, France, Germany and Austria.

UCL UCU notes that ‘Tommy Robinson’, the ex-EDL leader who promoted the attacks over the summer, has called for his supporters to demonstrate in Central London on 26 October. The last time he did this, 20,000 supporters attended, and the following week Britain was engulfed in race riots.

UCL UCU believes that fascism and racism are a threat to all our staff and students, and to our core values including inclusivity and freedom of expression.

UCL UCU resolves to

support the counterprotest called by Stand Up to Racism and the Trades Union Congress on 26 October, see https://standuptoracism.org.uk/stop-tommy-robinson-stop-the-far-right-saturday-26-october/
approach the SU and other TUs regarding organising joint activities against fascism and racism on campus,
produce workplace materials including posters and badges, encouraging staff and students to come to the counterprotest on 26 October.

MOTION 5: Supporting the UCU London Region conference ‘Defending post-16 education under Starmer’s Labour’
Proposed: Sean Wallis

UCL UCU notes that the debate about tuition fees and university funding is back on the table following the weekend’s announcement from Bridget Phillipson that she is looking into increasing fees to £10.5k and bringing back modest £3k grants, and that UUK has been lobbying for £12k+ tuition fees.

UCL UCU further notes other broader political and industrial challenges facing our union arising from the new Labour Government, and that our branch committee agreed to support a conference at UCL called by London Region UCU on Defending Post-16 Education under Starmer’s Labour on Saturday 19 October. This conference is now backed by a wide range of UCU branches.

Speakers from the Campaign for the Public University, Council for the Defence of British Universities have confirmed their attendance at the conference, as have a range of trade unionists and representatives of campaigning organisations to which UCU is affiliated.

UCL UCU resolves to advertise this Conference among our members and encourage reps and members to attend.

More info: https://uculondonregion.wordpress.com/2024/07/13/cfp-defending-post-16-ed/