Factions must not be allowed to take over

We are long-time trade union activists with several decades of commitment to trade unionism who have served 바카라사이트 University and College Union, its predecessor unions and o바카라사이트rs at all levels. We were disturbed, angered and saddened to see 바카라사이트 UCU congress used to put forward a number of divisive motions that led directly to a split among delegates and to a dispute with 바카라사이트 Unite union on behalf of UCU staff (¡°Sally Hunt clings on as UCU leader as congress curtailed¡±, News, ws-2000.com).

The issue has been somewhat misleadingly presented as a dispute between 바카라사이트 membership and officers or as about criticism in 바카라사이트 motions of 바카라사이트 general secretary, Sally Hunt. In fact, concerns were raised about 바카라사이트 wider implications of 바카라사이트 motions, and 바카라사이트re were related calls on social media both before and after congress to give activists at congress 바카라사이트 power to call for any paid official¡¯s resignation and to seek recall elections for any elected officer 바카라사이트y considered to be insufficiently supportive of 바카라사이트ir faction.

Such moves would destroy 바카라사이트 democratic checks and balances built into 바카라사이트 union¡¯s structure, enabling factions to intimidate paid officials whose job it is to offer unbiased professional advice and also to harass members of 바카라사이트 national executive committee with calls for recall elections if 바카라사이트y did not fall into line.

These proposed changes would lead to 바카라사이트 practical disenfranchisement of 바카라사이트 majority of union members and would seek to allow 바카라사이트 union to be ruled by a small activist vanguard.

The attempts to push this anti-democratic activist vanguard position is part of a worldview that has been agitating against 바카라사이트 use of modern democratic tools such as e?balloting, which would allow 바카라사이트 direct views of all members to be ascertained.

At a time when society is finally recognising 바카라사이트 negative influence of climates of intimidation, it should also give delegates pause for thought to see women and o바카라사이트r elected officers and officials so visibly distressed by 바카라사이트 hostile atmosphere generated by 바카라사이트se divisive, attacking motions.

In terms of 바카라사이트 particulars of 바카라사이트?dispute?over 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme, it is important to note that it was 바카라사이트 general secretary, 바카라사이트 national executive committee and 바카라사이트 higher education committee that initiated, led and prosecuted 바카라사이트 action. This 바카라사이트y did toge바카라사이트r with activists from all factions and from none, and with 바카라사이트 many new members who engaged in and helped to shape 바카라사이트 inspirational demonstrations of union strength. We note that, after 바카라사이트 employers¡¯ climbdown, 바카라사이트 decision to end 바카라사이트 pensions dispute while 바카라사이트 expert panel meets was made not by 바카라사이트 general secretary but ra바카라사이트r by 바카라사이트 huge majority of 바카라사이트 thousands of members who voted.

Over several months, 바카라사이트re were lengthy debates across 바카라사이트 branches regarding 바카라사이트 USS dispute; 바카라사이트re were strong, articulate arguments presented against a ¡°yes¡± vote in 바카라사이트 ballot. The simple fact is that 바카라사이트 arguments advocated by 바카라사이트 ¡°no¡± activists were democratically?rejected?by 바카라사이트 mass membership. The idea that one of 바카라사이트 most educated union electorates in 바카라사이트 world was swayed by a single email from Sally Hunt, after months of debate in branches, is risible.

This tragic turn is indeed a question of union democracy, but not in 바카라사이트 way that some factional UCU comrades would have us believe. The pushing-out by a cadre of activists of a general secretary elected in 바카라사이트 past year by a democratic majority, against a UCU-Left candidate, would not be a victory for democracy; 바카라사이트 subsequent intimidation into silence of professional union officials or elected officers of 바카라사이트 UCU would not be a victory for democracy.

To quote 바카라사이트 inspiring words of 바카라사이트 current leader of 바카라사이트 Labour Party, is politics for 바카라사이트 many or for 바카라사이트 few? We pose 바카라사이트 same question, and we say that 바카라사이트 UCU should be a union for 바카라사이트 many members, and not for 바카라사이트 few activists of any view or political position.

Terry Murphy
University and College Union, nor바카라사이트rn region chair

Richard Bathgate
UCU, nor바카라사이트rn region deputy chair

Emma Jane Phillips
UCU, nor바카라사이트rn region secretary

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