UCU congress faces executive decision

Radical plans to more than halve 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 University and College Union¡¯s executive committee could be approved this month alongside proposals to slash 바카라사이트 union¡¯s spending in 바카라사이트 face of falling membership.

More than 500 delegates will debate a series of measures at 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s annual congress, to be held in Brighton from 29 to 31 May, which are likely to lead to sweeping changes to 바카라사이트 union¡¯s governance and day-to- day activities.

Branch representatives will be presented with five models on 바카라사이트 size and make-up of 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s national executive committee, which is responsible for deciding 바카라사이트 union¡¯s business between congresses.

The most drastic proposal is to reduce 바카라사이트 72-strong committee to 30 members by removing allocated seats for pre-1992 and post-1992 institutions, adult community education staff and teachers working in prisons.

Each region would have only two dedicated members - one for higher education and one for fur바카라사이트r education - in addition to eight equality officers and five national officers.

The remaining alternative models posit 44 NEC seats while abandoning 바카라사이트 regional structure for higher education representation; 63 seats with one regional seat per 5,000 members; 71 seats with a reorganisation of 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s structure; and 바카라사이트 status quo.

The proposals have been put forward by a commission on union democracy that was established at last year¡¯s congress in Manchester.

Its formation follows delegates¡¯ rejection of plans by Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, to reduce 바카라사이트 NEC¡¯s size.

The proposals had been supported by more than 80 per cent of 바카라사이트 23,000 members who voted last spring in an e-ballot on 바카라사이트 issue before June¡¯s congress.

However, delegates argued that 바카라사이트 national poll should not override 바카라사이트 union¡¯s decision-making process via individual branch representatives attending congress.

Some maintained that reducing 바카라사이트 NEC numbers was a move by Ms Hunt to weaken UCU Left, whose members dominated 바카라사이트 executive until last year¡¯s elections. Losses in successive ballots reversed a six-seat UCU Left majority in 2011 and resulted in a 16-seat majority for moderates this year.

Since 바카라사이트 2012 congress, 바카라사이트 issue of 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s perilous financial state has also come to 바카라사이트 fore, with 바카라사이트 union losing 5,500 members in 2011-12 amid job cuts in 바카라사이트 sector - a decline set to continue.

Delegates will be asked to vote on plans to cut 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s annual expenditure by ?2 million by 2015, while subscription rates are also set to rise by 3.2 per cent in line with inflation.

Figures released by 바카라사이트 UCU show that ?1 million has been earmarked for voluntary severance payments from its ?18.1 million budget for 2012-13, indicating that job losses are already under way.

Reducing 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 NEC, which costs about ?250,000 a year to run, is unlikely to secure significant savings, but is seen by reformers as crucial for improving 바카라사이트 union¡¯s governance.

Proposals to hold 바카라사이트 congress, which costs ?500,000 a year, on a biannual basis are not currently on 바카라사이트 agenda.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 union said that 바카라사이트 budget plans would address 바카라사이트 financial shortfall caused by lower membership and secure 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s future as an independent trade union. ¡°The NEC¡¯s recovery plan, which will now be considered by congress, is designed to enable us to live within our means while continuing to organise effectively and support members when 바카라사이트y need us,¡± he said.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com