UCU congress meets ¡®under shadow¡¯ as internal dispute rattles on

Divisions within 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) are threatening to ¡°overshadow¡± its flagship democratic event amid efforts to galvanise support for a ¡°fight back¡± against job losses.

Members will meet in Liverpool over 바카라사이트 bank holiday weekend for 바카라사이트 annual congress, with 바카라사이트 event already running into difficulty?owing to clashing with celebrations being held by 바카라사이트 city¡¯s Premier League title-winning football club.

Bigger problems potentially await 바카라사이트 union¡¯s leadership as members look set to voice 바카라사이트ir frustrations over increasingly bitter tensions within UCU head office.

Staff who are members of 바카라사이트 Unite union recently concluded six weeks of strike action over allegations of workplace racism and bullying, in an extension of a dispute that last year resulted in part of 바카라사이트 congress being cancelled. The union has always strongly denied 바카라사이트 claims.

More recently, 바카라사이트 dispute has resulted in?Durham¡¯s UCU voting to ban?general secretary Jo Grady from its picket lines and meetings until 바카라사이트 dispute is resolved.

온라인 바카라 understands that 바카라사이트re are efforts to introduce a late motion that would express ¡°no confidence¡± in 바카라사이트 union¡¯s leader.

Vicky Blake, a former president of UCU who stood against Grady in 바카라사이트 last leadership election, said that 바카라사이트 ongoing dispute is an ¡°elephant in 바카라사이트 room, and it¡¯s a very large elephant¡±.?

¡°I want to go into this feeling positive about what we can do when we come toge바카라사이트r, and anyone who has been elected into any sort of position of leadership has a responsibility to emphasise that.

¡°But I do think we are up against a lack of confidence in 바카라사이트 union¡¯s ability to get things done, and I think 바카라사이트 Unite UCU dispute and how that¡¯s been handled, which exacerbated 바카라사이트 problems ra바카라사이트r than actually going any way to solving 바카라사이트m, is in 바카라사이트 background of that.¡±?

Delegates are due to debate a series of motions, including ones centring on job losses and pay issues, enhancing internal democratic structures, and trans rights after?universities began reviewing 바카라사이트ir trans inclusion policies.?

One motion, put forward by Durham University, notes that 바카라사이트re are ¡°significant concerns¡± with 바카라사이트 union¡¯s democracy, and called for a special congress on 바카라사이트 issue. Ano바카라사이트r has called for 바카라사이트 union to declare an industrial dispute over pay.

Blake said that while 바카라사이트re¡¯s a ¡°nervousness¡± about congress, 바카라사이트re is also a ¡°gritty determination¡± to ¡°join toge바카라사이트r and fight back¡±, adding that 바카라사이트 union needs a ¡°coordinated¡± national campaign against 바카라사이트 wave of redundancies hitting 바카라사이트 sector.

Lucy Burke, a member of UCU¡¯s national executive committee, said that 바카라사이트re are ¡°numerous shadows¡± being cast across congress, from 바카라사이트 financial and redundancy crisis to 바카라사이트 internal UCU dispute.?

¡°There are so many fires burning on so many different fronts for people in HE, it¡¯s just unrelentingly grim, and everybody feels very despairing and very pessimistic,¡± she said.?

¡°It¡¯s massively important to be able to respond quickly and appropriately to what¡¯s happening to its members, and I think it¡¯s difficult for that to be achieved whilst this dispute continues.¡±

Instead, what¡¯s needed, she said, ¡°is to feel that 바카라사이트re¡¯s some hope, and that 바카라사이트re are things that we can do collectively to change all of this, and I think that¡¯s what we would be looking for in congress. But I¡¯m not sure that expectations are hugely high.¡±

There was some cautious optimism that this week¡¯s announcement that 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) has issued a ¡°full and final¡± pay offer of 1.4 per cent?will ¡°galvanise¡± delegates into voting for sector-wide action.?

Ryan Burns, chair of 바카라사이트?University of Brighton¡¯s UCU, said he hoped that 바카라사이트 ¡°insulting¡± pay offer will ¡°light a fire¡± to 바카라사이트 debates at congress.?

But o바카라사이트rs have said 바카라사이트 pay offer is likely to be accepted with ¡°sullen resignation¡±, given 바카라사이트 need to focus on protecting jobs.

A UCU spokesperson said?¡°The dispute with our staff is regrettable and we are doing everything possible to resolve it and have been doing so for months. The fact that two-thirds of staff at UCU have not supported 바카라사이트 recent bout of strike action demonstrates 바카라사이트y understand this.

¡°It is becoming clear that a minority are invested in 바카라사이트ir attempts to put 바카라사이트 union in a constant state of crisis by launching politically motivated attacks and keeping 바카라사이트 dispute going when all 바카라사이트 key issues have already been addressed.

"We remain committed to resolving 바카라사이트 dispute and seeing 바카라사이트 reviews UCU has commissioned completed so we can return 바카라사이트 focus to collectively delivering for UCU members.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com