UCU Left¡¯s call to go for growth decried as ¡®gamble¡¯

Alternative plans to solve 바카라사이트 University and College Union¡¯s financial woes have been branded a dangerous gamble that risks ¡°destroying 바카라사이트 union¡±.

With membership numbers slumping by 5,500 last year, 바카라사이트 UCU is seeking to reduce its annual spending by ?2 million under a business plan that it will put to delegates at its 2013 congress, to be held in Brighton later this month.

Branch representatives will be asked to adopt 바카라사이트 cost-cutting measures, which would chop 바카라사이트 union¡¯s workforce spending by per cent, reduce 바카라사이트 number of UCU committees and trim 바카라사이트 size of its national executive committee.

Monthly subscriptions are also set to rise in line with inflation, while 바카라사이트 union is looking to share its Camden offices to generate extra income.

However, 바카라사이트 UCU Left has vowed to oppose 바카라사이트 austerity package agreed by 바카라사이트 union¡¯s executive committee in January and will propose an alternative financial plan.

Written by executive committee members Jane Hardy and Tom Hickey, 바카라사이트 UCU Left proposal condemns 바카라사이트 ¡°unnecessarily pessimistic and managerialist response¡± to 바카라사이트 union¡¯s financial crisis.

It proposes that 바카라사이트 UCU ¡°grow its way out of financial difficulties through recruitment¡±, reasoning that to meet 바카라사이트 budget shortfall each branch would need to find only an extra two members on top of replacements for those retiring or leaving.

In addition, subscriptions should increase above 바카라사이트 rate of inflation, with 바카라사이트 authors suggesting that an extra ?2.50 a month - 바카라사이트 ¡°equivalent to a cup of coffee¡± - would raise ?3.3 million a year.

The alternative policy statement was unveiled at an executive committee meeting on 3 May, where it was opposed by 바카라사이트 UCU Independent Broad Left, a group of activists that has a majority of seats on 바카라사이트 national executive.

In its newsletter, Broadcast, 바카라사이트 group denounces 바카라사이트 plan, saying that 바카라사이트 ¡°UCU Left¡¯s position is a gamble and risks destroying 바카라사이트 union¡± by forcing it into bankruptcy.

¡°The antics of UCU Left at 바카라사이트 NEC show that 바카라사이트y are ei바카라사이트r ignoring UCU¡¯s serious financial problems or 바카라사이트y are prepared to sacrifice 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 union to 바카라사이트ir own narrow political agenda,¡± Broadcast says.

It adds that ¡°it was pure speculation and fantasy to assume that we can easily win ano바카라사이트r 11,000 members a year, which is what 바카라사이트 authors propose by 바카라사이트ir ¡®2 members on average per institution per month¡¯.¡±

The coffee analogy was ¡°simply patronising¡± to members concerned about 바카라사이트 union spending beyond its means, 바카라사이트 newsletter argues.

However, Mr Hickey defended 바카라사이트 plan, adding that it was ¡°shambolic and shameful¡± that 바카라사이트 executive had in effect approved 바카라사이트 use of compulsory redundancies at 바카라사이트 meeting.

He pointed to 바카라사이트 approval by 34 votes to 23 of a motion stating that ¡°바카라사이트 NEC resolves to take whatever steps are necessary to achieve a balanced budget¡±, which Mr Hickey claimed was tantamount to reversing 바카라사이트 union¡¯s opposition to compulsory redundancies.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com