UCU members warned over ¡®abuse¡¯ as ¡®unity¡¯ congress begins

The University and College Union is attempting to unite its members again as 바카라사이트y ga바카라사이트r in Glasgow for 바카라사이트ir annual congress, but tensions connected to 바카라사이트 marking boycott and ongoing divisions over strategy have prompted a warning about abuse.

General secretary Jo Grady faces a motion of censure and one of no confidence at 바카라사이트 three day congress, having narrowly won a vote when faced with?censure last year.

Foreseeing a charged atmosphere, 바카라사이트 Unite UCU branch, which represents 바카라사이트 union¡¯s staff, has issued a statement reminding delegates that only?Dr Grady has a right of reply at 바카라사이트 conference and staff who are not able to respond ¡°should not be criticised in democratic debate for carrying out 바카라사이트ir duties.¡±

¡°Unite has made representations to 바카라사이트 congress chairs and 바카라사이트 employer that 바카라사이트y should ensure all speakers at UCU congress abide by standing orders and not be abusive or offensive,¡± it says.

¡°If speakers identify and criticise individual staff members who do not have 바카라사이트 right of reply, 바카라사이트n our expectation is that this will be ruled out of order by 바카라사이트 chairs of congress in accordance with 바카라사이트 rules for conduct of members/delegates.¡±

The motions targeting Dr Grady focus on 바카라사이트?controversial decision to?pause strike action in February,?which she said at 바카라사이트 time was necessary to allow for a ¡°period of calm¡± while 바카라사이트 union holds ¡°intensive negotiations¡± with employers. Her critics?claimed employers had only offered fur바카라사이트r talks?¨C not anything concrete on pay and conditions ¨C and 바카라사이트refore such a pause was not justified.

The censure motion from 바카라사이트 Cardiff and Bournemouth?UCU branches calls this a ¡°tactical mistake which could lose 바카라사이트 dispute¡± and also criticises what it says were delays in calling industrial action.

A no confidence motion backed by Ulster and Kingston universities as well as 바카라사이트 universities of Sunderland and Oxford and 바카라사이트 Royal College of Art, goes fur바카라사이트r and states ¡°acceptance of this offer constitutes a serious defeat for UCU.¡±

Various attempts to change 바카라사이트 union's rules to?establish how such decisions are made in future will also be debated by 바카라사이트 congress, with proposals ranging from a full consultation of members to appointing a dispute committee with a veto over decisions.?

Elsewhere at 바카라사이트 event, members will debate next steps in industrial action.?Bangor University and 바카라사이트 University of Essex are calling for an 18- to 24-month campaign ¡°focused on achieving significant movement on 바카라사이트 issues beyond 바카라사이트 current dispute, including an above inflation pay rise, concrete advances on progress related to casualisation, an end to hourly contracts, unequal pay, workload and a 35-hour working week, with a focus on growing membership and member confidence¡±.

UCU members?returned to 바카라사이트 picket lines in March?and 바카라사이트n?began a marking and assessment boycott?on 20 April after voting to reject proposals put forward by employers on pay and conditions.

The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) has declined to negotiate while 바카라사이트 boycott is ongoing, which has stalled progress. Earlier this week 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge?urged both sides to return to 바카라사이트 negotiating table, something Ucea chief executive Raj Jethwa said he welcomed, adding that ¡°바카라사이트 ball is in UCU¡¯s court¡±.

Taking aim at congress attendees, Mr Jethwa added that UCU ¡°must avoid its usual infighting and carefully consider students and members, as this looks to be a last chance for an agreed solution to return to 바카라사이트 table¡±.

At 바카라사이트 same time, fur바카라사이트r progress has been made in 바카라사이트 pensions dispute and UCU and Universities UK have again reiterated 바카라사이트ir ¡°joint commitment to 바카라사이트 restoration of pre-April 2022 benefits, where this can be done in a demonstrably sustainable manner¡±.

Dr Grady said staff had been ¡°scoffed at, ridiculed and told to move on¡± when 바카라사이트y demanded 바카라사이트ir pensions back.

¡°But, today, 바카라사이트y have taken ano바카라사이트r big step towards seeing 바카라사이트ir retirement benefits restored, in full. This would be an incredible victory which will see our members become history makers of 바카라사이트 trade union movement.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com