Congress business section 8: Rule changes

UCU's current transitional rules can be seen here. [716kb]

63 - Rule change (Richmond-upon-Thames College)

29.1: Delete the whole wording ('The national executive committee, following consultation with branches/local associations, shall establish meetings of members on a regular basis under standing orders determined by the national executive committee.') and replace with:

The national executive committee, following consultation with branches/local associations shall establish regional committees that will meet on a regular basis, under orders determined by the national executive, to:

• Co-ordinate campaigning activity regionally;
• Hear reports from relevant regional officers and officials, and NEC members;
• Send delegates to UCU national conferences and sector conferences;
• Send resolutions to UCU national conferences and sector conferences;
• Send delegates to regional bodies supported by UCU;
• Undertake other relevant regional activity.

LOST

63A.1 - Transitional Arrangements Committee

First paragraph of proposed new rule, before 'orders', insert 'standing'. From list of clauses that form the final paragraph, delete third and fourth clauses.

LOST

64 - Regional Committees (City and Islington College, Lifelong Learning)

29: Delete words 'Regional Meetings' and replace with 'Regional Committees'

29.1: Delete the whole wording 'The National Executive Committee, following consultation with branches/local associations, shall establish meetings of members on a regular basis under standing orders determined by the national executive committee' and replace with:

'The National Executive Committee, following consultation with branches/local associations shall establish regional committees that will meet on a regular basis, under orders determined by the national executive, to:

• Co-ordinate campaigning activity regionally
• Hear reports from relevant regional officers and officials, and NEC members
• Send delegates to UCU national conferences and sector conferences.'

WITHDRAWN

64A.2 - Transitional Arrangements Committee

First paragraph of proposed new rule, before 'orders', insert 'standing'. From list of clauses that form the final paragraph, delete third clause.

FALLS FOLLOWING WITHDRAWAL OF MAIN MOTION

65 - Rule change motion D - MMU (Manchester Metropolitan University)

Rule 29: In title replace 'Regional meetings' with 'Regional Committees'Rule 29.1: delete Rule 29.1 and replace with 'The National Executive Committee shall establish and financially support Regional Committees and the election of members thereto from branches and local associations under Standing Orders.'Purpose: to establish Regional Committees as constitutional bodies of the union.

CARRIED

66 - Rule change (Richmond-upon-Thames College)

29: Delete present words (Regional meetings) and replace with: 'Regional Committees'.

FALLS FOLLOWING SUCCESS OF MOTION 65

67 - Composite: Regional Committees and Congress (Northumberland College, Ashington; Nottingham Trent University, Clifton; Manchester Metropolitan University, Brooklands College)

Rule 16.6.1: After 'branches/local associations' in the first sentence, insert:

', regional committees'.

Rule 16.6.2: After 'sector conference' in the first sentence, insert:

', regional sector committees.'

Purpose: to enable regional committees, as constituent bodies of the union, to send motion to annual congress and the annual sector conferences.

LOST

68 - Regional representation (London Metropolitan University, Ladbroke and Spring House)

Add a new 16.6.5

'Regions will be entitled to submit two motions to congress, two motions to Further Education sector and two motions to Higher Education sector.'

CARRIED

69 - Composite: Proposal to amend rule 16.6.4 (Northumberland College, Ashington; Brooklands College; Manchester Metropolitan University)

In the first line, insert between the words 'specialist committees' and 'and', the words:

', regional committees'.

SUPERSEDED FOLLOWING SUCCESS OF MOTION 68

70 - Composite: Rule change (Richmond-upon-Thames College)

16.6.1, At the end add:

'Each regional committee shall be entitled to submit one motion and one amendment to national congress.'

16.6.2 At the end add:

'Each regional committee shall be entitled to submit two motions and two amendments to the relevant sector conferences.'

SUPERSEDED FOLLOWING SUCCESS OF MOTION 68

71 - 17.1 Regional Representation (City and Islington Lifelong Learning, Richmond-upon-Thames College)

17.1, (after) 'national congress shall consist of the members of the national executive committee with' insert the following:'Six members elected by each regional committee (at least two must be HE members, at least two must be FE members and at least three must be female members), as well as'This rule would go on to read:'members elected by branches/local associations from institutions and central groups...'

WITHDRAWN

72 - Proposal to amend rule 17.2 (Northumberland College, Ashington)

At end, insert new sentence: 'Regional Committees shall be entitled to two delegates, one from Higher Education and one from Further Education, such representation to reflect, wherever possible, a gender balance.'

LOST

73 - Proposal to amend rule 17.1 (Northumberland College, Ashington)

In the second line insert between the words 'institutions' and 'and':

', regional committees'.

WITHDRAWN

74 - Composite: Regional aggregation of branches (Bradford College ACE; Nottingham Trent, Clifton; London Metropolitan University, Ladbroke and Spring House)

(i) In Rule 17.1

Before 'aggregations' insert 'regional'.

(ii) In Rule 17.1

Delete 'Congress Standing Orders' and replace with: 'relevant Regional Sector Committees'

(iii) In Rule 17.1

Add at end of first sentence: 'In accordance with Congress Standing Orders, nomination of Congress membership through aggregation of branches will be processed and endorsed at the regional committee held immediately in advance of the final date for submission of nominees.'

(iv) In Rule 17.2

Before 'aggregation' insert regional and change 'an' to 'a'.

75 - Rule change (Nottingham Trent University, Clifton)

18.6 delete 'may' (line 2) and replace with 'will' - delete 'as it sees fit' (last line) and replace it with 'elected by the Regions'

B UCU in Wales

76 - Rule change: Status of Wales UCU (Deeside College, Swansea Institute of HE, Coleg Morgannwg)

Amendment to rule 34 Organisation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

In 34.1 add 'and Welsh' after 'Scottish' in line 1.

In line 2 after 'Scotland' add '/Wales'.

Replace 'it' and 'its' in the second sentence by 'they' and 'their'.

Add '/ Wales' after Scotland in the last line.

In 34.2 delete all reference to Wales.

Purpose: To address the inconsistency in the current rules, which treat the organisation of the union in Scotland and Wales differently, when the realities of devolution require the same structural mechanisms in both countries.

C Congress and sector conferences

77 - Rule change (Nottingham Trent, Clifton)

16.4 add 'over a Bank Holiday week-end' at the end of the 1st sentence

78 - Rule change - timing of Congress (Manchester Metropolitan University)

Rule 16.4 after '..15 June.' insert ' Unless the National Executive Committee authorises an alternative date the annual meeting of national congress and sector conferences shall be held at the Spring Bank Holiday.'

Purpose: to hold national congress and sector conferences at a time when a majority of members will be able to attend.

79 - Congress delegate entitlement: clarification of rule (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

17.1 After members 'together with members elected', delete 'by local associations/central groups'. After 'by aggregations of', delete 'branches/local associations', replace with 'members in institutions'

17.2 After 'number of members from', delete 'branches/local associations', replace with 'institutions'. After 'or in an aggregation of', delete 'branches/local associations', replace with 'members in institutions'. After 'or aggregation of', delete 'branches/associations', replace with 'members in institutions'.

Purpose: to clarify (not change) the rule's references to the total number of members in an institution, rather than members in a branch.

The amended rules would read:

17.1 National Congress shall consist of the members of the National Executive Committee together with members elected from institutions and central groups, or in the case of institutions/central groups with fewer than 100 members, by aggregations  members in institutions/central groups, as specified by Congress Standing Orders. For the purpose of this Rule, the membership census date shall be 1 December in the year before the Congress.

17.2 The number of members from institutions/central groups for meetings of National Congress and Sector Conferences shall be one for every 400 members (or part thereof) in an institution/central group, or in an aggregation of members in institutions/central groups in accordance with Rule 17.1, up to a maximum of six members from, as appropriate, each institution/central group, or aggregation of members in institutions/central groups.

80 - Amendment to rule 17.2 (Open University)

Congress is asked to approve the following changes to Rule 17.2 on the number of delegates from each branch and to revert to the calculation of 1 delegate per 150 members instead of using the ratio of 1:400. This would ensure fairer representation for all branches.

In Rule 17.2 delete the number '400' and replace it with, '150' to read as follows:

17.2 The number of members from branches/local associations/central groups for meetings of national congress and sector conferences shall be one for every 150 members (or part thereof) in an institution/central group, or in an aggregation of branches/local associations/central groups in accordance with Rule 17.1, up to a maximum of six members from, as appropriate, each institution/central group, or aggregation of branches/associations/central groups.

81 - Rule change on Congress membership (Bradford College, University of Portsmouth, City and Islington College, Lifelong Learning)

Amendment to Rule 17.2. Delete '400' and replace with '200'.

Purpose: to increase branch/local association democratic representation at National Congress and to better build and organise the activist base of the union.

82 - Rule 17.2 (City and Islington College, Lifelong Learning)

Rule 17.2, after '(or part thereof)' add:

'and one further representative for every further 100 members (or part thereof)

Purpose: The Present rule on representation at Congress restricts attendance in a way that reduces participation, limits union involvement to familiar faces and works against the union's stated purpose on equal opportunities.

Given the poor turnout in the recent elections for National Union posts we need the maximum involvement and engagement of a wide spectrum of members.

83 - Rule change: rule 17.2 (University of Leeds)

The purpose of this proposed change is to enhance democracy and participation in the union by increasing the size of delegations to sector conference. It will enable branches / LAs to include a mix of experienced and new activists within their delegations. Once the pro rata entitlement is established, it should not be limited artificially.

The number of members from branches/local associations/central groups for meetings of national congress and sector conferences shall be one for every 400 members (or part thereof) in an institution/central group, or in an aggregation of branches/local associations/central groups in accordance with Rule 17.1, up to a maximum of six members from, as appropriate, each institution/central group, or an aggregation of branches/local associations/central groups.

Reword as follows:

The number of members from branches/local associations/central groups for meetings of national congress shall be one for every 400 members (or part thereof) in an institution/central group, or in an aggregation of branches/local associations/central groups in accordance with Rule 17.1, up to a maximum of six members from, as appropriate, each institution/central group, or an aggregation of branches/local associations/central groups. The number of members from branches/local associations/central groups for meetings sector conferences shall be one for every 200 members (or part thereof) in an institution/central group, or in an aggregation of branches/local associations/central groups in accordance with Rule 17.1,

84 - Congress Membership (Brooklands College)

In Rule 17.2, line 3 delete delete '100', insert '75'.

Purpose: to prevent small specialist Branches from being disenfranchised.

85 - Attendance of observers at Congress (Open University)

Congress is asked to approve the Rules on Congress membership to permit observers to be present. We believe the annual Council of the AUT agreed in 2006 that observers would be permitted to attend but that decision was not included in the new Rules of the union.

Add to Rule 17.1, after the phrase 'as specified by congress standing orders.' the sentence, 'Non-voting observers may attend Congress at the expense of their own branch.' in order to read as follows:

Rule 17.1
17.1 national congress shall consist of the members of the national executive committee together with members elected by branches/local associations from institutions and central groups, or in the case of institutions/central groups with fewer than 100 members, by aggregations of branches/local associations/central groups, as specified by congress standing orders. Non-voting observers may attend Congress at the expense of their own branch. For the purpose of this Rule, the membership census date shall be 1 December in the year before the congress.

85A.1 - Transitional Arrangements Committee

In the addition to the rule, after 'may attend Congress', delete 'at the expense of their own branch', replace with 'in accordance with procedures determined by the NEC'.

85A.2 - London Metropolitan University Calcutta House

Insert after rule change: 'and, if congress so votes, non-voting observers may be invited to speak at congress.'

86 - Rule Change: Rule 16.6.2 (University of Leeds)

The purpose of the proposed change is to allow branches/LAs to submit motions on issues as required without limit of number. This has the advantages of 1) not requiring branches/LAs to prioritise motions and 2) not requiring branches/LAs to collude to ensure motions get on the agenda.

Motions and amendments thereto for the sector conferences, may be proposed by the national executive committee's further education and higher education sector committees for the appropriate sector conference, and by branches/local associations in that sector. Each branch/local association shall be entitled to submit two motions and two amendments to the relevant sector conference.

Replace 'Each branch/local association shall be entitled to submit two motions and two amendments to the relevant sector conference.'

with 'Each branch/local association shall be entitled to submit any number of motions and amendments to the relevant sector conference.'

87 - Rule change to increase limit on motions (University of Liverpool)

In national rule 16.6.1, change the final sentence to read 'Each branch/local association shall be entitled to submit two motions and two amendments to National Congress'

In national rule 16.6.2, change the final sentence to read 'Each branch/local association shall be entitled to submit four motions and four amendments to the relevant Sector Conference'

88 - Rule change motion (University of Birmingham)

In Rule 16.6.1, replace 'Each branch/local association shall be entitled to submit one motion and one amendment to national congress' with 'Each branch/local association shall be entitled to submit two motions and two amendments to national congress'.

In Rule 16.6.2, replace 'Each branch/local association shall be entitled to submit two motions and two amendments to the relevant sector conference' with 'Each branch/local association shall be entitled to submit three motions and three amendments to the relevant sector conference'.

89 - Amendment of rules on submission of motions to Congress/Sector Conference (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

16.6.1 Second sentence, after 'branch/local association', add 'or, where there is more than one branch/local association within the same institution, each group of branches/local associations within the same institution,'.

16.6.2 Second sentence, after 'branch/local association', add 'or, where there is more than one branch/local association within the same institution, each group of branches/local associations with the same institution,'.

Purpose: to correct the inconsistency in the rules and bring the provision for the submission of motions into line with the provision for the entitlement to send delegates.

Amended rules would read:

16.6.1 Motions for National Congress, and amendments thereto, may be proposed by the National Executive Committee, branches/local associations, specialist committees set up under Rule 24 and National Equality Standing Committees. Each branch/local association or, where there is more than one branch/local association within the same institution, each group of branches/local associations within the same institution, shall be entitled to submit one motion and one amendment to National Congress.

16.6.2 Motions and amendments thereto for the Sector Conferences, may be proposed by the National Executive Committee's Further Education and Higher Education Sector Committees for the appropriate Sector Conference, and by branches/local associations in that Sector. Each branch/local association, or, where there is more than one branch/local association within the same institution, each group of branches/local associations within the same institution, shall be entitled to submit two motions and two amendments to the relevant Sector Conference.

90 - Rule change (University of Dundee)

Amend Rule 16.10.

In line 5 delete '20% of institutions across the Union' and replace with '10% of instituions across the union'.

In line 7 delete 'one tenth of the members' and replace with '5% of the members'.

Purpose: to make the criterion for calling Special Sector Conferences more realisable.

91 - Rule change (Nottingham Trent University, Clifton)

16.10 an addition of '1/3 of Regions'

92 - Change to rule 16.3 (Chesterfield College)

Rule 16.3: Delete full stop at end, add:

'and shall elect national negotiators for the sector according to a formula decided by the sector conference .'

D Elections

93 - Rule change motion A- MMU (Manchester Metropolitan University)

In Rule 18.7.1, delete 'two' and insert 'one'.

Purpose: to replace two year seats on the NEC with one year seats.

Consequential changes: Delete Rules 18.7.2, 18.10.2, 18.10.3, and 19.1 to 19.6 and remove any subsequent references to them from the Rules.

Purpose: to make the Rules consistent by removing further references and Rules relating to two year seats and biennial elections.

94 - Rule change motion B - MMU (Manchester Metropolitan University)

In Rule 18.9.2, delete '5,000' and replace with '3,000'.

Purpose: to increase the number of geographically elected NEC members

95 - Rule change motion C - MMU (Manchester Metropolitan University) Quotas for Women

Amend Rule 18.10.1 in the following ways: In 1st clause, delete 'one' and replace with 'two'; in 2nd clause delete 'two' and replace with 'three'; in 3rd clause delete 'three' and replace with 'five'; in 4th clause delete 'four' and replace with 'six'.

Purpose: to ensure that the NEC has a more equitable gender balance.

96 - NEC elections - choice of constituency (University of Westminster, Cavendish)

Add new 18.11.6

Candidates standing for both national and regional seats, if elected to both, can indicate their preference.

96A.1 - University of Westminster

At end add: 'at the time of nomination'.

97 - Clarification of rules on categories within UK-elected NEC seats (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

Rule 18.8.6, Final sentence, after 'UK-elected member in that Sector who', delete 'fulfils', replace with 'was elected to'

Purpose: to make rule 18.8.6 (categories within UK-elected FE NEC seats) consistent with 18.8.2 (categories within UK-elected HE NEC seats) in respect of considering categories that must be fulfilled in each round of elections.

The amended rule will read:

18.8.6 Of the UK-elected Further Education members elected:

i. at least one will be employed, or, if unemployed, have been most recently employed, in land-based education;

ii. at least one will be employed, or, if unemployed, have been most recently employed, in adult continuing or community-based education;

iii. at least one will be employed, or, if unemployed, most recently employed in, prison education;

iv. at least one will be employed, or, if unemployed, have been most recently employed, such that their main contract of employment was fixed-term and/or hourly-paid.

For each year's election under Rule 19.2 one or more of 18.8.6.i-iv will not apply if there is already a serving UK-elected member in that sector who was elected to that category and whose term on the National Executive Committee continues beyond the end of the annual meeting of National Congress following the election.

98 - Clarification of rule on geographical constituencies for elections (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

Rule 18.9.1 Add, at end of last sentence, 'or whose institutions are outside of these boundaries.'

Purpose: to ensure that members in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man can be put into a geographical constituency in respect of elections.

The amended rule would read:

18.9.1 The areas that will be regarded as geographical constituencies are: Scotland; Northern Ireland; Wales (as defined by national boundaries); and within England, the following combinations of Regional Development Agency Regions as at the date of the formation of the Union: the North West (North West RDA); the North East, (North East and Yorkshire and the Humber RDA); the Midlands (East Midlands and West Midlands RDAs); London and the East (London and Eastern RDAs); the South (South East and South West RDAs). The National Executive Committee shall determine the allocation to a geographical constituency, of members whose institutions cross these boundaries, or whose institutions are outside of these boundaries.

99 - (Liverpool Community College, Duke St)

18.11.1 There will be two national executive committee seats for representatives of disabled members, at least one of whom shall be a women. Candidates for election to these seats must state that they are a disabled member.

18.11.2 There will be two national executive committee seats for representatives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members. Candidates for election to these seats must state that they are a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender member.

Purpose: to maximise participation in the equality structures by members.

100 - Correction of rule on order of election counting (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

Rule 20.5 Delete clause xi

Purpose: Clause xi, counting of the ballot of representative of fixed/term hourly paid members, appears in error. This is covered in the counting of the UK-elected HE and FE seats in accordance with rules 18.8.2 and 18.8.6.

The amended rule will read:

20.5 Ballots for election to offices that are to be taken up on the same date will be counted in the following order:

i. Trustee;

ii. General Secretary;

iii. Vice-President;

iv. Honorary Treasurer;

v. Geographically-elected HE and FE members;

vi. UK-elected HE and FE members;

vii. Representative of disabled members;

viii. Representative of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members;

ix. Representatives of black members;

x. Representatives of women members for HE and FE Sectors;

and after a candidate is successfully elected, votes for that candidate will be disregarded in subsequent elections.

101 - Schedule to the Rules - Schedule A (Oxford and Cherwell Valley College, OXPENS Campus; Liverpool Community College, Duke Street)

In section 4c delete 'ten' insert 'two', delete 'not more than five of whom may be from the same branch/local association'

In section 5c delete 'twenty' insert two', delete 'not more than ten of whom may be from the same branch/local association'.

102 - General Secretary Elections (De Montfort University, Leicester)

In Schedule B to the Rules, insert new paragraph 6.3

For such a ballot, the period between the sending out of ballot papers and the last date for their receipt (the 'ballot period') shall not overlap with the ballot period for any election for Officers, Trustees or ordinary National Executive Committee members.

Purpose: To ensure that an election for General Secretary does not overlap with elections for NEC and Officers.

E Organisation of retired members

103 - Change to rule 12.4 (Bradford College ACE, Anglia Retired Members, Northumbria University, Yorkshire and Humberside Retired Members, Northern Retired Members)

Delete Rule 12.4 and replace with the following:

12.4 There shall be a national retired members' group. In each region corresponding to the boundaries of the regional committee, the NEC may establish a regional retired members' branch/association at its own volition or shall do so in response to a written request by not less than 20 retired members in the region. Retired members shall be placed in their respective regional Retired Members' branch/local association unless they choose to remain a member of their former branch/local association or belong to a central group.

104 - Retired Member Organisation: rule changes (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

The effect of these changes would be to create a new structure in addition to branches and central groups, creating regional retired members' associations (RRMA). Retired members would keep the option to stay with their former institutional branch but the fundamental unit of organisation for this group of members would be on a regional basis. RRMAs would have rules like branches and would have the same access to the democratic processes of the union as other members. This would include the right to send delegates and motions to congress but not to participate in the employment based sector conferences.

Rule changes:

4 Rights of Members

4.1 Members shall be entitled to attend and vote at meetings of their designated branch/local association, regional retired members' association or central group and stand for election to any office in the Union and vote in any election of the National Executive Committee as specified in the Rules.

12 Organisation of Members

12.1 Every member shall be assigned by the General Secretary to a branch/local association or, as appropriate, to a regional retired members' association or central group, where possible on the basis of principal current qualifying employment, but otherwise on the basis of Standing Orders or individual decisions of the National Executive Committee that take account of the Sector and location of the actual employment (if any) and/or past or prospective employment of the member in question.

12.4 Members who are retired shall belong to a regional retired members' association, unless the member chooses to belong to their former branch/local association instead.

12.5 The National Executive Committee may establish a branch/local association at its own volition or in response to a written request to the General Secretary by not less than 20 members working for the same employer. Branches/local associations and regional retired members' associations shall adopt their own Rules which shall be consistent with the Rules of the Union and with any guidance issued by the National Executive Committee.

16.6.1 Motions for National Congress, and amendments thereto, may be proposed by the National Executive Committee, branches/local associations, regional retired members' associations, specialist committees set up under Rule 24 and National Equality Standing Committees. Each branch/local association and each regional retired members' association shall be entitled to submit one motion and one amendment to National Congress.

17 Congress Membership

17.1 National Congress shall consist of the members of the National Executive Committee together with members elected by branches/local associations from institutions, by regional retired members' associations and by central groups, or in the case of institutions/central groups/regional retired members' associations with fewer than 100 members, by aggregations of branches/local associations/central groups/regional retired members' associations, as specified by Congress Standing Orders. For the purpose of this Rule, the membership census date shall be 1 December in the year before the Congress.

17.2 The number of members from branches/local associations/central groups/regional retired members' associations for meetings of National Congress and Sector Conferences shall be one for every 400 members (or part thereof) in an institution/central group/regional retired members' association, or in an aggregation formed in accordance with Rule 17.1, up to a maximum of six members from, as appropriate, each institution/central group/regional retired members' association, or aggregation.

17.3 National Congress shall consist of all those identified in Rule 17.1. Sector Conferences shall consist of those identified in Rule 17.1 who are in that Sector and the Officers of the Union and the General Secretary.

105 - Change to rule 17.1 (Northern Retired Members, Bradford College ACE, Yorkshire and Humberside Retired Members, Anglia Retired Members)

In Rule 17.1 insert after the end of the first sentence:

'For the purpose of this Rule retired members' branches/associations shall be deemed to be from institutions.'

F Fighting Fund

106 - Rule change (University of Dundee)

Add a new Rule 30.2, and renumber current Rules 30.2 and 30.3 accordingly:

30.2 The Union will build and maintain a strike fund of £2 million (with regular increases) to provide financial sustenance to members during strike action. The National
Executive Committee shall determine the disposition of this fund.

Purpose: to provide some financial support to members on strike.

106A.1 - Transitional Arrangements Committee

After 'the union will', delete 'build and maintain a strike fund of £2 million (with regular increases)'; replace with 'have a Fighting Fund from which payment can be made'

107 - Rule change - fighting fund (Barnsley College, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton, Manchester Metropolitan University)

Add new Rule 30.5

'There shall be a Permanent Fighting Fund established into which shall be paid at least 1% of each subscription received in each year from members together with monies paid by voluntary donation to the union to finance any strike, lock-out or other industrial dispute. This fund shall not be used for any other purpose except by i) decision of National Congress; or ii) an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the National Executive Committee.'

Purpose: to establish a substantial fund which can be drawn on in times of dispute to support members.

G Representation at annual equality conference

108 - Equality structures rule change (University of Glasgow)

Rule 23.2 Delete 'based on election of a maximum of one representative per branch/local association (subject to a mechanism for determining a maximum size)' and replace by 'based on election of representatives by branches/local associations and subject to a maximum of 200 representatives'

109 - Rule 23.2 (Liverpool Community College, Duke St)

Delete 'based on election of a maximum of one representative per branch/local association' and delete brackets around the phrase 'subject to a mechanism for determining a maximum size'

Purpose: to allow more than one rep per branch/LA to attend Annual Equality Conferences, whilst retaining a maximum size for the conference. It is unlikely that every branch/LA will send a rep but it is likely that a number of branches/LAs would wish to send more than one rep.

H Other rules changes

110 - Explicit inclusion of Channel Islands and Isle of Man (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

Rule 3.1.1 , penultimate word, delete 'and'. At end of clause, add ', the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.'

Purpose: To ensure inclusion in membership of relevant individuals in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

The amended rule would read:

'The following are eligible for membership of the University and College Union:

3.1.1 Persons in full, part-time or self employment (in these Rules called 'qualifying employment' ) whose work is concerned with the provision or professional support of education, training or research in the Further Education/Learning and Skills Sector or in Higher Education institutions based in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man;'

111 - Legal aid regulations (Transitional Arrangements Committee)

Delete rule 4.7.

Purpose: The rule is unnecessarily detailed and more appropriately covered in the Legal scheme regulations.

Rule 4.7 currently reads:

4.7 For the avoidance of doubt such representation is subject to any general conditions agreed with the solicitors instructed (and specific additional conditions may be attached in individual cases) and is on the basis that the member is liable for legal costs (which also includes legal disbursements, the premium for any policy of legal expenses insurance and opponents' costs) but is protected against having to pay those costs by such means provided or approved by the General Secretary on behalf of the Union as he/she may determine: such means may be varied or amended by the General Secretary during the course of the case.

112 - (Cardiff University)

UCU Existing Rule 6.2:

'All members have an obligation to pay the correct subscription to keep payments up to date. Failure to do so may result in suspension of members' rights and benefits'.

Amend to:

'All members have an obligation to pay the correct subscription to keep payments up to date. Failure to do so may result in suspension of members' rights and benefits. All members will be contacted annually to advise them of the current subscription banding, and requesting confirmation of which band is appropriate to their salary.'

113 - Change to rule 6.1 Obligations of members (Open University)

Congress is asked to approve the following amendment to the Rule 6.1 of the Union to ensure that members cannot misuse the complaints procedures to pursue vendettas against other members, nor raise vexatious complaints that bring the union into disrepute.

Add to Rule 6.1 the text, 'or misuse of the Procedures for dealing with Complaints by making vexatious complaints, or breach of' after the phrase 'breach of these Rules' and before 'Standing Orders' in order to read as follows:

'6.1 All members and student members have an obligation to abide by the Rules of the University and College Union, and shall refrain from conduct detrimental to the interests of the Union, from any breach of these Rules, or misuse of the Procedures for dealing with Complaints by making vexatious complaints, or breach of Standing Orders or directions (properly made in accordance with these Rules or Standing Orders) and from all forms of harassment, prejudice and unfair discrimination whether on the grounds of sex, race, ethnic or national origin, religion, colour, class, caring responsibilities, marital status, sexuality, disability, age, or other status or personal characteristic.'