TPS dispute

UCU Congress 2012: Friday 8 June 2012, 17:00-18:00

Motion:

1 - Pensions
L1 - TPS strategy following strike on 10 May
L2 - Joint action with NUT/NASUWT

1 Pensions - Barnsley College

Congress congratulates TPS members for their continued willingness to oppose the proposed outrageous cuts to our pensions.

Congress recognises that the widest possible united action from public sector unions is necessary to stop the government's attempts to make us pay for the bankers' crisis and to raid our pensions to ameliorate the public sector deficit.

Congress also recognises that a failure to stop the Con-Dem government's attacks on public sector pensions will encourage them in their austerity programme of introducing regional pay rates, cutting benefits, and privatising education and health.

CARRIED AS AMENDED

1A.1 Tower Hamlets Poplar

Add at end:

Congress notes the intention of PCS, Unite and other unions to call further industrial action in June in defence of pensions. Congress resolves that UCU will join industrial action in June.

LOST

1A.2 Composite: University of Derby and London South Bank Southwark

Add at end of motion:

Congress instructs the NEC to propose to unions involved in the TPS dispute or fighting parallel campaigns that an urgent joint meeting be called of union executives, or subcommittees of those executives delegated to act on their behalf: such a joint meeting to formulate a programme of industrial action. We further call on the NEC to propose to those unions to form campaign committees in all localities to bring about the maximum unity and solidarity.

Congress further calls on the incoming NEC to develop and propose to other unions a co-ordinated programme of escalating strike action in defence of public sector pensions from autumn 2012. Action should also include:

1. publicity events, information stalls and leafleting in town/city centres
2. public meetings
3. petitions and lobbies of Parliament.

CARRIED

1A.3 Composite: West Midlands regional committee and Shrewsbury College

Add at end:

A co-ordinated national strategy is required which should involve the NEC organising a financial levy on all UCU members to raise a fighting fund so key areas can be called out on, if necessary, indefinite strike action with all participating members being fully paid until we win.

CARRIED

1A.4 London retired members

following '...privatising education and health.', add:

Congress further opposes the recent call by Minister for Pensions, Steve Webb, to finally bury private sector final-salary arrangements in favour of a 'defined ambition plan'. To facilitate a broadly based struggle for decent retirement arrangements for all employees, Congress will seek to deepen inter-union solidarity, specifically by opposing government moves - such as that proposed by Webb - to further erode already severely degraded provision within the private sector.

CARRIED

SUBSTANTIVE MOTION

Congress congratulates TPS members for their continued willingness to oppose the proposed outrageous cuts to our pensions.

Congress recognises that the widest possible united action from public sector unions is necessary to stop the government's attempts to make us pay for the bankers' crisis and to raid our pensions to ameliorate the public sector deficit.

Congress also recognises that a failure to stop the Con-Dem government's attacks on public sector pensions will encourage them in their austerity programme of introducing regional pay rates, cutting benefits, and privatising education and health.

Congress further opposes the recent call by Minister for Pensions, Steve Webb, to finally bury private sector final-salary arrangements in favour of a 'defined ambition plan'. To facilitate a broadly based struggle for decent retirement arrangements for all employees, Congress will seek to deepen inter-union solidarity, specifically by opposing government moves - such as that proposed by Webb - to further erode already severely degraded provision within the private sector.

Congress instructs the NEC to propose to unions involved in the TPS dispute or fighting parallel campaigns that an urgent joint meeting be called of union executives, or subcommittees of those executives delegated to act on their behalf: such a joint meeting to formulate a programme of industrial action. We further call on the NEC to propose to those unions to form campaign committees in all localities to bring about the maximum unity and solidarity.

Congress further calls on the incoming NEC to develop and propose to other unions a co-ordinated programme of escalating strike action in defence of public sector pensions from autumn 2012. Action should also include:

1. publicity events, information stalls and leafleting in town/city centres
2. public meetings
3. petitions and lobbies of Parliament.

A co-ordinated national strategy is required which should involve the NEC organising a financial levy on all UCU members to raise a fighting fund so key areas can be called out on, if necessary, indefinite strike action with all participating members being fully paid until we win.

L1 TPS strategy following strike on 10 May - Northumbria University

Congress notes that, following the 10 May strike, NUT and NASUWT have decided to ballot for action in the autumn on issues broader than TPS and will not strike in June.

Congress believes that only sustained and escalating to continuous joint industrial action, rather than intermittent one day strikes, will force the government back to the negotiating table.

Congress resolves that TPS institution members should be asked in a consultative ballot whether they wish to:

1. take sustained, escalating strike action alongside unions outside the TPS scheme.
2. take sustained, escalating strike action but only if alongside other education unions.
3. suspend current industrial action in order to build the broadest possible alliance with other education unions to campaign for defined improvements in TPS. The union would ballot members for strike action and action short of a strike during this campaign.

CBC advice to the chair: if amendment 1A.2 is passed, motion L1 will fall. If 1A.2 falls, motion L2 point ii falls.

FALLS

L2 Joint action with NUT/NASUWT - University of Brighton Falmer

Congress notes and commends

1. NEC strategy, with PCS and others, to draw unions back into the pensions fight after the Heads of Agreement retreat;
2. the partial success with successful ballots in sections of Unite and Unison, and resolutions at union conferences;
3. the declaration by NUT/NASUWT for an autumn campaign in defence of jobs, pensions, pay and conditions.

Congress believes

1. an effective campaign needs systematically escalating joint action, including two-day to three-day strikes nationally, culminating in a national demonstration to Westminster;
2. overlapping objectives (pensions, pay and jobs) strengthens the campaign.

Congress resolves

1. TPS dispute will continue in tandem with sector campaigns on pay and conditions;
2. UCU will seek agreement with other unions for escalating national industrial action, including strikes and a national demonstration in defence of pensions, education, public services, pay and conditions, with action scheduled to maximise impact.

CARRIED