University of Leeds Local Association Committee

1pm-2pm, Tuesday 6 October 2015

Venue: Baines Wing G.03

Minutes

Attendance: Mark Taylor-Batty (President), Brendon Nicholls, Ben Plumpton, Steve French, Gabriella Alberti, Lesley McGorrigan, Neil Maughan, Nigel Bubb, Vicky Blake, Elwyn Isaac, Mark Walkley, Tim Goodall, Hugh Hubbard, Andy West, Alan Smith (administrator)

1. Apologies: Paul Steenson, Ann Blair, Malcolm Povey, Steven French (lateness), Steve Lax, Jeremy Toner
2. Amend to add Hugh to attendance.
3. Matters arising
   Co-option of Environmental Rep: the committee welcomed Tim Goodall.
   Pay. Mark gave an update from the regional pay briefing. In real terms we have had a 15% pay cut, and increased pension contributions and national insurance contributions next year. Pay at the top end is increasing and most universities are holding surpluses.
4. Regional committee delegates
   Agreed to delegate Ben Plumpton, Lesley McGorrigan, Vicky Blake, Mark Taylor-Batty, Brendon Nicholls.
5. Co-option of anti-casualisation representative
   Agreed Mark would email membership by the end of this week to seek nominations
6. Draft organising plan
   Committee agreed to roll considerations around increasing involvement of reps into draft organising plan which Alan will present to a future committee as a discussion document.
7. Website and social media
   Agreed Mark Taylor-Batty, Nick Efford, Ben Plumpton, Vicky Blake and Alan Smith will take responsibility for website and social media and will have access to the Twitter account, with roles agreed within that. UCU HQ are setting up a new website which we can use which they will host, combining the current website and blog. Facebook page to be used primarily to link to posts on the website. Longer term plan for web app in dashboard form interspersed with UCU news. Events to be collated into a Friday members email. A senator to produce a summary of senate for UCU members.
8. Electing departmental representatives in IT
   Agreed to seek nominations for departmental representatives for IT.
9. RIS (Research Innovations Service)
   Held over to next meeting
10. e-assessment
    Reported that the trade union side of the Joint Committee of the University and UCU expressed our opposition to the opt-out model and raised all issues as agreed. Ongoing.
11. Statutes
    Reported that the statutes negotiating team pressed the issues as requested. “Some other substantial reason” remains unresolved. Management will add caveats to removal from non-substantial post to prevent it being used to remove people dissenting from the central view.
    The proposed new statutes will be sent to the committee when we have new drafts from the employer. An extraordinary committee will be arranged to discuss them in detail.
12. Joint Committee of the University and UCU
    as reported elsewhere
13. Refugee crisis
    Motion moved by Gabriella Alberti

This branch notes:

The worst refugee crisis since the end of World War II with millions fleeing their homes looking for refuge in Europe.

Since 2000 around 30,000 migrants or refugees have died in their attempts to reach or stay in Europe, with the highest figures recorded in the past two years.

The continuing plight of refugees in Calais and elsewhere in Europe escaping from war, political oppression, poverty and violence.

The demonization of migrants and asylum seekers by the media and the government.

The inadequate response by the Tory government, for example, only allowing in just 20,000 refugees by 2020 on a temporary basis in the first instance, and only from camps in the Lebanon.

The heartening public response to the crisis e.g. collections, donations etc.

That the University of Leeds is collaborating with the Council to promote Leeds as a City of Sanctuary. As part of this the University is proposing to offer scholarships and to host a second public meeting of Leeds City of Sanctuary on the 21st October.

That other universities such as the University of East London have committed to offer at least ten postgraduate scholarships to Syrian refugees.

This branch resolves to

Contribute to ongoing solidarity action occurring on campus such as the collections by students and to donate to local Leeds charities in support of both asylum seekers and migrants in need, both locally and internationally.

Campaign and pressure the government to accept more refugees and offer them permanent status in the UK, including Syrian and other refugees escaping violence in the Middle East and beyond.

Adopt a ‘Refugees welcome here’ position and to promote this in the wider union movement, as an important means of reinforcing the principle of solidarity at a time when cuts in public and welfare services and a hostile media make migrants and refugees easy scapegoats.

Play an active role in developing a discussion with senior management at the University of Leeds to explore internal ways in which the university can effectively provide short- and long-term assistance for refugees/asylum seekers, including the development of scholarships for asylum seekers and refugees and support for educational activities such as ESOL classes for migrants.

Commit to a longer term campaign that goes beyond expressions of solidarity and collections of usable goods and includes initiatives that involve us as educators in promoting a culture of welcome and inter-cultural dialogue on our campuses, involving students from all backgrounds.

The motion was carried. Agreed to put this to the General Meeting as a motion from the Committee.

14. Prevent
    Motion moved by Brendan Nicholls:

University of Leeds UCU local association notes the new “Prevent Duty” being imposed on Higher and Further Education providers. The branch observes that this duty erodes staff and students’ academic freedom, freedom of speech and freedom of debate.

The branch notes further that the definition of extremism as “vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values” is a direct attack on ethnic minorities. It undermines the free exchange of ideas and undermines democratic social inclusion. The branch believes that the effect of this definition will be to institutionalise both racism and Islamophobia.

University of Leeds UCU local association resolves to work with UCU HQ to develop a policy of non-co-operation with the “Prevent Duty,” up to and including branch boycotts.

The motion was carried. Agreed to put the motion to the General Meeting from the Committee.

15. Facilities money
    Held over to next meeting
16. Annual leave
    Held over to next meeting
17. USS
    Held over to next meeting
18. Promotions
    Held over to next meeting
19. Any other business
    The agenda for the General Meeting was agreed as follows: Pay, refugee crisis, prevent, USS, promotions, fixed-term contracts, congress delegates, car parking