Extraordinary General Meeting, Fri 6 Mar, 1-2pm, Archaeology LT, Gordon Square + Congress motions

The EGM will take place in the Archaeology LT, Gordon Square. The Archaeology LT is an accessible venue.

We have received two motions for debate and, if passed, submitted to UCU Congress.

The first motion (see Appendix 1 below) concerns solidarity with trans and non-binary people. The second motion (see Appendix 2 below) is a UCU rule change motion.

There is a limit of one ordinary motion per Branch for Congress and two motions for the Higher Education Sector Conference but no limit to the number of rule change motions that can be submitted to Congress.

Members should also consider putting themselves forward as delegates to Congress, which will be in Bournemouth from 27-29 May. UCL UCU is entitled to submit one motion to Congress and two motions to Higher Education Sector Conference. Motions must be 150 words or less.

If you are interested or have any enquiries about this process please email ucu@ucl.ac.uk.

The meeting will also be an opportunity to discuss the progression of our USS and Four Fights campaigns.

UCL UCU Executive Committee

Appendix 1 - Trans solidarity motion

Congress notes:

1. Reported transphobic hate crime in the UK and elsewhere has risen steeply recently as the right and far-right have grown;
2. The parliamentary Women and Equalities Committee made 30 recommendations in 2016 to improve trans rights and trans people’s lives, including self-identification under the GRA to obtain a gender recognition certificate and a new birth certificate;
3. The Tory government’s consultation on these has not reported despite closing in October 2018.

Congress condemns transphobia in education and elsewhere and reiterates its solidarity with trans and non-binary people, and resolves to:

1. Call on the government to immediately publish the consultation report;
2. Support calls to implement all of the Women and Equalities Committee’s recommendations;
3. Support lobbies and protests to ensure this happens, which will also be a way of uniting all those who oppose transphobia.

(139 words)

Appendix 2 - UCU rule change: General Secretary (GS) term of office

Congress approves recommendation 3 of the democracy commission's final report, Rule change: GS term of office.

Rule 28.1, delete 'five years' and replace with 'three years'.

Purpose: To reduce the term of office of the general secretary from five years to three years.

Amended rule 28.1 will read:

“28.1 The General Secretary shall be the chief executive of the Union, responsible for duties specified by the Rules and Standing Orders of the Union, and duties allocated by the National Executive Committee, and shall be elected for terms of three years by the membership of the Union, under procedures agreed by the National Executive Committee.

[Background briefing: UCU rules & final report of the UCU Democracy Commission]