Thread by @zenscara

Am at #ucu2018 which is suspended as staff have walked out - my u/s of this is that it relates to concerns over motion B19 being ruled back onto agenda (which calls for a democracy review). Offer was made to remove part of the motion which is believed to be the contentious bit >>

>> But I'm not sure if this offer was made after staff walked out. Assuming emergency talks are occurring between national officers and representatives of Unite in another room. Genuinely don't think B19 intended to have the effect of threatening staff T+Cs so hoping removal>>

>> would allay fears. We think Congress can only suspend for 30 mins so hoping to find out soon if this is the case. Hearing suggestion from impromptu (non-mic'd) congress floor that we all find a way to hear from Unite directly. Very difficult to hear much properly without mics!

>> Basically while no mics, lots of people who have stayed in the room are taking it in turns to shout as loudly as possible to speak about what's going on. I am not catching it all because hearing issues. Gist from many is that of supporting UCU staff but needing discussion >>

>>BREAKING! Sheffield delegate reports back from discussion w Unite that the bit of B19 that was deleted has allayed concerns+they won't walk out when that is heard. However Unite mtg continuing in another room on (we think) issues with other motions that have been highlighted >>

>> Some delegates remaining in Congress room are trying to work out a statement to send to the Unite meeting (I think - as ever there is a mega caveat around my ability to hear properly in this context, hyperacusis&tinnitus are working against me) >>

>> ALSO: when reconvene for session, can't tweet about it, b/c private session. Think we're 'ok' during this unprecedented interlude b/c Congress suspended+motions on web. Trying to wrap brains around everything is difficult, hopefully won't be ejected for trying to explain.

>>BREAKING! Report from @Rachellaracohen who's spoken to the Chair: recognise Congress suspended for over 30 mins now but asks we give some more time as resolution may be near. Chair sympathetic to extending Congress biz at end day to make room for motions we're not hearing now>>

>>We've now heard that discussion in the other room with Unite is about all the motions their branch is concerned about. If you're looking these up we u/s them to be M7, 10, 11 (we u/s B19 now ok, no challenge was made re CBC ruling B18 off agenda). Some ppl in room/some out >>

>> The agenda version we had printed is here: ucu.org.uk/circ/html/UCU8… augmented by 3rd CBC report containing additional late motions ucu.org.uk/circ/html/UCU8… #UCU2018

So B19 (visible in first link pg 97) was contentious but we u/s now ok with deletion of bit about paid officials. We u/s discussion continuing about Congress motions 7/10/11 in that first link (pg 10+11). #UCU2018

Also for anyone confused by acronyms: CBC = Congress Business Committee. It's their job to check motions fit with rules/remit of each session, so they produce a number of reports running up to Congress (more than one owing to provision for late motions, incoming info, etc) >>

>> So they present a report at the start, and anyone who wants to appeal to have a motion ruled out of order (as B19 + others were) does this at that point - the start of Congress. Delegates vote on whether to order those motions back onto agenda.

Chair back in rm to update us+ask for bit more time to continue negotiations (agreed). Elane Heffernan now reading a statement to floor that it's proposed we sent to room Unite are meeting in, asking to hear their concerns + that we find way fwd that allows delegate discussion >>

>>Some confusion about what status this bit has as it's not "in session" - but we have agreed in it to have an extra half hour for those discussions between Unite + officers + (think I have this right) movers of the motions under contention.

Clearly we could all do with better understanding own standing orders + rules + relationships between staff union and our union members work. And I say this as someone on their ~7(?!)th Congress. May I take a mo to recommend @Rachellaracohen's #USSBriefs23 medium.com/ussbriefs/ucus…

Chair of #UCU2018 is back to read a statement from staff Unite branch before we resume (private) session. Not sure if statement private or not yet...

Unite statement: staff willing to return+have reached amicable agreement w movers B19+M7 (resolved problematic bits). No such agreement on M10+11; Unite have serious concerns over those + reserve position to withdraw in order to have another union mtg when we get to them #UCU2018

#UCU2018 now back in Private Session

please unroll