Thread by @OurUcu

For anyone confused about how #ourUCU came out of #UCU2018, some quick background information: Two motions (10 & 11, below), which were critical of the General Secretary's part in the #USSstrike, were passed by branches. They were submitted to Congress & ruled onto the agenda. 1/

At #UCU2018 delegates from the two branches @KCL_UCU & @ExeterUCU were pressured to withdraw these motions. See their accounts here: kcl.ac.uk/unions/ucu/KCL… and exeterucu.wordpress.com/2018/05/30/exe… 2/

This was due to pressure from the local @unitetheunion branch, which represents @UCU staff, including Sally Hunt. The General Secretary is the most senior elected representative in UCU, but they argued that because she is an employee, #UCU2018 could not discuss motions 10 & 11 /3

Delegates at #UCU2018 voted 4 times to discuss the motions:
1) in agreeing the agenda determined by the Congress Business Committee
2) in refusing an NEC request to withdraw the motions
3) in supporting L8 (more below)
4) in refusing to vote on a 2nd NEC request to withdraw. /4

On the Friday morning #UCU2018 delegates voted by a large majority, despite concerted opposition from some in the room, to support Late motion 8 (L8, below). This included the statement: 'we cannot allow motions voicing dissent with the GS not to be debated'. /5

But delegates to #UCU2018 were denied the right to discuss these motions. Congress was repeatedly suspended and eventually shut down as the unelected staff, who work as tellers and support congress, walked out, and with them the Presidential Team, including the Congress Chair. /6

After the final walkout by the @UCU leadership, the majority of #UCU2018 delegates remained in the room, elected a new chair, and then developed the joint #ourUCU statement in response. See this thread with more detail about how this happened: threadreaderapp.com/thread/1002525… /7

A reminder that the #ourUCU statement about #UCU2018, with signatories, can be found here: docs.google.com/document/d/1iF…. /8

3 important notes about #ourUCU:
1) This was the MAJORITY of #UCU2018 as shown by repeated votes
2) This was not a single 'faction' but delegates from different/no factions
3) Delegates were not arguing *for* motions 10/11, but for the right to debate these within the rules. /9

Because #UCU2018 also voted for Late Motion 10 (L10, below) there will be a Recall Congress to discuss business missed by the shutdown of Congress (inc Motions 10/11). That means that the issues that led to #ourUCU are not going to go away. /10