University and College Union

Meeting of Equality Conference Black Members

Location Birmingham

Date 22nd November 2019

Unconfirmed minutes

Present:

Carl Reid Barking and Dagenham College Jim Thakoordin Bedfordshire and Luton ACE Kirsten Forkert Birmingham City University Marverine Cole Birmingham City University Stephanie Allen Bournemouth University Salma Bhuta Bury College Nitin Rajyaguru Cardiff and Vale College Joy Findlay Central Groups - FE Wales Gursewak Aulakh City College Plymouth Yasmin May College Chiara Vassell Croydon College Jason Arday Durham University Adriana Mendez Durham University Umit Yildiz Edge Hill University Naina Kent (Hackney) Shalini Sharma Keele University Naveed Sheikh Keele University Shiva Sikdar Keele University Satvinder Juss Kings College Sunil Banga Lancaster University Mumtaz Khan Leeds Beckett University Steve Mardy Leeds Beckett University Allan Gopal London South Bank University Amna Rafiq Nelson & Colne College Tasnim Desai Nelson & Colne College Femi Adekunle Newman University Bahadur Najak Northern Retired Members Branch Maixne Looby Oldham College Dharminder Chuhan Sandwell College of FHE

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Marcia Grant-cheSouth Thames College Group (South Thames College) Stephen Desmond Southampton Solent University Donna Chambers Sunderland University June Taitt Swansea University Zoulika Lamamra Teesside University Juliana Ojinnaka The Sheffield College Saleem Rashid The Sheffield College Blaise Nkwenti-Azeh The University of Manchester Abdul Majothi The University of Edinburgh Abdullah Yusuf University of Dundee Gargi Bhattacharyya University of East London Kevin Lu University of Essex Rupra Mandeep University of Leicester Jacqueline Sanchez Taylor University of Leicester Themesa Neckles University of Sheffield Ilyas Nagdee Nadya Ali University of Sussex Vida Greaux University of South Wales Nasimulhaq Hasnie Yorkshire & Humberside Retired Members’ Branch

In attendance: Vicky Blake (Vice-President) Chris Nicholas (Equality Support Official) Helen Carr (Head of Equalities and Participation) Sharon Russell (Equality Officer) Gargi Bhattachryya (BMSC) Jane Atkins (minute taker)

1. Welcome and housekeeping 1.1. Maxine Looby introduced herself as Chair a long term trade unionist based in Manchester and also as the Black members’ rep on NEC. She warmly welcomed delegates to this year’s conference on the theme of ‘Building an Anti-Racist Environment’. 1.2. Following housekeeping and outlining the role of the Conference, the Chair introduced the members on the panel; Chris Nicholas, Equality Support Official; Dave Muritu, former Chair and now NEU official and Gargi Bhattachryya, BMSC and joint-Chair. 1.3. Maxine Looby reported that as the Chair Victoria Showunmi is unable to attend Conference, she and Gargi Bhattachryya would be standing in as joint Chairs. 1.4. The Chair asked the members of the BMSC to introduce themselves to the Conference. 1.5. The Chair reported that Blaise Nkwenti-Azeh is standing down from the BMSC and thanked Blaise for all his hard work. 1.6. The Chair reported that the Vice-President had asked for permission to attend some sessions at Conference. This was Voted on and AGREED.

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1.7. The Chair drew delegates attention to the 2019 Report to Conference.

2. Adoption of Standing Orders 2.1. The Chair asked Conference to adopt standing orders, this was AGREED. 2.2. The Chair reported that the report of the BMSC is contained in the Conference pack. 2.3. The Chair reported that videos on ‘Week of Action Against Workplace Racism’ and from Nazek Ramadan from Migrant Voices would be shown. 2.4. The Chair reported that ballot papers for election to the BMSC are being distributed and that Naina Kent is standing down from her place on the ballot paper as she has been elected on the NEC. The list of nominees and their election statements are in the Conference pack. 2.5. Vicky Blake thanked Conference for allowing her to attend as Vice- President. She reported that Nita Sanghera is sadly ill and is unable to attend.

3. Minutes of the Black Members’ Annual Conference 2018. 3.1. The minutes were then AGREED as a correct record. 3.2. Matters Arising 3.3. A request was made for the minutes to be circulated to delegates earlier than they currently are.

4. Report to Black Members’ Conference 2019. 4.1 The Chair drew delegates’ attention to the report which included the three themes to UCU Week of Action 2020 against Workplace Racism; Barriers to Progression; Race Pay gap and Decolonising education.

4.2 The report was AGREED.

5. Motions to Conference

5.1. Motion 1, Workload and Black Members. Proposed by BMSC:

“UCU Black Members’ Conference notes the findings of the UCU survey on workload completed in 2016 and draws attention to the 5 key findings: 1. staff in both the higher and further education sectors are working and average of more than two days unpaid every week. 2. workload is unmanageable and unstainable for the majority of academic staff and lecturers. 3. staff are taking on more responsibility and administration. 4. student expectations have increased. 5. professional and career development is suffering as a result of increasing workload pressures.

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Conference believes that black workers are disproportionately affected as they are more likely to be on fixed term, part-time or precarious contracts. Conference requests that the UCU Black Members Standing Committee raises the profile of this important work with the appropriate UCU committee.”

5.2. Following discussion it was AGREED to delete point 4, to include non- academic staff to point 2, to amend the last paragraph; to delete ‘requests’ and replace with ‘campaigns to end racist harassment through unmanageable workloads ‘, delete ‘raise the profile of’ and add ‘s’ to committee. The motion was then voted on and AGREED as follows:

“UCU Black Members’ Conference notes the findings of the UCU survey on workload completed in 2016 and draws attention to the 5 key finds: 1. staff in both the higher and further education sectors are working and average of more than two days unpaid every week. 2. workload is unmanageable and unstainable for the majority of academic and non-academic staff and lecturers. 3. staff are taking on more responsibility and administration. 4. professional and career development is suffering as a result of increasing workload pressures. Conference believes that black workers are disproportionately affected as they are more likely to be on fixed term, part-time or precarious contracts. Conference campaigns to end racist harassment through unmanageable workloads and that the UCU Black Members Standing Committee raises the profile of this important work with the appropriate UCU committees.”

5.3. Motion 2 International solidarity, proposed by the BMSC:

Conference condemns the wave of repression which has swept Egypt in response to peaceful protests criticising the current president. More than 2000 people have been arrested since 20th September including many political figures, activists, journalists and human rights campaigners. UK universities are showing their willingness to put potential political revenue from student fees before a commitment to human rights and academic freedoms by pursuing partnerships with private educational

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firms offering UK degrees in Egypt. Thisis particularly worrying following the kidnapping, torture and murder of Giulio Regeni in January 2016. We call on UK universities operating in or planning to open for business in Egypt to suspend these projects until the human rights situation improves enough to ensure that academic freedoms are protected and to join us in a public statement calling on the regime to release all political prisoners, respect human rights and protect freedom of expression. 5.4. Following discussion where it was agreed to include colleges in the motion, it was AGREED to refer this motion back to the BMSC, in order to strengthen the motion.

6. Keynote Speakers: 6.1. Nazek Ramadan, Nazek Ramadan is the Founder and Executive Director of Migrant Voice. She has over 30 years of experience working with migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and ethnic minorities in the UK. Her work has included the production of a number of research, newspapers and short films. 6.2. Nazek Ramadan gave a report to Conference on the campaign that Migrant Voice is involved with on migrant students and the scandal of English Language tests and how this has affected thousands of students’ lives and their families. She drew Conference’s attention to the evidence submitted to the home office and the 2014 Panarama programme ‘English Language Test Scandals’. Nazek presented a short film to hear from the students themselves called ‘Inquistion’.

6.3. Dave Muritu has been an activist in the TU movement since 1996, in NATFHE, UCU and since September as an official working for the NEU. During his time in NATFHE and UCU Dave has been a long standing member on the Black members standing committee, the NEC and has chaired the BMSC and equality committee twice. Dave believes that racial equality is central to the trade union cause and that the union is at its strongest when black activists along with activists from other oppressed groups and their intersections take on leadership roles at the centre of branch, region and national action. In his current role Dave is working to build trade union activism in the shifting grounds of the education sector as a Regional Development Officer. 6.4. Dave thanked the Conference for inviting him to speak and the warm welcome he had received. He extended a vote of thanks to Nita Sanghera and to wish her well from Conference.

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6.5. Dave congratulated all those at Nottingham College for fantastic victory in their fight against the imposition of inferior contracts and to those at Bradford College for their victory in their fight against casualisation and compulsory redundancies. He also congratulated those who are taking strike action in HE in the pay and pensions dispute. 6.6. Dave reported that he is now working in his new position with the NEU and is legally gagged to report on his situation prior to this, however he is proud of the campaign to get his job back and grateful for all the fantastic support he had from UCU. 6.7. He reported that last weekend he had been attacked and restrained by security guards and that the only way to stand up to this is to get organised and fight.

6.8. There followed a questions and answer session from the floor to both key note speakers. It was agreed to:  …. affiliate to Migrant Voice  put motions to Congress concerning the issues raised by Nazek Ramadam and for her to send a list of the Universities where the students attended for the BMSC and NEC to write to. 6.9. The Chair thanked both speakers for their contributions.

7. Workshop Sessions.

Workshop BMSC facilitator Precarity Gargi Bhattacharyya + Rachel Remedios Decolonising Fope (NUS) + Juliana Ojinnaka Hostile Naina Kent + Jason

environment Arday Negotiating Nitin Rajyaguru + a racist Saleem Rashid workplace

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8. Report Back 8.1 Pay and Precarity This workshop looked at the rate for the job and how it could be used in local negotiations. It was a small workshop so members joined other workshops as it ended early.

8.2 Hostile Environment

This workshop discussed

 Fighting institutional and personal racism at work  Black staff supporting black students  The Prevent and surveillance agenda  Working with the NUS is critical  The campaign against racism impacts on every generation Actions

a) Set up networks of support b) Share strike strategies and use teach outs to educate about the hostile environment c) Need a strategy for a long term campaign and change d) Produce a statement setting out UCU’s position 8.3 Decolonisation

The workshop had a presentation from the NUS guest on the history of the student movement to decolonise campuses. It was agreed that decolonisation is not diversity but it is being co-opted by that agenda as well as the marketization agenda. It is relevant to all disciplines not just history, politics and literature. It is about structural change to our institutions.

Actions

a) Continue to work with students and to make it matter to all students b) UCU policy passed at Congress must be actioned. c) Training on what decolonisation actually means for all staff 8.4 Negotiating a non-racist workplace

Those attending the workshop now feel better equipped to respond to racism at an institutional and personal level. We need to make members aware of all the tools available. Need to be assertive in the face of racism. As one delegate said ‘they think they are having you for breakfast but you get up early and have them for lunch’.

8.5 In conclusion members were encouraged to take the materials at the back and send any further reports to the BMSC. It was also suggested the next conference be held in Plymouth and be a full day. Members were wished a safe

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9. The Chair closed the Conference and thanked all delegates for attending and making it a worthwhile event. She reminded delegates to vote in the ballot for BMSC members.

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