University and College Union Meeting of Equality Conference Black
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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 Croydon College Chiara Vassell Croydon College Jason Arday Durham University Adriana Mendez Durham University Umit Yildiz Edge Hill University Naina Kent New City College (Hackney) Shalini Sharma Keele University Naveed Sheikh Keele University Shiva Sikdar Keele University Satvinder Juss Kings College London 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 page 1 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 University of Sussex 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. page 2 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. page 3 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 page 4 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