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The Educational Institute of Scotland THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SCOTLAND FURTHER EDUCATION LECTURERS’ ASSOCIATION (EIS-FELA) SPECIAL CONFERENCE Friday 18th November 2011 RESOLUTIONS Cuts 1. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference notes the disastrous impact the spending cuts envisaged for the sector will have, and therefore resolves to organise a campaign of opposition as follows: • Letter-writing and surgery visits to MSPs • Letter-writing to the press • Leaflets aimed at gaining students support and a national petition to be distributed to every college which FE employees, EIS members generally, students, and the public are invited to sign – in paper and digital format • A ballot for national strike action to change the government’s mind over the funding cut • A march and lobby of the Scottish parliament on the first day of national strike action to present the national petition. Utilising social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to publicise our opposition. Liaise with NUS on joint campaigning 2. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference request that EIS-FELA national executive work with EIS main body to promote a campaign aimed at informing the general public and politicians of the important contribution made by Further Education College to: 1. the economy of Scotland 2. training for jobs 3. and lifelong learning. 3. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference notes the clear intention of the Scottish Government to impose cuts to FE Education provision and calls on the Executive to: a. ensure that all such cuts must be resisted by all available means b. take due cognisance of the motions passed at the Special Conference of 10 December 2010 in its deliberations on cuts to FE. 4. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference resolves to advise branches that where, in response to the cut in funding a college management proposes to introduce/introduces worse contracts for a minority of lecturers (such as from permanent to fixed term) or in any other way seek contractually to downgrade our professional role as lecturers, that branch seek an immediate ballot for strike action to be conducted for the whole branch. 5. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference resolves to encourage talks at national and local level between the EIS, other unions who have members working in FE, and NUS with a view to co- ordinating campaigns around cuts and mergers. 6. With the proviso that the approach contained in this resolution shall in no way restrict or inhibit the actions and campaigns proposed in other resolutions at this Conference, this EIS- FELA Special Conference resolves that EIS-FELA approach Scotland’s Colleges and individual College Boards of Management to propose a joint statement protesting at the proposed funding cuts; this statement to form the basis for a publicity campaign including newspaper adverts and a joint lobby of MSPs by FE stakeholders. 7. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference notes that a large part of the core business of the FE sector is to provide a second chance at education and to provide learning opportunities for those who wish a career change either through choice or redundancy. This Conference instructs the EIS-FELA National Executive to write to the Scottish Government stressing the importance of this role, and to campaign to ensure that the implementation of government initiatives/directives on provision for 16-24 year olds is not detrimental to provision for mature students. 8. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference condemns the deleterious cut in FE funding proposed by the Scottish Government. It therefore calls on the EIS to use every vehicle possible to raise public awareness of this dire situation, and the implications for the wider public in the short and medium term future. Further, the Executive is instructed to ensure that all branches immediately implement a vigorous campaign of clearly targeted and focused lobbying of MSPs. 9. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference: (i) opposes any attacks by college management on development time allocated for new units/courses/work. (ii) seeks to ensure that all new activities have development time adequately timetabled within a course. (iii) opposes any attacks by college management on time allocated for guidance within courses and (iv) seeks to ensure that all guidance activities are adequately timetabled within a course. Realignment 10. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference notes the role of FE in providing flexible, quality learning opportunities in a period of mass unemployment for people of all ages. This Special Conference resolves to oppose any attempts to privatise this education provision within FE. 11. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference is against any of the Scottish Government’s proposals which discriminate against any member of the FE student body on the basis of age. Mergers 12. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference instructs the EIS-FELA Executive to establish meetings of EIS Branch Officials in the Colleges associated with:- a. the Federation of Glasgow Colleges; and b. any other groupings of FE colleges (where proposals for possible mergers are made.) Support to be provided by the EIS-FELA Executive members attached to these Colleges. 13. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference objects to and campaigns against any merger or federation agreement of FE colleges unless a convincing educational rationale is provided and until the following conditions are met: • No redundancies as a result of the merger Members losing class contact hours through merger or rationalisation are offered fully supported post- equivalent redeployment and agreed training • No detriment to conditions of service, and all lecturing staff be moved on to best practice within the merging colleges • Travel time between campuses to be treated as class contact time, and travel expenses to be paid • All new starts at the merged college to be employed on the same terms and conditions as best practice for existing staff • Staff who hold promoted posts and lose them as a result of restructuring to be maintained on conserved salaries until such time as the rest of unpromoted lecturing staff catch up Further this conference instructs the FELA National Executive to immediately write to all Branches informing them of these actions. 14. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference believes that in the event of a merger taking place branches include the following in their demands for lecturers: That at least one EIS Branch Official from each of the merging colleges sit on any group formed to oversee the merger process. 15. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference resolves to oppose any golden handshakes being given to Principals who lose their posts as a result of the merger process. 16. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference instructs the EIS-FELA National Executive to pursue agreement with: the Cabinet Secretary for Lifelong Learning, the Scottish Funding Council, and all Scottish FE Colleges, that in the event of college mergers (which are stated as being driven in part by the imperative to achieve cost savings) no college staff members i.e. Principals, Executive or managers will receive more favourable severance package terms and conditions than lecturing staff. 17. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference instructs the EIS-FELA National Executive to organise training day for Branch Officials to provide the following: • Dealing with re-organisation of Branch structures under merged colleges. • Dealing with negotiations on harmonisation. • Defending conditions of service. This training sessions to begin mid-January 2012. Miscellaneous 18. That this EIS FELA Special Conference instructs the Executive to fully support Branches requiring rapid reaction to cuts or mergers. That this Special Conference requests that where FELA branches feel that the urgency of an issue relating to cuts or mergers requires a rapid move to ballot on industrial action, without the delay of a prior indicative ballot, that the EIS body concerned with approving ballots gives the matter urgent consideration and supports the request. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference also instructs the EIS- FELA National Executive to write to and send speakers to the EIS body concerned with approving ballots, urging them to give the matter urgent consideration and support. 19. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference urges branches to invite FELA Executive members for your area and/or the FELA President or Vice-President to speak to branch meetings regarding subjects covered in the special conference. 20. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference resolves that a bulletin informing members of its decisions be sent in hard copy (and electronic form where possible) to all FELA members within three weeks. 21. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference resolves to request the EIS: produce 1,000 pennants and 2,000 placards for local and national use as part of the campaign to defend Scottish FE, the slogans to include: ‘No cuts. Defend education. Defend jobs’. fund the production of branch banners. fund the production of 2,000 badges and 20,000 stickers with the following on them: red circle and line through “44% FE CUT” 22. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference notes that unlike Local Associations and the ULA, FELA does not have any funds under its control, and therefore resolves to request that central funding be made available to provide transport for FELA members and supporters to attend a march and lobby of the Scottish parliament. 23. That this EIS-FELA Special Conference opposes the Scottish Government proposals of cuts in education provision, re- alignment of the sector and financially driven mergers. It notes the Occupy Movement across the World and fully supports its aim of protesting against inequality, and attacks on services for the many. Further this Conference instructs the EIS-FELA National Executive to send a letter of support to the Occupy Edinburgh and Occupy Glasgow camps. .
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