樱花动漫/1087 14 May 2021
Carlow
Street, London NW1 7LH, Tel. 020 7756 2500, www.ucu.org.uk
To听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Branch and local association secretaries, special conference delegates
Topic听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Unconfirmed minutes, Special Higher Education sector conference 鈥� to debate and direct the union鈥檚 response to the attack on jobs, pay and conditions resulting from the response of employers to the Covid-19 pandemic, including a draft sector-wide claim.
Action听听听听听听听听听听听 for
approval and adoption
Summary 听听听听 Unconfirmed minutes of the special HE sector conference which took place 30 September, MS teams
Contact听听听听听听听听听 Paul
Bridge, Head of HE (Christine Bernabe,
minutes)
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
Unconfirmed minutes
Special Higher Education Sector Conference,
30 September
To
debate and direct the union鈥檚 response to the attack on jobs, pay and
conditions resulting from the response of employers to the Covid-19 pandemic,
including a draft sector-wide claim
1. Welcome & Chair鈥檚 Business
1.1
Justine
Mercer, 樱花动漫鈥檚 Vice President and Chair of HEC, called conference to order, warmly
welcomed all and introduced herself to all online registered delegates.
Housekeeping matters were noted. Information on the conduct of conference
including voting had been included in the CBC鈥檚 report and agenda which had
also provided details on how conference would run (樱花动漫/1040). The Chair also reminded
delegates to mute mics and informed the chat function will not be monitored or
contribute to the conference. Speakers for debate were received in advance as
had been requested and the Chair informed delegates that speakers will be
called based on responses that had been received and will do her utmost to
ensure a balanced debate is heard.
1.2
The
Chair announced that Chair鈥檚 support would be received from Victoria Showunmi,
Vice Chair, Pre-92, Lucy Burke, Vice Chair, Post-92 and Paul Bridge, Head of
HE.听 Delegates were further reminded to
adhere to the 樱花动漫 members' conduct protocol for this online conference.
1.3
The
CBC final agenda, 樱花动漫/1040A, had been circulated yesterday. It should be noted
that delegates had voted to adopt the CBC report and suspension of Standing
Orders which enabled this conference to take place. Voting on motions will take
place after conference has closed and delegates will be emailed in this regard.
1.4
It
was noted that based on the online attendance, conference was quorate.
1.5
At
the invitation of the Chair, Alan Barker, Chair of CBC, moved the CBC report.
The CBC Chair apologised for the unprecedented measures that had been proposed
to enable sector conference to take place and how this had impacted on the
conduct of business. Alan thanked delegates for their forbearance and staff and
CBC colleagues for all the work that had been put into organising and making
arrangements. The CBC Chair stated that CBC looked forward to an intelligent
debate and good decisions in support of the conference agenda.
1.6
Justine
Mercer, Vice President, thanked the CBC Chair for moving the agenda and the
work of the committee. Delegates were asked to note reduction in speaking
times; 3 minutes to move motions and 2 minutes for all other speakers and it
would be an advantage where possible to second formally. Any business not taken
would automatically be referred to the Higher Education Committee (HEC).
2 General Secretary addressed
conference
2.1
The
Chair invited the GS to address conference and Jo Grady expressed her thanks to
staff and the CBC for making the special conference possible, welcomed
delegates and went on to give an overview on why the conference had been
called. In her address, the GS expressed observations on motions which had been
submitted, some dealing with the impact of Covid-19 and others highlighted
areas of work 樱花动漫 continues to progress on. The GS highlighted the work of the
union in responding to the pandemic. The GS commented on developments over the
last year, the national and local ballots which had taken place, the hard work
of branches to win these ballots and Get the Vote Out campaigns. 樱花动漫 faces a
number of challenges form employers and the culture war on campus emanating
from the Westminster Government. In these and other matters, it鈥檚 important
that 樱花动漫 stayed ahead of developments and remained on top of bargaining issues
during these challenging times. The excellent work undertaken by staff
supporting branches and members challenging employers using Covid as cover to
attack terms and conditions, or job protection, and health and safety cannot go
unnoticed. The GS gave an overview of some HE branches which had successfully
balloted and noted that some, unfortunately, had failed to meet the threshold.
How to overcome this was under active consideration.
2.2
In
FE, UK wide pay campaigns were developing and the situation in NI required
immediate attention. Other significant areas of work included health and
safety, pay and job security, on which the 樱花动漫 continues to push extremely hard.
2.3
In
closing, the GS reminded delegates of national union鈥檚 commitment to improving
and protecting members鈥� terms and conditions, health and safety and jobs. The
extent of support for branches, the need for local claims to have the maximum
level of support from members, and urged delegates to consider fully the impact
of the members they represent when voting on their behalf. At the recent Strike
School, the experience of the successful Los Angeles teachers strike was an example
of what working together can achieve. 樱花动漫 can also win but the recent
experiences with disaggregate ballots worked against this. An aggregate ballot victory
would help build the union and enable all branches to participate. 听
2.4
The
Chair thanked the GS for her address to conference.
3 听听听听Motions
for debate
3.1
The
Chair introduced the debate on motions submitted, reminded delegates of the
timings to move and second motions and to introduce themselves.
3.2
Section 1: Covid-19: health, safety,
jobs, quality and funding of HE
The Covid-19 pandemic has had an immense impact upon every aspect of life.听 Conference commends the work of university staff who moved education to remote delivery, at a time of deep uncertainty, and when attempting to manage a raft of competing demands in the public health emergency.Conference notes the work of 樱花动漫, in ensuring a safe and healthy educational environment for students and staff, assessing the impact of the pandemic on the sector, making a case for funding and support for higher education, and in challenging employer attempts to cut jobs, terms and conditions.听听听听听听听听听 Conference calls upon the union to continue to pursue:1. safe and healthy workplaces
2. a diverse and vibrant well-funded university sector
3. fair work, avoiding redundancies and cuts to terms and conditions
4. secure employment contracts, manageable workloads, and an end to the gender and race pay gaps.
听听听听听听听听 Motion L1, No return to unsafe workplaces; no face-to-face teaching unless educationally necessary, Higher Education Committee was moved by Carlo Morelli (NEC/Dundee and 樱花动漫 Scotland President). Other speakers in the debate included Rhian Keyse (University of Exeter/Anti Casualisation committee), Joanna de Groot (NEC/York), Marion Hersh (NEC/Glasgow). Carlo Morelli exercised his right of reply. The motion was carried;
HESC notes:听
1.听听 Senior officials in both 樱花动漫 and UNISON calling for ballots of industrial action over unsafe workplaces听听
2.听听 iSAGE, SAGE and WHO believe social distancing, test, track and isolate and the use of PPE are central to control pandemics.听
3.听听 Scottish Government advice (22/9/20), 'everyone who can work from home should work from home'.
HESC believes the UK Government's call to return to offices is motivated by business concerns rather than public safety.听
听听听听听听听听听 HESC resolves:听
a. To call on universities to abandon face-to-face activities and to work remotely until 樱花动漫鈥檚 tests have been met. Exceptions for face-to-face activities only where necessary, i.e. to ensure disabled students are able to participate, or to facilitate practice-based activities.听
b. To
encourage branches with 樱花动漫 support to declare disputes and begin the process
of balloting for industrial action for an end to f2f activities until 樱花动漫's Five
tests are met.
Motion 2, Composite: On-line teaching:
health and safety, jobs and quality听听听
Imperial College, University of Leeds, King鈥檚 College London, Lancaster
University, University of Dundee was
moved by Lesley McGorrigan (NEC/Leeds) and seconded by Sunil Banga (University
of Lancaster).
Composite
2A.1, University of Dundee, Yorkshire and Humberside regional committee, University of Liverpool was moved by Timothy Wilson (Dundee) and carried;
听听听听听听听听听 Conference notes:1.听听 the call by our GS and iSAGE听 for all teaching to be held online 2.听听 樱花动漫鈥檚 five tests 3.听听 pressures on all staff for face-to-face teaching, particularly on casualised staff, who may risk losing jobs otherwise.4.听听 that iSAGE/WHO believe social distancing, minimising aerosol transmission, test, track and isolate and PPE are central in controlling pandemics 5.听听 a potential second wave of Covid-19 infections.Conference believes:听 a. 樱花动漫鈥檚 five tests have not been met.听
b. The Government's call to return to offices is motivated by business concerns rather than public safety.听
Conference requests the HESC encourage branches to campaign, negotiate and pressure management and governments for agreements on:
a.
no face-to-face teaching and student support
in 2020/21 (reviewed in December) other than where there are no other options,
e.g. some practical work or to ensure disable students are able to participate
b.
ensuring that staff are not pressured to
teach or meet students face-to-face if they don't feel safe and willing to do
so.
c. all on-line teaching to be accessible
d.
provision of ICT and safe quiet study spaces
for all students as required
e.
provision of IT equipment and safe quiet work
spaces for all staff and PGR students who need them.
f. support, training and workload recognition for staff in online teaching
g. job security: no staff, casualised or permanent, to risk losing jobs if they do not teach face-to-face
h. additional government funding to cover shortfalls and additional costs.
SHES conference notes 1. Section 44 Clause 1 (d) and (e) Employment Rights Act 1996, that details the right of any worker to refuse to work in conditions which involve serious and imminent danger.
2. The rising daily number of reported Covid-19 infection in the UK, and the evolving scientific advice to universities on the novel coronavirus, including 04-09-2020 SAGE and 21-08-2020 Independent SAGE reports, clearly stating that outbreaks are 鈥渉ighly likely鈥� as well as dangerous
3. Pressure being put on staff in HE and FE institutions to return to campus despite there being no operational requirement to do so, meaning that听 that many 樱花动漫 members are currently expected to work under conditions that may endanger the health and lives of staff, students and communities
4. The excellent work currently being carried out by 樱花动漫 officers and Branches in relation to Covid-19.
Conference resolves:a. to supply all branches with clear guidelines on the rights of workers to refuse to work in dangerous conditions
b. to immediately launch a campaign advising all members of their rights under ERA 1996, not to be subjected to any detriment by any act, or any deliberate failure to act, by their employer. In particular members should be reminded that under the Act that where 鈥榠n circumstances of danger鈥欌�� 鈥榬easonably believed to be serious and imminent鈥� employees are entitled to take appropriate steps to protect themselves or others. This may include a refusal to return to campus or to leave campus.
c. to provide full material and political support to members and branches who refuse to work in conditions which they judge to involve serious and imminent danger for themselves or others
d. to support all members who need to work online for any reason.
Motion
4, Covid-Age calculators and inequality, Birmingham City University was moved by Kirsten Forkert (Birmingham City
University) and seconded by Charlotte Stevens (Birmingham City University).
Sarah Staniland (University of Sheffield) and Aimee Le (University of Exeter)
spoke in the debate. Kirsten Forkert exercised her right of reply. The motion
was carried;
Conference notes:
1. 樱花动漫鈥檚 national position on suspending face-to-face teaching in Semester 1;
2. The use of the ALAMA Covid-Age calculator for carrying out individual risk assessments;
3. The Covid-Age calculator classes young workers鈥損articularly young female workers 鈥� as at less risk of complications if they are infected with Covid-19;
4. Young female members are more likely to be in junior roles and casualised jobs, and therefore more vulnerable to exploitation;
5. The impact of the pandemic on female academics鈥� research time.
Conference believes:
a. The Covid-Age calculator individualises risks and is therefore inadequate;
b. Institutions should not pit health and safety against equality;
c. Junior and casualised staff should not be pressurised into face-to-face teaching;
d. Face-to-face teaching should be suspended until safe.
Conference resolves for bargaining guidance to be issued on:
i. challenging the Covid-age calculator
ii. protecting early career academics against exploitation and health and safety risks;
iii. Equality Impact Assessments on staff demographics prioritised for face-to-face teaching.
听听听听听听听听听 Motion
5, Disabled members: Covid and accessibility, Higher education committee was
moved by Marion Hersh (NEC/Glasgow). Bonnie Effros (University of Liverpool)
spoke in favour of the motion which was carried;
听听听听听听听听 Conference deplores:
1.听听 The discrimination and disadvantage experienced by most disabled members due to stereotypical attitudes, no reasonable adjustments, abuse of capability, increased casualisation risk
2.听听 The worsening of the situation of many disabled members under Covid.
Conference affirms the right of disabled members to:
a. Be treated with respect
b. Receive reasonable adjustments promptly
c. Be consulted about policy and practice changes and these to be equality impact assessed
d. Not have health risked by unsafe return to workplace or be forced to declare disability or health conditions (see Disabled members鈥� statement).
Conference calls on HEC and branches to campaign for UK-wide and local agreements on
i. Consultation with Disabled members and equality impact assessment of all changes to policy and practice including online teaching
ii. Proactive, supportive and speedy provision of reasonable adjustments, including reductions in hours but not pay.听听
iii. Mandatory
disability equality training for managers.
Conference notes the swift and effective way that staff across the sector worked in mid-March to move learning, research and student support to virtual and online platforms to ensure that education could continue in the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.听 The transition to remote working, along with the extensive preparations for the new academic year - which has often included a range of different contingency plans, such as in person and virtual teaching - has increased the already astronomical workloads of staff in the sector.听 The shift to online learning and virtual education also raises a range of ethical, pedagogical and technical questions.听 Conference calls on the union to renew and update its bargaining guidance on virtual and online learning, drawing on the recent 樱花动漫 Scotland commissioned report 鈥淭he Automatic University鈥�; and to support branches with local workload claims in light of Covid-19.
听听听听听听听听 Motion
7, Higher education funding and international student fees, Higher Education Committee
was moved by Philippa Browning (NEC/University of Manchester) and seconded
formally by Kirsten Forkert (NEC/Birmingham City University). Roddy Slorach
(Imperial College London) spoke to the motion. The motion was carried;
Conference notes:
1. the potential financial crisis in many
universities, with managements threatening pay cuts and compulsory redundancies
2. the role played by over- reliance on
international student fee income in this crisis听
3. universities use international
students as 鈥榗ash cows鈥� to plug government funding shortfalls, and fund
building programmes and high senior staff pay
4. current high international student
fees prevent students from less wealthy backgrounds and countries from
attending UK universities
5. Current large, mostly international
courses do not provide a quality learning experience for students
6. International students鈥� experience of
the hostile environment
Conference affirms that international student recruitment should be shaped by the educational benefits of internationalisation, rather than financial priorities.
The conference calls for sustainable government funding of UK HE, an end to reliance on unsustainable international student fee income and a reduction in the international student fee to enable less well-off students to attend.
3.3 Debate on motions, Section 2: Fight for
jobs
Conference notes the successful mobilisation of members in the 鈥楩our Fights鈥� campaign and the fact that the existing 2020-21 claim builds on it.Conference calls for a new claim building on the existing joint union JNCHES claim. There should be no retreat on pay, while at the same time we should build a serious, detailed fight on jobs.Conference resolves that the new claim should include the following concrete demands:1. UK-wide agreed minimum standards for local policies including:
a. redundancy collective and individual consultation,
b. redeployment and other forms of redundancy avoidance,
c. extending minimum notice periods from three to six months,
d. enshrining equal treatment for fixed term and hourly paid staff, and building in thorough equality monitoring.
2. A
sector-wide agreement for redeployment between universities and colleges,
facilitated by the current online working conditions, with a JNCHES
consultative subcommittee to oversee it.
Amend resolves 1 as follows:1.Seeking to end gross pay inequality by campaigning for a 1:6 pay ratio between the lowest paid university staff and the highest paid, including VCs and senior management teams, and to incorporate this demand into future bargaining rounds.
Conference notes the impact of Covid has precipitated attacks on precarious colleagues and terms and conditions of employment across universities which breach the 2004 Higher Education pay framework agreement.Conference further notes the continued excessive levels of pay of senior management across the Higher Education sector and over 拢5 billion of capital expenditure in 2018/19.Conference resolves to fight back against the ruinous impact of a marketised higher education sector through:1. Seeking to end gross pay inequality by campaigning for a 1:6 pay ratio between the lowest paid university staff and the highest paid, including VCs and senior management teams, and to incorporate this demand into future bargaining rounds.
2. Immediately creating a comprehensive range of resources to enable branches to access financial information to inform collective bargaining
3. Establishing a commission to develop a new pay framework agreement that is fit for purpose.
(Note:
The Chair reminded delegates of CBC advice; if amendment 10A.1 is passed,
amendment 10A.2 falls)
Motion 10, Composite:
To include a UK-wide GTA contract in UCEA framework, University of Manchester, University of Glasgow,
Queen Mary University of London moved by Salom Letter (Queen Mary
University of London) was seconded formally.
Motion 10A.1, University of Sheffield was
moved by Elena Simon (Sheffield) and carried;
Replace existing points 1 and 2
with:
听听听听听听听听听听听 1.听听听 To include demands that GTA work occur on a contracted basis in our national bargaining.听听听听听听听听听听听 2.听听听 That GTA contracts include an appropriate workload allocation mechanism, guarantee that all GTAs are paid at the appropriate grade for the work they are conducting; receive paid training, and have access to the same rights and entitlements as all permanent members of staffMotion 10A.2, University of Glasgow moved by Marion Hersh (NEC/Glasgow) subsequently fell;
In point 2 replace
'guarantees all GTA鈥檚 are paid at the same pay grade' with
'guarantees all GTAs are paid on the same pay scale as other staff in their institution, all start at the same pay grade and receive an increment each year'.
听听听听听听听听 Speakers in the debate included
Joanna de Groot (NEC/York), Fiona Pashazadeh (University of Manchester)
Motion 10, Composite:
To include a UK-wide GTA contract in UCEA framework was carried as amended by 10A.1;
HESC notes that
during Covid-19 GTAs were most at risk of job loss and uncertainty. These did
not appear in statistics due to the nature of casual contracts. Further, 樱花动漫鈥檚
and Pandemic PGRs鈥� surveys revealed inter- and intra institutional disparities
of contractual agreements across the UK. This lack of transparency and
accountability is a key contributor of casualisation within the sector over
which 樱花动漫 is in dispute with the employers in its Four Fights campaign.
HESC resolves:
1. To include demands that GTA work occur on a contracted basis in our national bargaining.
2. That GTA contracts include an appropriate workload allocation mechanism, 听guarantee that all GTAs are paid at the appropriate grade for the work they are conducting; receive paid training, and have access to the same rights and entitlements as all permanent members of staff
3. To ensure all labour is paid for what it is worth and ensure 听听scholarships do not have an unpaid work requirement in line with UKRI policy.
4. This demand should be included in all future negotiations with UCEA.
听听听听听听听听 Motion 11, Acknowledge
postgraduate researchers as members of staff, University of Glasgow was moved by Marion Hersh (NEC/Glasgow)
and seconded formally by conference. Vicky Blake (樱花动漫 president/NEC/Leeds) and
Sunil Banga (Lancaster University) spoke to the motion. Marion Hersh exercised
a right of reply. The motion was carried;
Covid-19 exposed
the contradiction of PGRs being viewed as students rather than staff. Open
letters revealed that like staff鈥檚, PGRs鈥� work was affected by the pandemic,
however, because of their student status PGRs were unable to access neither
employer nor government support such as benefits and furlough. Instead of being
paid for their work, PGRs pay to do the work on which Universities and
companies' profit. This is contrary to practice in other sectors (graduate
training schemes) and countries, where PGRs would not be seen as students, but
workers. The unpaid research labour of PGRs cements the expectation of unpaid
labour throughout academic careers, which contributes to the workload and
casualisation crisis in the sector.
HESC resolves to
establish a principle that acknowledges original postgraduate research as
labour like any other work at universities and resolves to campaign for PGRs to
be recognised as members of staff.
Conference notes employers' exploitation of Covid-19 in the form of attacks on jobs, pay and conditions include non-renewal of fixed-term contracts and non-engagement of casual workersConference believes:1. FTC staff are routinely made redundant on the basis of their contract and treated less favourably than permanent staff, in breach of the law;
2. Casualisation is an endemic, structural issue in HE;
3. All employers should fully comply with the law on parity among open-ended and FTC staff.
Conference resolves:a. 樱花动漫 should explore a UK-wide legal action against employers who refuse to abide by the Fixed Term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002;
b. 樱花动漫 should consider a nation-wide campaign empowering and supporting FTC staff in securing a fair treatment, and wherever legally entitled, a permanent contract, in light of existing regulations.
3.4听听听 Debate of motions, Section 3: Industrial
action strategy
SHESC notes: 1. That the 鈥榚xpectations鈥� on employment arrangements in HE discussed in UCEA鈥檚 most recent offer on the Four Fights dispute represents a significant step forward in the fight against casualisation in HE
2. That if these 鈥榚xpectations鈥� were turned into binding national employment standards in HE, this would represent a huge win for our union
3. That UK HE is highly dependent on hyper-exploited casualised labour, and that it will require serious industrial leverage to push employers to agree to binding national standards of employment
SHESC resolves: a. To make securing national employment standards a key part of any new claim put forward to UCEA
b. To build a campaign of escalating industrial action over this academic year, supplemented by a wide range of effective ASOS and assessment boycotts, designed to maximise leverage through targeted disruption of /assessment periods.
听听听听听听听听 Motion 14, Covid-19 and casualisation,
University of Liverpool was
moved by Peta Bulmer (University of Liverpool) on behalf of Jo McNeil
(University of Liverpool, who had sent in apologies) and seconded by Lesley
McGorrigan (NEC/Leeds).
听听听听听听听听听听听 Motion 14A.1, University of
Birmingham was moved by James
Brackley (University of Birmingham) and
carried
[Add] HESC resolves: To instruct 樱花动漫 to give
twice weekly 'live' updates to branch officers on turnout through the ballot
period during any future industrial HE ballots.
HESC notes the reaction of the HE sector to the Covid-19 Pandemic and the mass attacks on casualised workers.HESC recognises the efforts made by members during the 2019/20 Four Fights dispute and the enormity of the struggle expected to overturn the HE sector in response to the previous and future four fights claim/s.HESC acknowledges the 8 and 14 day periods of action and that this was not enough to win such an extensive dispute.HESC recommends1.听听 The next ballot should be dis-aggregated 2.听听 run from late autumn for two months ending on Jan 29th 20213.听听 All ballots should be posted to members home addresses4.听听 Members commit to escalating 樱花动漫鈥檚 approach to sustained, effective industrial action5.听听 Free members should have the opportunity to vote for industrial action.
听听听听听听听听 Motion 15, Survey of members and
escalating industrial action strategy, University of Sheffield was moved by Robyn Orfitelli (NEC/Sheffield)
and seconded by Grant Buttars (University of Edinburgh).
Amendment 15A.1, University of
Birmingham moved by James Brackley (University of
Birmingham) was carried
[Add] HESC resolves: To instruct 樱花动漫 to give
twice weekly 'live' updates to branch officers on turnout through the ballot
period during any future industrial HE ballots.
(Note: Paul Bridge made a statement to conference about the need to
be cautious about having daily updates on statutory ballots and will discuss
this with Civica)
HESC notes1. HE employers are using Covid 19 to justify threatening job security, pay, and conditions
2. UCEA鈥檚 proposed 0% pay adjustment for the 2020 bargaining round
3. the fundamental importance of member involvement in and ownership of dispute planning.
HESC resolves toa. conduct a qualitative survey of members in October-November 2020 to determine levels of support across a range of industrial actions (IA), the potential impact of these actions on employers, and what concrete demands members prioritise in a dispute claim
b. engage qualitative researcher(s) to analyse the data
c. develop a plan for gradually escalating IA based on the results, beginning with ASOS and boycotting a range of activities reflecting members鈥� different job roles, and eventually culminating in strike action
d. run an IA ballot beginning December 2020, including actions which reflect survey findings
e. develop online materials on the IA strategy and make them available during the ballot and any subsequent IA.
f. To instruct 樱花动漫 to give twice weekly 'live' updates to branch officers on turnout through the ballot period during any future industrial HE ballots.
听听听听听听听听 Motion 16, Disaggregated ballots, Lancaster
University was moved by Sunil
Banga (Lancaster University) and formally seconded by conference. Carlo Morelli
(NEC/Dundee) spoke to the motion. The motion
was carried;
Conference notes 鈥�
1.听听 the anti-union laws require a 50% turnout in postal ballots for
industrial action to be legitimate
2.听听 樱花动漫 has developed a successful strategy to get the vote out, that
has delivered UK-wide industrial action on pensions, pay, casualisation,
workloads and equality.
Conference believes:
a.
we have to respond to the anti-union laws by
maximising the opportunity for successful industrial action ballots
b.
the question of aggregating or disaggregating
ballots is a tactical question, not one of principle.
Conference resolves:
i. to
continue to use disaggregated ballots, and
ii. to
campaign for electronic voting for trade union ballots.
4.听
Close of Business
4.1听听听听 The Chair thanked all in attendance for
their support and reminded delegates of the post conference online voting to
take place and details will be sent to email addresses. Voting will be opened
after the conference closes and remain open to 12 noon on Thursday. Conference
was reminded not to discuss matters publicly or tweet, however delegates can
take back to branches how votes were cast.
4.2听听听听 The Chair expressed heartfelt thanks to Heads
of teams and staff who worked tirelessly to ensure the smooth running of
business.
4.3听听听听 Following a proposal to the Chair, from the
floor to send solidarity to students in lockdown who had been asked to return
to university despite the current situation, the Chair took a virtual hand vote
and this was agreed by acclaim. The Chair formally closed conference.