Thread by @zenscara

Mini 'explainer' thread #UCUstrikes: how will @UCU decide re offers?

Understandably members have a lot of Qs about this!

Key point: We're negotiating intensely hard over proposals. Significant progress is being driven by the strength of our (historic!) industrial action! /1

[Interlude to note once again it's a disgrace that it takes industrial action - esp on this scale - to be heard on issues of basic decency...
And how ✊truly epic, determined + creative ✊ @UCU members are...
#UCUStrikes work!]
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NB Proposals are not formal offers, though proposal documents may *become* offers.

UCU negotiators have made proposals we believe could resolve both disputes. Employers could resolve both #UCUStrikes with decent offers

🚨NOTE it'll be *members* who *decide* on any offer(s)
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Once offer(s) come in - then what?
1) Negotiators refer to HEC (*special meeting called*)
2) HEC officers organise an advisory Branch Delegates Meeting prior to this special HEC (as per several recent HEC motions)
3) BDM conducted (according to formal guidance agreed in 2019)
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4) HEC, in receipt of guidance from the BDM and any necessary further advice (eg legal advice via officials) decides whether to put the offer(s) to members in dispute
5) HEC agrees contextual information accompanying consultation ballot (see: ucu.org.uk/article/9501/B…)
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6) Branch officers informed of ballot text at least 1 working day in advance of it going live
7) Consultation ballot goes live for members to vote whether to accept/reject offer(s) made
8) Results + dictate whether or not offer(s) are accepted to resolve #UCUStrikes dispute(s)
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Branch Delegate Meetings can be called quickly to advise HEC during disputes. The idea has been tidied up by guidance approved last year, and includes things like 1 delegate per branch, but any advisory votes will be weighted by Congress entitlement (ie branch size).
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HEC members will attend to *listen* to delegates debating at the BDM. The meeting is *for* the delegates to discuss issues. Indicative votes by delegates will be taken appropriately (weighted) to record the *advisory* decisions made by the BDM.
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All branches encouraged to hold branch meetings in advance of BDMs, to decide whether/how to mandate their BDM delegate. Branches may decide to mandate specific votes, or parameters for deciding how to vote, or may decide to leave it to the delegate's interpretation of debate /9

Guidance will also be provided to branches in advance to help facilitate well-informed discussions of the implications of any offers made in pursuit of a resolution to a dispute.

NB BDM delegates get their travel reimbursed (trains/buses not limos!)

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UPDATE! Can't find link on website, but guidance isn't marked 'ALERT TOP SECRET' or anything (&why should it be) so here we are (if images aren't accessible drop me a DM with your email). Note several HEC motions passed mean BDMs will be called when credible offers come in /11

🚨📢✊Cannot stress enough HOW IMPORTANT + HOW MUCH DIFFERENCE massive #UCUstrikes picket lines (physical + digital) are making in both sets of negotiations ✊📢🚨

✊HOLD + GROW THE LINE! ✊

Harder + louder #UCUstrike = greater leverage

#UCUStrikesBack

https://twitter.com/wawisloyola/status/1233494070271578122?s=20