- Conference
- 2016 Higher Education Service Group Conference
- Date
- 4 November 2015
- Decision
- Carried
This conference notes:
1)The current political climate makes trade union activists more vulnerable to victimisation.
2)The Trade Union Bill being presented to parliament in autumn 2015 represents a significant attack on trade union rights.
3)That there is no longer a legal right for employees to be accompanied by a trade union representative at flexible working meetings.
This conference calls on the Higher Education Service group executive to:
a) Organise a national campaign in Higher Education with the aim to:
i)Gain a voluntary agreement with the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) that Higher Education employers will not use agency staff in the event of strike action.
ii)Reach an agreement with Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) that trade union representatives will not be unfairly targeted or victimised for trade union activities.
iii)To Reach an agreement with Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) on the rights of employee’s to be accompanied and represented at work that goes beyond the legal framework and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration (ACAS) guidance. For example, to be able have a trade union representative at flexible working meetings.
b) Report back to UNISON Higher Education conference 2017 with a national Higher Education strategy to help defend UNISON activists from victimisation at Higher Education institutions.