On May 10th, the agenda for the 434th Union Council was held at the Sir Clive Granger building.
During the meeting, motions about trade unions, employment rights of PHD students, sustainability, among other motions, were discussed and put to a vote.
The Union Council is the democratic policy making body of the Union. The decisions made on Thursday will then be worked on in the Union.
A maximum of 21 student panellists could be in attendance, with a minimum of 16 in order to make a decision for all of the motions presented. 19 student panellists were in attendance.
The six motions discussed and put into a vote were:
Motion 1: UoNSU Sustainable SU
Proposed by Ellie Mitchell, Community Officer 2017-18
This motion looks to mandate the Community Officer and Environmental and Social Justice Officer to create a Sustainability Working Group to review the work of the Students’ Union in terms of its sustainability and ethics.
The working group would then review all areas of Union activity and its findings and recommendations with timeframes for delivery.
Motion passed
For: 19
“This motion is to clarify the place of Student Run Services, such as Impact, URN, NSTV, among others, within the governance of the Union”
Motion 2: Postgraduates Who Teach
Proposed by Yolanda King, Postgraduate Officer 2017-18
This motion looks to call for fair employment rights for all postgraduate students. These include fair and equal access to employment opportunities, a letter of appointment, clear job description and terms and conditions, the right to belong to a trade union and be involved with the activities of the union, full induction training, and pay for all hours worked.
This is being motioned because currently not all of these conditions are being met, with there being large variations in employment conditions in practice.
Motion passed
For: 18
Against: 1
Motion 3: Trade Unions and Students Unions
Proposed by Cassie O’Boyle, Education Officer 2017-18
This motion wants to partner with trade unions as it will support students in developing their learning and understanding of the workplace and employment rights.
Another point made in support of this motion was that in developing working relationships with trade unions, the Students’ Union can achieve stronger negotiating and campaigning leverage when tackling issues relevant to students within the wider University community.
Motion passed
For: 18
Against: 1
Motion 4: Student Run Services Motion
Proposed by Martin Nguyen, Activities Officer 2017-18
This motion is to clarify the place of Student Run Services, such as Impact, URN, NSTV, among others, within the governance of the Union. In addition, the Students’ Union should work with media groups to create a communications strategy that provides adequate support around key Union events, such as varsity or elections.
This motion would also involve potential celebratory events for Student Run Services such as balls.
Motion passed
For: 19
“This motion deals with pregnant people in Ireland not having access to safe and legal abortions”
Motion 5: Transparency Policy
Proposed by Alan Holey, President 2017-18
This motion is to provide students with more transparency of processes that are happening behind the scenes, with its overall aim being to reveal transparency and ethics of the relationships between University of Nottingham Students’ Union and external providers.
Motion passed
For: 19
Motion 6: Support Repeal the 8th
Proposed by Seagh Kehoe
This motion deals with pregnant people in Ireland not having access to safe and legal abortions. Therefore, this motion is set to ask the Students’ Union to launch a Home to V8te campaign on campus to raise awareness and encourage students to register to vote by May 8th. It would also involve the Students’ Union setting up a travel fund to assist students to get home to vote on May 25th.
Motion passed
For: 18
Against: 1
You can read the agenda for the 434th Union Council and more details of all of the motions here.
Sarah Lindgarde
Image courtesy of ‘Brian Fagan‘ via Flickr.
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