UCU: Negotiations before valuation

Motion

Motion text: Conference notes that:
1. UUK delayed and misrepresented UCU proposals at consultation;
2. They have nevertheless claimed that if future valuations allow, benefits could be restored;
3. It should already cost significantly less that we are paying to fund the current reduced benefits, so this should be possible;
4. A new valuation will happen soon.
Conference believes that:
a. Vice-chancellors cannot be trusted to keep their word and stopping action will encourage further attacks;
b. We must fight now to fix in advance how the next contribution rates will be determined.
Conference resolves for negotiations to focus on:
i. a binding minimum contribution rate for after the next valuation irrespective of its outcome, with “excess” contributions used to restore benefits;
ii. UUK making a binding commitment to provide the same level of covenant support to any UCU proposal that meets some negotiated standard as any UUK proposal.