UCU: Fighting casualisation in ACE

Motion

Motion text: Conference notes:
1. work done by UCU and the ACC to promote the fight against casual contracts in ACE, including the ACC motion to Congress 2016 demanding more resources for, research into and support for ACE branches
2. the information gathered by a recent FOI, which showed the overwhelming use of casual contracts in ACE. The responses confirmed that 70% of tutors in the sector are on casual contracts, with 36% of them on zero hours contracts.
3. the case of Hackney Learning Trust, where the UCU branch successfully moved all teaching staff from hourly paid to fractional contracts
4. where branches, regions and UCU officers have prioritised the work needed to improve contracts in an institution, they have often been successful. These successes can be mirrored in ACE, if members in the ACE sector are supported and experiences are shared across the FE sector.

Conference resolves to:
a. encourage more work to be done to support ACE branches to improve their contracts
b. promote the struggles of the ACE sector within regional and national structures and encourage pairing of FE branches who have had successes in improving contracts with ACE members, through anti-casualisation branch officers.

Conference demands relevant UCU bodies and officers prioritise identifying and supporting ACE branches who want to fight the use of casual contracts.