NUS NEC papers set 1 for February 20th meeting

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    National Executive Council

    Meeting of: 29th meeting of the National Executive Council of the National Union of Students

    Place: UNISON centre, 130 Euston Road London, NW1 2AY

    Date and time: Thursday 20 th February 2014, 11:00am

    Members:Zones

    Liberation

    Sections

    Nations

    Block

    Toni Pearce (President & Chair)Joe Vinson & Amy Smith (Further Education)Rachel Wenstone & Tom Flynn (Higher Education)Dom Anderson & Hugh Murdoch (Society & Citizenship)Raechel Mattey & Nosheen Dad (Union Development)

    Colum McGuire & Chantel Le Carpentier (Welfare)

    Aaron Kiely & Malia Bouattia (Black Students)Hannah Paterson & Jawanza Ipyana (Disabled Students)Sky Yarlett & Finn McGoldrick (LGBT)Kelley Temple & Tabz O'Brien Butcher (Womens)

    Daniel Stevens & Arianna Tassinari (International Students)Josh Rowlands & Emma Barnes (Mature & Part Time Students)Anna Chowcat & Amy Gilligan (Postgraduate Students)

    Stephanie Lloyd & Rhiannon Hedge (NUS Wales)Gordon Maloney & Robert Foster (NUS Scotland)Rebecca Hall & Fergal McFerran (NUS-USI)

    Jeni-Marie Pittuck, Rosie Huzzard, Harry Fox, Ben Dilks, James McAsh, Peter Smallwood,Paul Abernethy, Charles Barry, Chris Clements, Jessica Goldstone, Edmund Schluessel,Marc McCorkell, Kirat Raj Singh, Matt Stanley, Rhiannon Durrans

    Apologies:

    In attendance: Amy Davies, Meg Evans

    Agenda

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    No Item Action Paper Lead Time

    1. Introduction and administration

    1.1 Welcome and Presidents opening remarks Verbal TP 5 mins

    1.2 Apologies, quorum count and notice of meeting Note Verbal TP 2 mins

    1.3 Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest from the agenda Note Verbal TP 2 mins

    1.4 Minutes of the last meeting 24th January 2013 Approve 1 TP 5 mins

    1.5Actions and matter arising from the last meeting 24th January2013

    Discuss 2 TP 5 mins

    2. Accountability and NEC Member Reports

    2.1 National President report and questions Approve 3 TP 10 mins

    2.2 Zone reports and questions Approve 15 mins

    2.3 Liberation reports and questions Note 2.3 10 mins

    2.4 Sections reports and questions Note 2.4 10 mins

    2.5 Nations reports and questions Note 2.5 10 mins

    2.6 Scrutiny and Group Committees report and questions Note Verbal 5 mins

    2.7 Report from Block members on Member Unions Note Verbal 10 mins

    3. Papers (to approve)

    3.1 Update on NUS Group KPIs Approve Yes

    3.2 Equality and Diversity Report Approve Yes TP 20 mins

    4. Consultation

    4.1 Priority Work what will this involve?

    4.2 Q&A with UCU what shall we say this will involve?

    4.3 Strategic Plan What will this involve?

    5. Motions

    5.1 NEC motion text to National Conference Approve TP 10mins

    5.2 Ordinary Motions to NEC Approve TP 60 mins

    6. AOB

    Date of Next Meeting11:00, May 13 and 14, 2014.

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    National Executive Council

    Meeting of: 28th meeting of the National Executive Council of the National Union of Students

    Place: Unison Centre, 130 Euston Road, London, NW1 2AY

    Date and time: Thursday 23rd January 2014, 11:00

    Members present:Zones

    Liberation

    Sections

    Nations

    Block

    Toni Pearce (President & Chair)Joe Vinson and Amy Smith (Further Education)Rachel Wenstone and Tom Flynn (Higher Education)Dom Anderson and Hugh Murdoch (Society & Citizenship)Raechel Mattey and Nosheen Dad (Union Development)Chantel LeCarpentier (Welfare)

    Aaron Kiely (Black Students)Hannah Paterson & Jawanza Ipyana (Disabled Students)Sky Yarlett & Finn McGoldrick (LGBT)Kelley Temple & Tabz OBrien Butcher (Women s)

    Daniel Stevens (International Students)Josh Rowlands (Mature & Part Time Students)Anna Chowcat & Amy Gilligan (Postgraduate Students)

    Stephanie Lloyd (NUS Wales) and Rhiannon HedgeRebecca Hall (NUS-USI)

    Charles Barry, Jessica Goldstone, Marc McCorkell, Kirat Raj Singh, Edmund Schluessel,James McAsh, Paul Abernethy.

    Apologies:

    Absences:

    Rhiannon Durrans, Fergal McFerran, Ben Dilks, Colum McGuire, Malia Bouattia, RosieHuzzard, Arianna Tassinari, Emma Barnes.

    Harry Fox, Peter Smallwood, Chris Clements, Jeni-Marie Pittuck

    In attendance: Amy Davies, Meg Evans, Beth Button, Peter Robertson, Hilary Carter, Ben Kernighan,Alex Jones, Dave Farbrother.

    Minutes

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    1. Introductory & Administration

    1.1 Toni Pearce (TP) opened the meeting and welcomed members to NEC.

    1.2 Apologies were noted.

    1.3 There were no conflicts of interests declared.

    1.4 Minutes of the meeting held on 20th November 2013.

    Remove Paul Abernethy and Kirat Raj Singh from attendance list.

    1.6 Matters arising from the minutes

    The minutes were approved.

    TP noted that the Trustee Board minutes were not included because they had not been approved by the TrusteeBoard yet and were still in draft form.

    TP noted that the Policy Cycle Review presentation was given at the Policy Development Convention but couldbe circulated at the request of NEC members.

    TP also noted the Key Performance Indicators and that progress on these had been embedded into officerreports.

    2. Reports and accountability

    2.1 Presidents Priorities

    Toni Pearce:Report was taken as read; TP added the following:

    Tom Flynn asked for TP to elaborate on her meeting with Vince Cable and BIS. TP discussed the sale of thestudent loan book with Vince Cable, who gave assurances that there would be no changes to terms andconditions following sale of the loanbook. Vince Cable also gave assurances that he had no plans to implementprivate financing for Post graduate education. Other discussions included NUS work with BIS on employment,especially around unpaid internships and also the Women in Leadership priority.

    TP also updated on her meeting with Tristram Hunt and discussed Labours intentions for EMA, cuts to FurtherEducation funding and Labours plans to reinstate the requirement for teachers in FE to be qualified.

    CB asked about the breakdown of expenditure for each of the Zones, Liberation and Sections areas of theorganisation.

    CB also asked about TPs trip to Israel and whether there was a cost to the organisation. TP clarified that therewas no cost to the organisation.

    Gordon Maloney asked about the use of the term Palestinian settlement, which will be changed in the minutes.GM asked TP to speak more on the trip. TP reiterated what she learned from the trip.

    James McAsh asked about elections at National Conference and what TP was doing to encourage people to runfor election at National Conference.

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    Dom Anderson praised TP for NUS press release on the passing o f Nelson Mandela.

    Hugh Murdoch asked about voter registration, specifically in Scotland for the referendum. HM asked what NUSwere doing to encourage voter registration in Scotland. TP updated on the work of the Assistant CommunityOrganisers and the work around National Voter Registration Day. GM added that NUS Scotland was about tolaunch information on how to register for a postal vote. The Assistant Community Organiser for Scotland hasalso just started.

    Edmund Schluessel asked about how NUS had responded to the mandates passed in the Strike motion that waspassed at the last NEC. TP responded to say that she believed all the mandates had been fulfilled.

    2.2 Zone Convenors gave updates on their areas of work.

    Joe Vinson:

    Report was taken as read but Joe Vinson (JV) updated on some other areas of work:

    Since the report being submitted, the Government has announced a 17.5% cut to the Further Educationbudget. JV talked about the Day of Action happening on February 14th.

    JV and Colum McGuire have been working on developing a new financial support scheme for 16-19years olds. This is due to several political parties talking about their intention in this area, and wewanted to influence their policy making process before they come to a final decision. CB asked about the Policy Papers that were mentioned in the workplan. JV noted that he had to deprioritise thisdue to other campaigns work but will be launching a Manifesto for Further Education at National Conference.

    GM asked about what the proposals were for FE student support plans.

    Also added that Scottish MPs get to vote on issues affecting English students and suggested doing more joinedup work in lobbying Scottish MPs on this issue.

    Robert Foster asked about the work JV was doing around a universal admission systems and what consultationhad happened with the membership and the issues this might have for Scottish students.

    TP added that the work on a universal admission system was a mandate from National Conference and wasabout making applications more accessible, not necessarily replicating UCAS for further education.

    Rachel Wenstone:Report taken as read.

    Rachel Wenstone talked about the work thats been happening with the Student Opportunities funding and whatstudents unions can do to help this work in terms of lobbying.

    RW also talked about the NSP and the great successes that had come fro m the work of students unions,resulting in 28mil lion going into students pockets.

    RW spoke about an upcoming meeting with the Regulatory Partnership Group (RPG) and noted that she wascontinuing to lobby to ensure students unions are recognised in the regulation of HE.

    Sky Yarlett asked generally about what was happening with the UCU strike in terms of the two-hour strikecurrently happening and also the position on Vice-Chancellor pay increases. RW had met with UCEA andchallenged them on the pay rise for Vice-Chancellors. As well as talking about VC pay, RW also talked aboutuniversities paying the living wage.

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    On the UCU strikes, TP gave an update from Sally Hunt, the General Secretary of UCU. UCU will be seekinglegal recovery for lost wages for lecturers who are striking for two hours but are being docked a full dayswages.

    TF asked about who was on the negotiating team for the Vice-Chancellor pay negotiations; RW does not know ifthat information was public but will find out.

    JM thanked RW for the work that she had done around Cops off Campus and asked about the possibility ofcreating a legal plan for students. RW noted that she has looked into it and whilst NUS is not in a financialposition to provide legal costs for students, it does have a number of partnerships with organisations who dopro-bono work. RW added that she had been working with activists at Sussex University who have beenreceiving pro-bono advice, as well as encouraging students to use the Office of the Independent Adjudicator.

    Dom Anderson:

    Report taken as read.

    DA noted that he had sent a letter to the Sikh Students Alliance re: the 1984 Yes its a Genocide campaign asmandated and would be circulating it after the meeting.

    On National voter registration Day, NUS will be working with Westminster Kingsway college and setting up avoter registration station.

    DA will be visiting an Am azon factory, having raised the issue of workers rights following an undercoverinvestigation into Amazons practices. DA will report back to NEC.

    GM added that DA had been doing some work with NUS Scotland to get the Students Green Fund extended to

    Scotland. Steph Lloyd and Rebecca Hall added that DA was also working to extend the Green Fund to Walesand Northern Ireland as well.

    DA apologised that his report was late.

    Raechel Mattey:

    Report was taken as read but Raechel Mattey (RM) updated on a couple of areas of work.

    RM updated on the NUS London meeting that had taken place since her report was submitted. 80 studentofficers from 30 students union across London attended and RM praised the quality of the discussions, as wellas updating on who had been elected to the working group.

    RM updated that the view of what NUS London should be was quite mixed, which she felt was positive. RMadded that there were questions around who the membership of NUS London should be, taking into accountthings like satellite campuses.

    JM congratulated RM on the NUS London day but asked why RM had met with University of London without theknowledge of ULU. RM clarified that this was a update meeting and no decisions were taken. London Higherwere also present at the meeting as they are keen to work with NUS London.

    Josh Rowlands stated that he had been contacted by the Learner Voice Practioners Network who felt that therewasnt enough notice for the meeting. RM noted an error on the mailbase that prevented emails going out tostudents before Christmas but was working on ways to get more students from Further Education to the

    meetings.

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    Colum McGuireReport was taken as read.

    DA congratulated Colum McGuire for the responses to the housing consultation.

    2.3 Liberation priorities were outlined to note

    Black Students Campaign

    To note.

    Aaron Kiely talked about Black Students Winter Conference and some of the speakers that attended the event.

    AK will be giving evidence to a select committee on Race and Higher Education next week.

    AK has submitted evidence to the Home Offices Stop and Search consultation.

    KRS asked AK about upcoming elections and what the Black Students Campaign was doing to encourage Blackstudents to stand in students union elections and the kind of support Black students running in election facingracism. The campaign has produced information on how to write manifestos, tips on public speaking andcampaigning.

    AK noted that the Campaign was part of a broader movement opposing racism and had been working withpartner organisations to fight against racism.

    DA asked what resources in the Black Students Campaign were being used in terms of unemployment foryoung black people. AK talked about partnerships with other organisations and the Black Manifesto for 2015 inthe lead up to the General Election.

    DA also asked about what the campaign was doing to tackle the sexism that black women often face. AKupdated that there was a lot of work being done by women on the committee around this issue, such aswomens only seminars and talks at conferences. AK also noted that Black Students Conference was attendedby a majority of women.

    Rhiannon Hedge asked about whether any work was being done around agricultural migrant workers, giventhat the National Farmers Union had been talking about the issue . AK responded that no work was specificallytaking place around the racism that migrant agricultural workers were facing but that there was work beingdone to broadly tackle anti-migrant rhetoric.

    Disabled Students Campaign

    To note.

    Hannah Paterson talked about the work around Disabled Students Conference and the work around thegovernance review in the campaign that will be voted on at Disabled Students Conference.

    57 organisations had signed the Time to Change pledge.

    There are a number of Anti-ATOS demonstrations happening across the UK which NUS are supporting andtaking part in. Jawanza Ipyana added that the demonstrations were being co-ordinated by Disabled PeopleAgainst the Cuts and how students unions could get involved with this work.

    BIS are still in consultation on the Disabled Students Allowance.

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    HP has been working on mitigated circumstances.

    HP has also been invited to talk part in some work around disabled sport.

    CB asked about what was happening with the Accessibility working group; HP gave an update on the work thathad been happening with accessibility and how this was going to manifest itself in terms of Conferences andevents.

    LGBT Campaign

    To note.

    Finn McGoldrick updated on Sports Gay and the action that was taking place on February 1st around the WinterOlympics and Russias anti -LGBT laws. NUS LGBT Campaign are co-ordinating a response with Amnesty.

    Research is currently ongoing into Real Educational Change for LGBT students and preliminary findings will be

    released in February. There is also a lot of work about the employment experiences of LGBT people andproblems around the HEAR in terms of outing students.

    Working on LGBT Conference planning.

    SY talked about Sports Gay and the objectives of the protest.

    Womens campaign

    The report was taken as read and to note.

    2.4 Sections report:

    Daniel Stevens:

    To note.

    TP noted a major success in the International Students Campaign. The Home Office has developed an improvedset of service standards for international students when they are applying for their visas, including a 15 dayturnaround time for all out of country student visas and a commitment that applications will not be refused onthe basis of omissions or errors.

    2.5 Nations report:

    NUS Wales Stephanie Lloyd

    The biggest project has been around the Education review that has been happening.

    Lots of work has been done around preparing unions for the education review.

    SL has been doing a lot of work around transport for FE students, especially around college mergers andcampuses spanning large areas.

    ES asked about the Pound in Your Pocket survey that was currently out. ES asked why there was a question ongraduate tax when NUS Wales has policy on free education. Rebecca Hall clarified that the survey had to be

    exactly the same as the England survey in order for the data to be comparable.

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    NUS Scotland Gordon Maloney

    Report taken is read.

    Around student support, student support packages will go up with inflation in FE and just above inflation in HE.

    NUS Scotland has won the UKs first postgraduate support package.

    NUS Scotland have been commissioned by the Scottish Government to research the kind of support thatasylum seekers and refugees have in terms of accessing further and higher education.

    In terms of Student Finance, GM is working with the Scottish government to tweak some of the terms andconditions of student loans. Scottish government has also agreed to fixing international student fees.

    In terms of Vice- Chancellor pay, NUS Scotland is close to securing students union and trade unionrepresentation on remuneration panels.

    DA asked about some of the successes that NUS Scotland has achieved and in terms of the independencereferendum, whether these successes would still be carried out. GM responded that he thought the narrativewas interesting; that Scotland is often seen as an outlier in the UK but actually it was the rest of the UK thatwas the outlier in Europe.

    NUS USI Rebecca Hall

    Report taken as read, but Rebecca Hall gave an update.

    Since the report, RH, TP and Joe OConnor (The President of USI) have held the Trilateral meeting. Movingforward with all-Ireland training which will allow students unions in Northern Ireland to take advantage of

    training from NUS, USI and NUS USI without having to travel to three events in different locations.

    Have held a Voter Registration event with the Assistant Community Organiser for Belfast.

    Marc McCorkell congratulated RH for the press coverage that she had received for the Haass talks and how itwas great that NUS-USI was being seen as a voice for young people in Northern Ireland. RH also gave anupdate on what was happening now following the Haass talks.

    FMCG added her congratulations on the work that RH and NUS-USI was doing with teaching training colleges inNorthern Ireland (One Catholic, one Protestant). RH elaborated on the work that was happening and the jointevents that were taking place between the two students unions, including training for part -time officers andclass reps. RH has been working with both students unions to come up with a joint vision for the future of

    teacher training.

    3. Organisation Reports

    3.1 TP presented the Estimates 2014-5 paper.

    The Estimates predict that NUS Group will make the same amount of money as last year. TP outlined theheadlines of the Estimates and noted that NEC approves the budgets to be sent to National Conference to beapproved.

    One of the increased costs comes from the decision to have two full-time LGBT officers.

    TF asked about whether there were any aspirations to subsidise Zone Conferences further in future. TP notedthat they were break-even events but in future, the organisation should aim to increase the capacity. JM addedthat he agreed with TF and that he believed that affiliation fees should go up in order for democratic events to

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    be free, which was a more progre ssive way. TP responded that she felt that the feeling from students unionswas that they wanted affiliation fees to go down and that she would feel more comfortable with this debatetaking place at Conference with students unions.

    TP outlined the process for submitting challenges to the Estimates. NEC approved the Estimates to be sent toNational Conference.

    5. Consultation

    5.1 Priority Work There was a consultation around community organising and National Voter Registration Day.

    6. Priority Motion

    Priority motion: New Deal for the Next GenerationSpeech for: Toni Pearce

    Amendment 1

    Speech for: James McAshSpeech against: NoneVote: Passed

    Amendment 2Speech for: James McAshSpeech against: Rhiannon HedgeVote: Falls

    Back to main motionSpeech against: NoneSummation: James McAshVote: Passes

    Motions:

    Motion 1: A Review that matters to everyone, not just WalesSpeech for: Steph LloydSpeech against: NoneVOTE: Passes

    Procedural motion received to change the order paper. ES spoke to move motion 9 to be debated next. RWspoke against moving the motion.

    Procedural motion: falls.

    The order paper remains the same.

    Motion 2: For a United Europe with Open BordersSpeech for: Gordon Maloney

    Amendment 2.1Speech for: Steph LloydSpeech against: James McAshVote: Passes

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    Interrelationship if amendment 2.1 passes, we can only take Add parts on the next two amendmentsbecause any amendment to replace or delete things are now redundant because amendment 2.1 seeks todelete all and replace.

    Amendment 2.2Speech for: Edmund SchluesselSpeech against: Rachel Wenstone

    Parts: Parts to remove Add Resolves 2 from Amendment 2.2Speech for parts being removed: James McAshSpeech against parts being removed: Edmund SchluesselVote on parts: Passes

    Back to amendment 2.2Vote: Falls

    Amendment 2.3Speech for: Charles BarrySpeech against: NoneVote: Passes

    Back to the main motion as amendedSpeech against: NoneVote: Passes

    Motion 3: 3 Cosas CampaignSpeech for: James McAshSpeech against: None

    Parts have been submitted to delete Resolves 4.Speech for deleting parts: Rhiannon HedgeSpeech against deleting parts: Gordon MaloneyVote to remove parts: Passes

    Parts are removed.

    VOTE: Passes

    Motion 4: Cops off campus!Speech for: Amy Gilligan

    Amendment 4.1Speech for: Chantel LeCarpentierSpeech against: Sky Yarlett

    Parts have been submitted to remove Believes 1Speech to remove parts: Tabz OBrien Butcher Speech against removing parts: Finn McGoldrickVote on parts being removed: Falls

    Parts are kept

    Back to amendment 4.1Vote: Passes

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    Amendment 4.2Speech for: Rachel WenstoneSpeech against: Edmund SchluesselParts have been submitted to keep Resolves 4 from Amendment 4.2, which would seek to delete it from themain motion.

    Speech for Resolves 4 being kept: James McAshSpeech against Resolves 4 being kept: Rachel WenstoneVote on parts being kept: Falls

    Parts are removed from the amendment.

    Parts have been submitted to keep Resolves 5 (bullet point 2) in the main motionSpeech for keeping parts: Edmund SchluesselSpeech against keeping parts: Rachel Wenstone

    Vote to keep parts: falls

    Parts are removed. (Recorded vote)

    RW HM ND JR KT TOBB HP JRI TF AC GM RF JM DA CB MMCC JGAg Ag Ag Ag Ag Ag Ag Ag Ag Ag Abs Ag Fo Ag Ag Ag Ag

    SL SY RHH RH KRS FMCG CL AS JV DS AK MS ES AGAg Abs Ag Ag Ag Ag Ag Ag Ag Ag Fo Fo Fo Fo

    Vote on amendment 4.2: Passes

    Amendment 4.3 - WithdrawnVote on motion as amended: Passes

    Interrelationship: If 4.3 passes, this will delete the main motion and replace with the text of the motion, butamendments 4.1 and 4.2 would still apply.

    Motion 5: Focus E15 mothersProcedural motion that this motion is referred to another body. Kelley Temple spoke to refer this motion to theWomens Campaign committee.

    Speech for procedural motion: Kelley TempleSpeech against procedural motion: NoneVote: Passes

    Motion 6: Stand up to racism and fascism supporting UN Anti-Racism Day 2014

    Speech for: Aaron Kiely

    Amendment 6.1Speech for: Aaron KielySpeech against: Charles Barry

    Vote: Passes

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    Back to the main motionSpeech against: NoneVote: Passes

    Motion 7: Stop the privatisation of student debt (AK accepted the amendment to the motion.)Speech for: Aaron KielySpeech against: NoneVote: Passes

    Motion 8: Stop the Lobbying BillSpeech for: Toni Pearce

    Amendment 8.1Speech for: Gordon MaloneySpeech against: NoneVote: Passes

    Back to main motion as amendedSpeech against: NoneVote: Passes

    Motion 9: Support the strikeSpeech for: Edmund Schluessel

    Amendment 9.1 (Accepted by the proposer into the main motion)

    Amendment 9.2Speech for: Charles Barry

    Speech against: Gordon MaloneyVote: Falls

    Back to main motionSpeech against: Hannah PatersonVote: Passes

    AOB:

    TP outlined the process for submitting the NEC motion to National Conference.

    Action list:

    Item Action Lead Deadline Progress

    1 Remove PA and KRS from attendance list MENextmeeting

    2 Change Palestinian settlement in minutes MENextmeeting

    Resolutions:

    Priority Zone Proposal

    Conference Believes :1. Continued attacks on the prospects of students both in education and in their communities represent a

    whole generation let down by those with power

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    2. A feeling of powerlessness and precariousness is increasingly common among the rising generation,squeezed by global recession and biting financial pressures, uncertain about its prospects and its future

    3. We too often feel let down by politicians who fail to speak on our behalf in a world where the odds arealready stacked against us

    4.

    Young people and students prospects continue to worsen due to rising unemployment and living costs 5. Evidence from Ipsos Mori public opinion polling shows more than two thirds of people believe the UKgovernment does not adequately consider future generations in the decisions it makes today

    6. The next UK general election is due to take place on Thursday 7 May 2015

    Conference further believes:

    1. At the 2010 general election, just 44 per cent of those aged 18 to 24 voted, compared 76 per cent ofthe over 65s

    2. The introduction of individual voter registration (IER) threatens to further reduce the number ofstudents and young people voting

    3. The gulf in voting levels between the generations leaves young people losing out in policy terms

    4.

    Tha t NUS approach to the general election needs to be both local and national, supporting students towin locally and on a national level.5. To achieve a new deal for the next generation we will need public support, and this is best achieved

    through working together with people in the communities we live in and finding common cause.6. That NUS analysis of the 2011 census data demonstrates that there are over 60 constituencies in the

    UK with over 10 per cent full time students, and that the strength of the student voice and the studentvote should be reaffirmed at every opportunity.

    Conference Resolves:

    1. To campaign for a new deal for the next generation across the themes of education, work andcommunity

    2.

    To use the opportunity of the next General Election to win for students both locally and nationally3. To continue and develop the new campaigning partnership between NUS and the Trades UnionCongress (TUC) to work together for a better deal for students and workers through a strong collectivevoice

    4. To work with external allies and partners to maximise voter registration and electoral participationamong young people and students to ensure their voices are heard

    5. To launch a general election hub in 2014, and support every students union to develop their ownelection strategy - supporting students to win both locally and nationally.

    6. To empower students and to connect student communities with wider society, including throughcontinuing our community organising work and training students as community organisers on theircampuses and in their communities.

    7. To campaign nationally for political parties to adopt NUS demands, taken from policies passed orratified by National Conference, and chosen by NUS NEC.

    Motion 1: A review that matters to everyone not just Wales

    NEC Believes:

    1. A wholesale review of Higher Education Funding in Wales has been announced by the WelshGovernment

    2. Although the detailed terms of reference are yet to be announced we know that the main areas of focusfor the review will be:a. How course are fundedb. How students are funded and supported

    c. This will all be reviewed with an increased focus on part time study and widening access3. The NUS Wales President will have a seat on the review

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    4. The review is not due to report back until after the Welsh Assembly elections in 2016.5. The review presents us with a real chance to take the work of the Imagine Education Commission NUS

    Wales ran last year and change the parameters of the debate away from fees and debt and challengethem to think about how they can create an education system that truly works for students across

    Wales.6. The Welsh Government has already committed to the broad recommendations of the Imagine EducationCommission in their future of Higher Education policy document released in 2013

    7. We have to ensure that we turn their previous commitments into legislation and solid recommendationsof the review.

    8. We want to use the research of Pound In Your Pocket Wales, our ground breaking research on part timestudents and Imagine Education as the evidence base for our lobbying.

    9. We have to ensure that the length of the review does not silence public debate on education funding.

    NEC Resolves:

    1. Due to the size and scope of the review we need to ensue as a UK organisation that we are maximisingthe opportunity it presents not just in Wales but as best practice if we win for the rest of the UK.

    2. That NUS UK will provide more organisational support and resource to NUS Wales for the duration ofthe review.

    Motion 2: Challenging rhetoric and turning out voters

    NEC Believes:

    1. The European elections will to be held on Thursday 22 May2. The European elections often have a much lower turnout than the General Election which leads to an

    increase of power in the hands of voters that vote for far -right parties and candidates.3. Currently the UK is represented by members of the BNP in the European Parliament and both Nick

    Griffin and Andrew Brones are seeking re-election.4. The rise of UKIP is symptom of a much wider political narrative of the mainstreaming of anti-

    immigration rhetoric5. NUS has a proud history of opposing racist, fascist and xenophobic views and also a proud history of

    campaigning against this European elections.6. NUS should support the aspirations of students who wish to migrate and travel to other countries to

    study and improve their lot in the life.7. International students, as with all migrants, ultimately benefit the UK: culturally, socially and

    economically.8. Economic studies have suggested that if all countries opened their borders to migrants, world GDP

    would double. A literature review by Clemens (2011) found papers estimating open migration wouldincrease world GDP from 67% to 147%, compared to worldwide free trade, which would boost world

    GDP by 0.3% to 4.8%. Kerr and Kerr (2011) surveyed the impact of immigration on 74 countries,concluding immigrants appear to have a minor positive net fiscal effect for host countries.

    9. Other economic research suggests that open borders could dramatically reduce world poverty. Clemensand Pritchard (2008) noted that of all Haitians who have escaped poverty, more than 4 out of 5 did soby emigrating.

    NEC Resolves:

    1. For NUS UK to continue a principled stance on being pro-immigration and to challenge the widerracist, fascist and xenophobic views that feed into the rise of far-right political parties.

    2. For this to the one of the main themes of our European elections.

    3.

    To ensure NUS UK pushed voter registration and voter turnout for the European elections.

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    4. That this statement should also condemn the rhetoric of UKIP, oppose British withdrawal from theEU and advocate a united fightback to level up conditions and rights, and win greater democracy,across Europe and beyond.

    5. To make these themes a major part and priority of the NUS campaign around the 2014 Euro-

    election and 2015 General Election and in its community organising work.6. NUS will support the policy of open borders and will oppose any efforts to remove the freemovement of labour laws contained within the treaties of the European Union.

    Motion 3: 3 Cosas campaign

    NEC Resolves:

    1. To suppor t the ongoing 3 Cosas campaign by outsourced University of London workers, and advertiseand promote it widely.

    2. To ask the VP Society & Citizenship to meet representatives of the campaign to discuss workingtogether.

    3. To mobilise Constituent Members for the 27-29 January strike.

    Motion 4: Cops off Campus!

    NEC Believes:

    1. The struggle waged by students up and down the country against police, legal and managementrepression last term, under the slogan Cops off campus, in connection with support for workers'struggles (the national HE workers' pay dispute, the University of London 3 Cosas campaign).

    2. The police brutality meted out at the University of London (UoL) in 2013 was part of a concertedattempt to crush protest and dissent through force

    3. As well as at UoL, university managements at Sussex, Birmingham, University of Ulster, Edinburgh andSheffield have colluded with police and the state in attempts to crush protests, victimise participantsand often institute bans on occupations and other forms of direct action. In Cambridge, police haveattempted to recruit students to spy on student activist groups

    4. The cops off campus protests that took place at the end of last year showed enormous anger existsagainst this repression and a determination to fight the attacks is present among ordinary students

    5. The scale, scope and overall significance of these attacks on democratic rights make this a crucialnational issue for our movement which requires an adequate national response from NUS

    6. Some students, particularly those vulnerable to hate crime, feel safer having a police presence oncampus and NUS should not dispute or put that in jeopardy through its policy or action.

    7. Some of our member students' unions have partnerships and relationships with their local police servicewhere they can engage constructively, act as a critical friend and receive funding for crime preventionwork. It is not the place of NUS to criticise or undermine that.

    8. It is right that NUS should criticise police actions where that is warranted, and support those of our

    members who wish to adopt a 'cops off campus' policy but in such a way that relationships that providestudents with safety and security are not put at risk.

    NEC further believes:

    1. The growing intolerance of dissent by university managements is linked to the marketisation andprivatisation of higher education. Universities, more and more run like private businesses, considerdemocracy an unaffordable and easily disposed of luxury.

    2. It is in the context of austerity and of huge attacks on education that democratic rights are beingundermined

    3. Democratic and civil liberties have been won by working people over generations of struggle and mustbe vigorously defended

    4. The demonstrations that were called at short notice over this issue, saw thousands taking to the streetsand joining campus protest

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    5. That this swift response, organised by anti-cuts students and left students union leaders was effectiveand helped ensure that the police lacked the confidence to enter University of London campuses orattack protesters on 11 December

    6. Now our movement must demand the right to protest on campus as part of our campaigns to end the

    cuts, the privatisation of the student loan company, attacks on bursaries and grants and for decent payand conditions for all university staff

    NEC Resolves:

    1. To support and promote the London demonstration on 22 January and the Birmingham demonstrationon 29 January.

    2. To support students' unions who wish to have 'cops off campus'.3. To be clear that supporting any 'cops off campus' action relates only to those students' unions who wish

    to adopt a similar approach.4. To continue to support our members with crime prevention work on campuses and in communities for

    the safety of students.5. Continue to support students unions and students campaigning to defend the right to protest, and

    against the privatisation of their campuses. Re-launch our Occupations and Protest Guidance, ensuringthat students unions are equipped with the arguments against university management seeking tocriminalise protest.

    6. Continue to work with trade unions on the righ t to protest, and help students unions and trade unionswork more effectively together on this issue.

    7. Continue to work with Defend the Right to Protest and Green and Black Cross, and look into workingwith other appropriate support groups on supporting students facing criminal charges.

    8. Continue to press the Mayor of London for an inquiry into police tactics and behaviour towardsprotestors in London. Work with Andrew Dismore, GLA member for the area to ensure Boris Johnson isheld accountable for the action of his police force.

    9. Call on the police to drop unjustified charges against students arrested during the protests in November

    and December.10. Call on UUK to condemn those universities attempting to criminalise students and make their campuses

    protest free zones.

    Motion 6: Stand up to racism and fascism supporting UN Anti-Racism Day 2014

    NEC Believes:

    1. A day of action against racism has been called for across Europe to coincide with the marking of the

    United Nations International Day for the Elimi nation of Racial Discrimination in 2014, with eyes on theEuropean elections in May.2. These elections are set to be dominated by racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and the scapegoating of

    minorities Muslims, immigrants, Roma, Black and Asian communities.3. Across Europe the fascist and populist racist right are on the rise. From the violent Golden Dawn in

    Greece, the anti-Roma Jobbik in Hungary, the Islamophobic Freedom Party of Geert Wilders in theNetherlands to the success of the Front National in France, these currents are encouraging hatred, fearand prejudice in a frightening wave across the continent.

    4. In Britain the far right is hoping for gains in the Euro elections. The British National Party (BNP) isseeking the re-election of Nick Griffin in the North West and Andrew Brons is seeking re-election inYorkshire and the Humber.

    5. Following the rising violence of Golden Dawn and the murder of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas, (alsoknown as Killah P), the Greek anti-fascist and anti-racist movement has p roposed that next years UN

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    Ingmire Co-Ordinator / CEO Roma Support Group) and 20 General Secretaries of trade unions acrossBritain.

    3. To encourage students to attend the demonstration in London and hold activities on their campusesaround the day of action.

    4. To wholly condemn the Metropolitan Police for killing Mark Duggan5. To condemn the Metropolitan Police for its continued inability to deal with concerns about institutional

    racism.6. To issue a public statement of support to Mark Duggans family. 7. To support any calls for a judicial review of the case.8. To publicise events called by the Justice for Mark Duggan campaign.

    1 http://www.inquest.org.uk/statistics/deaths-in-police-custody 2 This has been written about extensively in the local and student press, and Daniel Cooper, ex-RoyalHolloway President, who was arrested, has stated his view on the nature of the police activity here:http://www.workersliberty.org/story/2013/09/29/police-raid-royal-holloway-students-union3 http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/local-news/anti-terror-raids-student-halls-city-397002717

    Motion 7: Stop the privatisation of student debt

    NEC Believes:

    1. Government plans for funding undergraduate higher education is in complete disarray.

    2. The government grossly underestimated the real cost of the new higher education funding regime. Forevery 1 lent to students through the Student Loan Company, it is estimated that the government willonly recoup on average 46p.

    3. Forcing debt onto students as a way of funding universities is an experiment that is failing. The systemof debt is unsustainable, and the same generation faced with increased fees, will be forced to pay for

    the mess left by the new funding regime.

    4. In the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced plans to lift student number controls forinstitutions in England. Although we support the principle of universal access, this policy is badlythought through and uncosted. The government plans to rely on the sale of the student loan book tofund this policy, and to continue relying on the sale of loan book going forward, despite the fact it is notyet possible to sell the 2012 loan book.

    5. National media outlets, including The Guardian, have reported on the black - hole in the BIS budget due primarily to private providers, with designated funding, recruiting significantly more students thanexpected. Consequently, the National Scholarship Program and Student Opportunity Fund have beenremoved or threatened in order to give public money to private, for-profit providers who use it to makemoney off the back of students.

    6. The Government has consistently and conspicuously failed to secure the terms and conditions ofstudent loans in primary legislation, which means they can be changed without a vote in Parliament.

    7. A leaked document, authored by Rothschilds, made it clear than in order to make loans profitable forsale the government would either have to change terms and conditions of lenders, or underwrite theamount of profit the company should expect to receive from recouping the debt.

    8. NUS has taken a strong stance against the sale of the loan book and any change in terms andconditions, and the National President gave evidence to a hearing of the BIS Select Committee inDecember to that effect.

    9. NUS received assurances from the Minister for Universities and Science that he would not look tochange the terms and conditions on loans, but as it stands this is a hollow assurance and in any casethere is no guarantee that it would extend beyond the 2015 General Election.

    NEC Further Believes

    http://www.inquest.org.uk/statistics/deaths-in-police-custodyhttp://www.inquest.org.uk/statistics/deaths-in-police-custodyhttp://www.inquest.org.uk/statistics/deaths-in-police-custodyhttp://www.inquest.org.uk/statistics/deaths-in-police-custody
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    1. Students wishing to return to study at Level 3, over the age of 24, have been forced onto the sameloan regime as higher education undergraduates.

    2. NUS won concessions on loans for apprentices over 24, but there are still many students forced totake loans in further education. There has been no clarity on the sale or change in terms andconditions of those loans, and the government has remained silent on the future of level 3 funding

    for over 24s.

    NEC Resolves:

    1. To make three demands of Government:- Do not sell the student loan book- Secure past, current and future student loan terms and conditions in primary legislation- Stop designating public funding to for-profit alternative providersEnsure all of these demands are made in reference to both loans in further and higher education.

    2. Encourage students to lobby their MPs to sign up to Early Day Motion 542 on the Sale of StudentLoans.

    3. Organise action in reference to the demands above, during the national week of action, taking placebetween Monday 3 Friday 7 February 2014.

    4. Organise action on the Budget Day, 19 th March 2014, against the use of public money funding privatefor-profit providers.

    Motion 8: Stop the Lobbying Bill

    NEC Believes:

    1. The Transparency of Lobbying, Non Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill (LobbyingBill) represents an attack on the ability of charities, non -government organisations, trades unions andstudents unions to have their voices hea rd in the run up to a General Election

    2. The almost halving of the amount of money that charities and non-government organisations can spendon non partisan campaigning in the run up to a General Election threatens to seriously inhibit the abilityof NUS, st udents unions and activist groups to influence policies during the 12 months before a GeneralElection

    3. It is a fundamental right of civil society that organisations can join together to influence political partiesand the political process for the benefit of their members

    4. The Lobbying Bill does not sufficiently tackle the influence of big business and the private sector in thepolitical process

    NEC further believes:

    1. The Commission for Civil Society and Democratic Engagement has been instrumental in leading an

    evidence based call for changes to the lobbying bill2. The government have conceded a number of significant amendments to the Lobbying Bill whichincrease the amount of money that organisations in the nations, as well as smaller charities (includingstu dents unions), can spend in the year leading up to a general election

    3. The government have also conceded significant exemptions to the Lobbying Bill which include thetranslation of materials into Welsh, making materials accessible to disabled people and security aroundrallies and demonstrations, as well as all activities coordinated by the Parades Commission in NorthernIreland

    4. A review of the bill has been hard fought and won by the Commission5. The Bill is irredeemably bad and whilst we should continue to fight for concessions, it would be better if

    it were withdrawn entirely.

    NEC Resolves:

    1. Celebrate the very significant concessions that have been won by civil society organisations andstudents unions through the Commission for Civil Society and Democrat ic Engagement

    2. Continue to argue for staff costs to be excluded from the cost of campaigning

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    3. Continue to campaign for greater clarity around the opportunities for organisations to work in coalitionwith each other on general election issues

    4. Continue to lobby for an increase in constituency level spending limits for campaigning organisationsbefore a general election

    5. Continue to campaign for an increase in the overall spending limits for campaigning organisations

    before a general election6. To continue to make the case for the Lobbying Bill to be withdrawn entirely.

    Motion 9: Support the Strike

    NEC believes

    1. Due to the intransigence of employers the dispute over pay and conditions for university staffrepresented by Unite, Unison, UCU and EIS, is ongoing. It is likely that further strike action may takeplace in February

    2. This would be the third strike that has been called over a 1% pay offer, which represents a real termswage cut. This comes after many years of declining wages. Academic staff have seen a real-terms paycut of 13.8% since 2009

    3. Many of the workers taking part in action will also tell you that their reasons for striking include everincreasing work-loads, low-pay, casualistion, zero-hour contracts, bullying and discrimination

    4. Many students are among those who will be striking, including the many thousands who rely onteaching and part time work to continue their studies

    5. Both of the previous two strikes drew wide support from students, many of whom joined rallies andpickets in support of those on strike

    NEC further believes

    1. NUS correctly took a position in support of the last strike. The blame for disruption students mightexperience as a result of strike days lies with employers and the representatives of universitymanagements

    2. The issues the strike relates to directly affect students. Under-paid, overworked and undervalued staffare never going to be able to give students the best possible help and support, however dedicated theymay be

    3. This strike is part of both the fight to defend education and to beat back the brutal austerity policiesthat are seeing jobs destroyed, living standards decimated and the future for the next generationsnatched away

    4. Strikes are the most powerful weapon working people have to fight to change things for the better they demonstrate the huge potential power of workers

    5. For students, this strike may be a minor inconvenience in the short-term, but the long term damagethats being done to education will have far more detrimental effects if it goes unchallenged

    NEC resolves

    1. To stand in complete solidarity with workers taking strike action in our universities2. To produce a leaflet for distribution on campuses, explaining why students should support strikes and

    attend picket lines to bring support and solidarity3. To make the campaign to support the strike a top item on the NUS website and use social media

    networks to publicise it4. To write to all students unions advising them to host joint public meetings with campus trade unions in

    the run up to the strike to attempt to raise awareness of the issues and build support for the strike5. To officially support students who take the decision not to cross picket lines and to produce material

    explaining why doing so is an act of solidarity and is part of a proud labour movement tradition6. To include encouragement not to cross picket lines in the top article on the NUS website and in the

    leaflets produced

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    7. To disseminate legal information on the rights of students in not crossing picket lines, to help studentstaff know their rights & to outline to constituent members what support NUS can provide in defendingstudents victimised for supporting strike action.

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    Motion 1: A New Deal for Education Funding

    Conference Believes:

    1. The Coalition Governments 2010 higher education funding reforms sought to continue a trend ofredefining direct public investment in education as private debt resting on the shoulders of individuals2. The Government pays more than 7 billion annually to fund higher education tuition fee loans alone; ofthis the most recent revised figures suggest that up to 40 per cent will be covered by public sources due tonon-repayment.3. The extension of a funding system framed in terms of loans and debt to individual students has createda destructive narrative of waste in place of one where the public investment in higher education can beproperly recognised and celebrated as vital to a fair, sustainable and prosperous society4. The 2010 funding system has left students facing the prospect of paying twice for higher education: oncein the form of loan repayments and subsequently through taxation to fill a putative economic black hole, whichis neither fair nor sustainable5. The narrative of waste has hastened the sell-off into private hands of a public asset in the form ofstudent loan book, and with no legal protection for students terms and conditions, putting repaymentthresholds and rates at risk of amendment6. The higher education tuition fee sticker price drives a marketised system in which students are encouraged

    to make narrow choices on the grounds of costs that in reality they may not end up paying.6. While those who access higher education remain disproportionately those from higher socio-economicgroups, a universal public subsidy will not win over public support8. An alternative funding system that moved from loans and debt to individual entitlement and faircontributions from graduates in employment would build and maintain popular support for public investment topass on the opportunity for the next generation to benefit from higher education9. Any alternative funding system must not maintain an artificial divide between further and highereducation, and should move towards a model of funding that enables individuals to access the type ofeducation they need at the point they need it.

    Conference Resolves:

    1. To forge a new deal for education funding to unify public investment in further and higher education andcampaign for it ahead of the 2015 general election2. To support sustained public investment in further and higher education and to promote its role in creatinga fair and prosperous society3. To support moves away from increasing fees and debt, towards a model of entitlement for students andcontributions from graduates in order to pay it forward and to ensure the next generation can also benefit frompublic education provision4. To support a system of contributions to higher education determined by the real earnings aftergraduation, not variable sticker prices5. To campaign against the sell off of the student loan book into private hands6. To campaign to ensure the terms and conditions of existing student loans are enshrined and protected in

    primary legislation

    Proposed by: Rachel Wenstone

    Seconded by:

    Toni Pearce; Raechel Mattey; Joe Vinson; Dom Anderson; Rebecca Hall; Beth Button;Colum McGuire; Rhiannon Hedge; Stephanie Lloyd; Finn McGoldrick ; Hannah Paterson,Marc McCorkell, Amy Smith, Paul Abernethy, Fergal McFerran, Jessica Goldstone, KiratRaj Singh, Hugh Murdoch

    Motions to National Conference

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    Motion 2: A New EMA

    Conference believes

    1. That the EMA in England was abolished by the Coalition Government in the 2010 spending review,despite widespread opposition and clear evidence of its impact on participation, retention, andattainment

    2. That the decision was based on a flawed reading of one research report, and which the author said wasthe wrong conclusion to take from his work

    3. That the EMA in England was replaced by the discretionary 16-19 Bursary Fund, with a total budget of180m, only a third the size of the EMA budget

    4. That duty on local authorities to ensure adequate transport in order for those aged 16-19 to access FEis routinely ignored

    5. That research by Barnardos has found that the 16 -19 Bursary Fund is inadequate to meet the needs of

    learners and has created a postcode lottery of support around the country 6. That the EMA has been retained in the three devolved nations, though with each making different policychanges over time

    7. That the participation age will rise to 18 by 2015 which will mean a need for more support, not less

    Conference further believes

    1. That an entitlement-based scheme for learners in FE is the fairest means of distributing resources2. That the EMA system previously in place was imperfect and did not adequately take into account the

    needs of learners with larger families, or changing circumstances3. That the 30 maximum rate of EMA was never increased over its lifetime and as it lost value it blunted

    the effectiveness of EMA4. That simply restoring EMA without reform would be to miss an important opportunity to address its

    flaws5. That any new scheme should retain a small discretionary fund for hardship and unexpected costs, aswas the case prior to 2010

    Conference resolves

    1. To campaign for an EMA replacement that restores an entitlement to learners but addresses the flaws inthe original scheme

    2. To ensure that any proposed scheme remains as simple as possible to understand and administer3. To make the case through our campaign that a new EMA is not simply an incentive scheme but a

    necessary means of support for learners in FE4. To empower FE unions to make the case on a local level5. To consider how the scope of a new EMA can be extended to learners older than 19

    Motion 3: A New Deal for Work: Students and Workers Unite

    Conference believes:

    1. NUS research has shown that when asked what their greatest fear about the future is, morethan half of students cite pathways to work or employment

    2. Many students are also workers, and NUS Pound in Your Pocket research showed more thantwo thirds are employed during term time or holidays

    Proposed by: Joe Vinson and Colum McGuire

    Seconded by:Toni Pearce, Raechel Mattey, Dom Anderson, Finn McGoldrick, Stephanie Lloyd, RhiannonHedge, Rachel Wenstone, Hannah Paterson, Rebecca Hall, Amy Smith, Hugh Murdoch

    Proposed by: Toni Pearce and Dom Anderson

    Seconded by:Rachel Wenstone, Hannah Paterson, Amy Smith, Finn McGoldrick, Joe Vinson, RhiannonHedge, Hugh Murdoch

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    3. Our work on employment must focus on ensuring good sustainable jobs for the nextgeneration and pathways to work which are non-exploitative and fairly paid

    4. A New Deal for Work is an essential component of a New Deal for the Next Generation

    5. The campaigning partnership NUS has signed with the TUC affirms our movements sharedbelief guaranteed employment and quality jobs; and where workers enjoy strong collectiveand individual rights at work

    6. The NUS-TUC partnerships sets out a path to greater collaboration between the student andtrade union movements, developing activists and campaigning together rather than apart

    Conference resolves:

    1. To support the NUS Commission on the Future of Work

    2. To support the forging of a New Deal on the Future of Work

    3. To support a TUC national demonstration focused on pathways to work and fair andsustainable jobs and ahead of the 2015 general election

    Motion 4: From 1994 to 2034: the next generation of the studentmovement

    Conference believes:

    1. The 1994 Education Act and the 2006 Charities Act together establish the principle of independent,well- governed and representative students unions.

    2. As the further and higher education sectors have evolved students unions have as well; they arediverse in mission, scope and levels of resource.

    3. Students unions are increasingly interwoven into the fabric of national education regulation: across theUK we have a presumption of student participation in governance, frameworks for learner and student

    voice, management of complaints and appeals and student engagement.

    4. Twenty years on from the Education Act it is timely to reaffirm the right of every student to organiseand seek representation through an independent students union, and to reflect on how studentsunions might evolve in the next twenty years.

    Conference resolves

    1. To consult widely within the student movement and with the further and higher education sectors onthe development of a White Paper setting out proposals to ensure students unions are recognised inlaw, continue to be well-governed and are sufficiently resourced to carry out their mission of amplifyingthe student voice, helping students be powerful and improving students lives.

    2. To consider the diverse purposes and activities of students unions and how these might be more fullydeveloped and supported in a complex and changing educational environment with multiple externalpressures.

    Proposed by: Raechel Mattey

    Seconded by:Toni Pearce, Rachel Wenstone, Joe Vinson, Dom Anderson, Rebecca Hall, Beth Button,Colum McGuire, Rhiannon Hedge, Stephanie Lloyd, Finn McGoldrick, Hannah Paterson,Amy Smith, Fergal McFerran, Jessica Goldstone, Hugh Murdoch

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    3. To explore the legal and regulatory frameworks for students unions and lobby to strengthen these.

    4. To use the current legal and regulatory frameworks available to us and any future legislation we mayachieve to take steps to establish independent collective student representative bodies where theycurrently do not exist.

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    Motion 1: Solidarity with Egyptian activists and students

    NEC Believes:1. There is a far-reaching assault on human rights currently underway in Egypt, three years after the

    uprising which toppled Mubarak. According to Amnesty International the Egyptian military and securityforces have killed around 1,400 people and detained thousands since July 2013.

    2. Students in Egypt are among those facing repression by the military and security forces. Universitycampuses have been repeatedly invaded by riot police, who have shot dead students in an attempt tocrush ongoing protests against the military regime. Over 500 students have been arrested since July2013, and many have received harsh jail terms, some as long as 17 years. Academics have also beentargeted: large numbers of alleged supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood have been sacked orarrested.

    NEC Resolves:1. To call for

    a. immediate and unconditional release of those imprisoned for exercising rights to freedom ofexpression and of assembly;

    b. independent investigation into state violence and criminality, including assaults on thoseexercising any of the rights and freedoms above;

    c. an immediate end to trials of civilians in military and State Security courts2. To work with MENA Solidarity Network and the campus trade unions (UCU, Unison and Unite) to

    establish a broad-based solidarity initiative to defend Egyptians under threat from the military regimebya. circulating solidarity appeals and information about the campaign to our members and encouraging

    them to participate in solidarity actionb. writing to the Egyptian authorities condemning the military repressionc. writing to the UK government calling for the immediate suspension of all financial, military or other

    support to the Egyptian authorities which may be used to violate the rights of Egyptian citizens. Inparticular, we demand immediate cessation of all sales and transfers to the Egyptian government ofweapons, ammunition, vehicles, cyber-surveillance technology and other materials for use againstthose who exercise their right to protest.

    Proposed by: Amy Gilligan

    Seconded by: James McAsh, Edmund Schluessel

    Motions to NEC