Rule changes limit the powers of union general secretary

Motions passed at UCU democracy congress strengthen union’s national executive committee

Members of the University and College Union have voted to support some of the recommendations of a report into governance of the union and have curtailed the independence of the general secretary.

At a “democracy comission” congress on 7 December in Manchester, delegates passed a motion to compel the general secretary—currently Jo Grady (pictured)— and her deputies to act in accordance with instructions from the national executive committee. However, another motion to reduce the general secretary’s term from five to three years was defeated.