1. Branch Name

The branch shall be called “Universities of London” branch of IWGB and will henceforth be referred to as “the branch”.

2. Objects

a. To improve and protect the terms and conditions of the members;

b. To promote the primacy of members’ own decision making in all matters covered by the branch constitution, and in the development of all of the branch’s policies;

c. To preserve, promote, and protect the independence of the branch;

d. To settle disputes between the members and their employers;

e. To initiate movements for increased rates of pay, or improved conditions of employment;

f. Cooperate, directly or indirectly, with the work of any organisation, local, national, or international, which holds objects or policies which are similar to those of the branch;

3. Membership

All employees of the University of London are entitled to be members, whether employed directly or indirectly.

4. Branch Structure

a. There shall be an annual general meeting, held once per year in April, to elect officers and representatives.

b. The AGM shall need 10% of the branch present to be considered quorate.

c. ln addition to the AGM, the branch shall hold monthly meetings to decide branch policy.

d. Branch monthly meetings are open to all members, and every member has equal rights to voice and vote.

e.Branch monthly meetings shall be considered quorate when 10 members or more are present.

f.An emergency branch meeting can be convened at any time, by the Chair or Vice-Chair, with a minimum of 48 hours’ notice. The meeting will need to have 10% of the membership in order to be considered quorate.

g.Ordinary members may convene an emergency branch meeting without the chair or vice-chair if need be. This meeting will need 40% of the membership present to be considered quorate.

5. Branch Officers

The officers shall be elected at the AGM, by a show of hands vote, for the period of one year. Any individual interested in becoming an officer needs to be proposed and seconded by branch members before a vote can take place. lf an officer position becomes vacant between AGMs, the vacancy shall be filled on the basis of a show of hands vote at a monthly branch meeting. The term of office for this position shall be temporary- until the next AGM.

For contested positions candidates will be invited to make a brief speech to the members on their candidacy. lf an officer position is uncontested, the position will still need to be voted on in a “yes or no” manner. An uncontested candidate for officer position must receive a majority of “yes” votes in order to be confirmed.

As the positions of Chair and Secretary are automatically members of the IWGB Executive Committee, these positions if contested need to be decided via a postal ballot organised by the Central IWGB. If a Chair or Secretary steps down and is replaced mid-term, their replacement will not be a member of the IWGB Executive Committee unless and until the person is elected at the following AGM for a full year term.

The group of officers is purposefully small as the officers’ principle role is to carry out the policies of the branch on a day to day basis. The group of officers shall not be considered an executive committee with the remit of deciding policy. The ultimate executive authority of the branch is the democratic will of the members as expressed in monthly branch meetings, rather than through delegates on a committee. The following officer positions and their respective duties are listed below:

The following officer positions and their respective duties are listed below:

a. Chair- This person will be the branch spokesperson and representative both within the IWGB and with the public at large. This individual will chair branch meetings and the AGM and be expected to carry out branch business on a day-to-day basis. This person will also act as a delegate to IWGB conferences and executive meetings. This person shall have the authority to convene branch meetings.

b. Vice-Chair- This person will assist the chair in his/her duties. ln the chair’s absence, this person will assume the chair’s role. This person shall have the authority to convene branch meetings.

c. Secretary- This person will be in charge of membership records, producing minutes from branch meetings and the AGM, and other administrative duties as required. This person will also act as a delegate to IWGB conferences and executive meetings. This person shall have the authority to convene branch meetings.

d. Treasurer- This person will keep records of the branch’s income and expenditure, have access to the branch bank account, produce reports for the branch meetings on the accounts, and facilitate the execution of financial decisions taken in branch meetings.

e. Education- This person will promote trade union education (training courses) as well as general education (e.g. English and Spanish classes) for members.

f. Recruitment Officer – This person will take the lead on recruiting new members to the branch and promoting activism among members.

g. Assistant secretary – This person will assist the secretary with minutes from branch meetings and the AGM, and other administrative duties as required. In the secretary’s absence, this person will assume the secretary’s role.

h. Second treasurer – This person will assist the treasurer to keep records of the branch’s income and expenditure, have access to the branch bank account, produce reports for the branch meetings on the accounts, and facilitate the execution of financial decisions taken in branch meetings.

i. Communications officer – This person will maintain and update the branch website and social media platforms, liaise with press and other communications officers of the union, and oversee the production of publications such as branch newsletters.

j. Campaigns officer- This person will promote campaigns of the union both within the branch, among branches of the union, and with other organisations and the public at large.

6. Other Elected Positions

a. Trustees- 2 trustees shall be elected at the AGM, for the purpose of overseeing the branch accounts as presented by the treasurer.

b. Scrutineers- 2 scrutineers shall be elected for the purpose of counting votes at branch meetings and the AGM. lf both scrutineers are absent, the vote counting will be conducted by the branch chair.

7. Branch Autonomy

The branch recognises that it is part of a larger union and that all actions and policies should be mindful of this. The branch shall not undertake any policies which bring disrepute to the IWGB nor which contravene the IWGB rules. Considering the above, the branch shall have complete autonomy within the IWGB in the following areas:

a. Ability to set its own membership fees;

b. 50% of the money accruing to IWGB from this branch’s membership fees shall be returned to the branch, by the 20th of each month;

c. Ability to decide its own policy, in accordance with the objects of the
IWGB;

d. The branch shall elect its own negotiating committee for the purposes of collective bargaining; Any contact between IWGB national office and any of the employers covered by this branch shall be approved in advance by the branch chair; Social media- the branch shall have the ability to create its own website, Facebook page, and twitter account to promote the objects and aims of the branch.

8. Motions, Policy, and Altering the Branch Constitution

Motions or branch policy must be proposed and seconded by branch members at a quorate branch meeting. With the exception of the alterations to the branch constitution, policy and motions may be passed by a simple majority in a show of hands vote.

The branch constitution may be altered at any time in a quorate branch meeting or AGM, with a two thirds majority vote.