Protocol

1. PREAMBLE

1.1 The University of East London's students Union (UELSU) has as its principle purpose the provision of a wide range of services and opportunities to students in order that their experience of University is as broad and fulfilling as possible. Central to this provision are the employed staff who provide for continuity, professional advice, managerial expertise and the day-today operation and implementation of policy. This protocol agreement aims to clarify the relationships between students, their elected officers and staff.

2. STAFFING COMMITTEE

2.1 The Staffing Committee shall be responsible for staffing matters. Membership of staffing committee shall be as specified in the constitution of the Students' Union. Staffing Committee shall conduct its affairs inaccordance with provisions of the constitution and its schedules and the policy of the Students' Union.

3. RESPONSILIBILITIES OF STAFF.

3.1 The maintenance of the integrity of the democratic government of the Students' Union precludes the direct involvement of employed staff in that process.

3.2 The General Manager is the designated senior staff member with responsibility for servicing and attending committees of the Students' Union as requested by Executive committee.

3.3 Staff may not exercise a vote in any meeting organised under the auspices of the constitution of the Students' Union.

3.4 Staff who are part-time students at the University may not participate in the democratic processes of the Union. Their other rights as students are not affected.

3.5 Staff members may advise elected officers on any matter that is within their area of work but shall not seek in any other way to influence the policy-making process

3.6 Staff may not take part in public discussion of Students' Union policy, nor give public expression to views contrary to the policies of the Union.

3.7 No member of staff may make public observations about the ability of elected or permanent officers (this shall include candidates for elected office) other than through the procedures laid down within the Discipline and Grievance Procedures.

3.8 Staff shall not comment to representatives of the media except at the explicit request of the President.

4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STUDENTS' UNION

4.1 Elected officers of the Students' Union share a collective and individual responsibility to ensure that under no circumstances shall discussion take place of matters relating to the responsibilities, conditions of employment, performance or conduct of members of staff other than at a meeting of the Staffing Committee. This shall include formal or informal meetings with members of the University and any articles, correspondence or other similar publication produced under the auspices of the Students' Union.

5. STUDENT STAFF.

5.1 Student staff may be employed by the Students' Union to carry out specific duties within the Union's employment structure. The procedures for the recruitment and selection of such staff shall be determined by the Executive Committee.

5.2 Student staff may raise complaints or grievances about their employment through the line management structure, and have recourse to the Grievances Procedure of the Union. The final body of appeal in serious complaints shall be the General Manager and the President.

5.3 Students employed as casual staff of the Union are not precluded from enjoying the same rights of membership of the Students' Union including participation in Union meetings.

5.4 Student staff are precluded from raising any matters in relation to their employment with the Union in any public forum or meeting.

5.5 Members of the Executive Committee who are employed as UELSU student staff may not participate in any decisions which could affect their terms and conditions.

5.6 Nothing in this protocol agreement shall mitigate against the rights of Union members to discuss, question or vary UELSU's employment policies, nor their ability to hold elected officers accountable for their role in the implementation of policy or their ability to manage the Union's staff.