This constitution was agreed by our AGM on 7 September 2024.

For our Steering Group, see here.

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CONSTITUTION OF THE UKRAINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN

1. Name

The official name of the organisation will be “Ukraine Solidarity Campaign” hereinafter known as ‘USC’.

2. Mission

The Ukraine Solidarity Campaign seeks to organise solidarity and provide information in support of the Ukrainian labour movement, civil society and democratic left in Britain. It seeks to co-ordinate solidarity of trade unions, political parties, civil society and social movements with Ukraine regardless of differences and opinions on other questions.

3. Aims

a. To support and build direct links and solidarity with the labour movement, democratic left, social movements and civil society in Ukraine.

b. To support the Ukrainian people’s struggle for freedom, justice and equality, and their right to the self-determination for a free, independent and united Ukraine.

c. To support the right of Ukrainians to resist the occupation and annexation of their country, and to obtain the arms necessary without conditions.

d. To support the labour movement, democratic left, social movements and civil society working for a reconstruction based on social, economic and climate justice. We campaign for Britain and other countries to cancel the debt to Ukraine.

4. Membership

a. An individual member of the USC is someone who accepts the Aims,agrees to abide by the constitution and pays annual membership fees. Members are encouraged to get involved with activities of the campaign.

b. Membership will run on an annual 12 month rolling basis.

c. The Secretary of USC shall maintain the database of members of the campaign.

d. All steps will be taken to ensure compliance with data protection requirements.

e. The only people to have the right to vote shall be those members who have paid their membership fee.

f. A membership application can be put on hold by any national officer pending a decision by the Co-ordinating Committee at its immediately following meeting.

g. Individuals whose membership has been refused or have been removed from membership can appeal to the USC national conference.

5. Affiliates

a. An organisation that supports the Aims and Objectives of the USC may affiliate.

b. All affiliations must be approved by the Co-ordinating Committee.

c. Affiliates must pay an annual fee determined by the Co-ordinating Committee.

d. National trade unions and other national organisations may send a delegate to Co-ordinating Committee, who will have the right to vote.

6. Branches and groups

a. Members are encouraged to organise local geographical branches, and to form groups in their individual trade unions, political parties, and other organisations to further the aims of USC.

b. Members, together with the Co-ordinating Committee can create branches. Branches must agree with the aims of the USC and be officially recognised by the Co-ordinating Committee.

7. Co-ordinating Committee

a. The Co-ordinating Committee provides strategic leadership, reaches decisions on urgent matters and is responsible for the day to day running of the national campaign.

b. The Co-ordinating Committee may, by a vote of a two thirds majority of its members, withdraw recognition from any branch or group, or withdraw membership from any individual, deemed to have acted in a manner incompatible with the Aims of the USC. The branch or individual will have the right to appeal to a national conference of the USC.

c. All meetings of the Co-ordinating Committee are open to those elected under this Constitution who will be entitled to vote. A quorum of at least six members of the Committee is required for any vote.

d. The Co-ordinating Committee shall meet monthly at a minimum.

e. The Co-ordinating Committee consists of representatives of affiliated national trade unions, affiliated national organisations, Ukrainian organisations, plus six additional Committee members which are voted for at the AGM.

8. Duties of the Co-ordinating Committee

a. The Co-ordinating Committee will manage the affairs of the Campaign in between AGMs.

b. All members of the Co-ordinating Committee shall take collective responsibility for implementing national AGM decisions and for taking forward agreed USC campaign priorities and strategies, being accountable to members.

c. The Co-ordinating Committee shall have the power to co-opt persons onto the Co-ordinating Committee, if this is felt necessary to aid its work and deliberations. People co-opted onto the Co-ordinating Committee will not have the right to vote.

d. To convene a general meeting of all members and affiliated organisations no less than twice a year in addition to the AGM.

9. Finances

a. All the money raised by the Campaign will be used to achieve the aims.

b. The financial year of the Campaign will be from April 1 to March 31 of the following year.

c. The individual membership fee will be retained by the national USC account in order to support the work of USC.

10. Conference

a. The organisation shall hold a conference once in each year. Not more than 15 months shall pass between the date of one AGM and the next.

11. The business of the Conference shall be:

a. to determine the policy of the organisation

b. to receive the report of the Co-ordinating Committee for the previous year;

c. to receive the Financial Report for the previous financial year;

d. to elect the Co-ordinating Committee for the ensuing year;

e. to consider such other business which the Chair may determine can properly be conducted at a General Meeting and of which due notice has been given.

f. Length of Notice. One months’ notice of the Conference will be given, the agenda will be issued two weeks prior to the Conference.

g. Each fully paid-up member who has been a member of the national USC for two weeks before an Annual General Meeting shall have one vote and may stand for posts or the Executive.

h. Each national organisation that has affiliated to the USC may send a maximum of five delegates to the conference. Each branch or local organisation may send two delegates.

i. The quorum of the conference shall be 15% of the total membership of the USC.

j. To elect the following officers of the Co-ordinating Committee

• Chair,

• Secretary

• Vice-Chair

• Treasurer

• Trade Union Liaison

• Parliamentary Liaison

12. Business at the Conference

a. The order of business at the Conference shall be decided upon by the Co-ordinating Committee.

b. Constitutional amendments and motions to be proposed at the AGM shall either be proposed by the Co-ordinating Committee, by affiliated organisations or by members.

c. All such proposals shall be sent in writing to the Secretary not less than 21 days in advance of the meeting.

d. All amendments to motions should be submitted within 7 days of motions being made available.

e. The Co-ordinating Committee shall present to the conference a report from the Co-ordinating Committee for the previous year; a financial report; and the nominations for election to Co-ordinating Committee.

13. Winding up

a. A motion to wind up and dissolve the USC requires at least two thirds of votes cast at the relevant General Meeting in order to be passed. The quorum for such a meeting will be 15% of the total membership of the USC.

b. The net assets of the USC following dissolution shall go to one or more organisations having similar aims as decided by the General Meeting.