Connolly Youth Movement Congressional Amendments

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Amendment to constitutional article on branches

7.1

The Chairperson of the branch is tasked with: Organisation of branch and committee meetings, set the agenda in liaison with the branch secretary and committee, direct and encourage the branch to work towards the fulfillment of the Programme.

The Secretary of the branch is tasked with: Accurately minuting branch and committee meetings, assisting the Chairperson in the creation of an agenda for branch and committee meetings. Assisting the Chairperson in the organisation and direction of the branch for the fulfillment of the Programme.   It is the role of the Secretary to be in regular liaison with all branch members.

Amendment to constitutional article on Membership

Point 3

7)  If a member of the CYM leaves Ireland or is not based in Ireland their membership will be considered “frozen” and available upon return – but they are not to be inside any internal communication channels and will be notified of this before being removed. Exceptions determined either by a Branch or the NEC can be arranged for example if a member knows they will be back or is fulfilling a job for the CYM while abroad. Official communication channels such as WhatsApp, Facebook both branch and national.

Amendment to constitutional article on the National Executive Committee

6. The Editor of Forward will be appointed by the NEC as a non-voting position to manage, run and direct the affairs of Forward. A screening process appropriate to the position will be established by the NEC.

7. The System Administrator will be appointed by the NEC as a non-voting position to manage, run and direct the website and all other technical online requirements of the Connolly Youth Movement. A screening process appropriate to the position will be established by the NEC.

Amendment to constitutional article on the National Executive Committee

The introduction of the position of Youth Protection Officer to the National Executive Committee. This role will develop a program to ensure the wellbeing of our members and act as a mediator in any personal disputes. This role will also co-ordinate Youth Protection Officers in each respective branch.  Duties to include: liaising with branch officers, drafting of a child protection policy, port of call for all members with guidance, point of contact for parents and guardians for underage members and the officer must be over 18.

PROGRAMME AMENDMENTS

Proposal to amend the programme

RESOLUTION ON COUNTER-CULTURE

In accordance with our desire to see political power in the hands of the working class, it is equally our objective to develop a ‘red’ counter-culture to the hedonistic, liberal, individualistic and self destructive culture promoted within capitalist society.  We do not subscribe to the notion that to be in consistent contrarianism to capitalist society does not necessarily mean this is the correct approach.

1. We strive to build a movement that promotes a healthy lifestyle of a physical, mental, emotional nature. We task our membership to look after themselves and one another in the aforementioned fields.

2. In the field of culture, we strive to promote the development of spaces that attack the cult of the individual and develop a collective and united consciousness among young people. Be this in music, literature or elsewhere.

3. Ireland is under the thumb of hegemonic Americanized culture and it is our duty to challenge that. One facet of challenging this is the revival of the Irish language and the CYM commits itself slowly but surely learning and teaching Irish.

8. The CYM provides special dispensation to the travelling community in Ireland. It is a community that is routinely targeted, segregated and attacked by the establishment and by reactionaries. The CYM extends its support and solidarity to the travelling community of Ireland and denounces the role of the media in demonising the travelling community as a whole.

Proposal to amend the programme

RESOLUTION ON IRISH UNIFICATION

Recent events, stimulated by the Brexit vote have created a scenario wherein serious consideration is being given to Irish unity by forces traditionally opposed to it in the North. The mechanisms contained within the Good Friday Agreement provide a slim opportunity to achieve unity.

1. The CYM states firmly that the British State benefits from the partition of Ireland. It uses partition to keep the people divided and weaker and the overcoming of partition therefore must be a key objective of any left wing movement.

2. The CYM supports the unification of Ireland, despite knowing that this will likely happen while Ireland is still a member of the EU.

3. The CYM will therefore see its objective in struggling for unity whilst politically educating our comrades and allies that a United Ireland will be a capitalist Ireland and that our objective is to reconfigure the social forces to achieve a socialist Ireland.

4. We believe that Ireland is on the cusp of change.

5. The CYM desires neither a soft or hard border, but an abolition of the border.

6. The CYM is opposed to Ireland’s continued membership and domination by the EU.

Proposal to amend ‘Resolution on Trades Unions and the Workplace’

The CYM condemns the Industrial Relations Act (1990) and the equivalent legislation in the 6 counties and will work alongside trade unions and the workers to have the legislations repeal. These Acts have been maliciously used to consistently worsen the conditions of the working class and draw back all advancements made throughout the 20th Century. The Acts restrict workers to have to beg and plead the bosses and the state in order to use industrial action. They are a large reason for such drastic decline in union membership over the last 30 years and have kept the working class, particularly youth, stagnant whilst profits continue to grow for the ruling class. We recognise all of this and will work to repeal these acts as it is necessary for the shifting of industrial power to our class.

Proposal to add a Resolution on Education

RESOLUTION ON EDUCATION

Third Level Education is increasingly being privatised and made to serve the needs of private industry and quantify research and achievement as profit-oriented targets. The quality of courses and the conditions of lecturers and students are being devalued as their work becomes an exercise in building up the flexibility of labour rather than in building up the expertise and confidence of individuals and generating new research for society and its productive forces. One of the goals of the communist movement must be to arrest this trend and force a confrontation on the idea of the university/college/institute.

   

1.The system of private schools, charter schools, and cram schools that are privately funded should be abolished. Current state funding to fee-paying schools should instead be utilised to provide programmes for public school students who are struggling.   

2.The CYM supports a merit-based system of     selection and matriculation for third level positions that is disconnected from financial background. Tuition should be abolished, and places allocated solely on the basis of performance rather than ability to pay.    

3. Free and sufficient student housing should be supplied by the state as a fundamental prerequisite to the operation of any educational institution.     

4. Third level grants and funding should be combined into a comprehensive agency that can means test and financially structure programmes to allow students from any background to support themselves at a standard of decency throughout their term of education.    

5.Executives of educational facilities of primary, secondary and tertiary institutes should be elected by the scholar-body and accountable for culpability in corruption or financial malpractice by state oversight. A watchdog institution should exist to examine whether the resources in third level education are being diverted.    

6.Public-private partnerships between educational institutions and vulture funds should be abolished, with the latter required to withdraw their     personnel and representatives from campuses.    

7.Vocational support should exist to help graduates to explore their options and find fulfilling employment related to their studies.    

8.Mental Health support connected to universities should be expanded in its power to make recommendations to academic staff and     institutions. Students who are struggling due to work-life balance should have recourse to changes to their situation with meaningful impact.

9. The system of private schools, charter schools, and cram schools that are privately funded should be abolished. Current state funding to fee-paying schools should instead be utilised to provide programmes for public school students who are struggling.

MOTIONS OF INSTRUCTION

The following instructions are passed by Congress to instruct the NEC to act on.

INSTRUCTION ONE

Constitution and any official documents of the CYM to be translated into Irish.

This would show our commitment to the tradition of Socialist Republicans as well

as providing a service to Irish Speakers.

INSTRUCTION TWO

This motion calls on the NEC to write a comprehensive policy advocating for:

1. Support for decriminalization of possession of narcotics for personal use and identifying people who use narcotics with addiction issues and require societal and political help and recognition.

2. To support and to help people with addiction issues back to good health by the medical system, not the prison system.

3. Recognise and support the movement for legalisation of  medicinalcannabis in Ireland that can be helped to treat a multiplicity of disorders such as: sclerosis, arthritis,  epilepsy, cancer and more.

INSTRUCTION THREE

CYM to fully endorse and support the “An Dream Dearg” campaign for an Irish Language act in the North and South. The freedom of expression of Irish culture should not be impeded by Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the DUP.. The native language of our island must be protected and promoted. The CYM encourages its members to learn and use Irish.

INSTRUCTION FOUR

CYM recognizes that Stormont as a political entity represents the failed social and political imperial project of Britain which is ‘Northern Ireland’. We wish for our elected institutions to operate so funding can be allocated to essential health and welfare services during our ongoing crises. Although we recognize that only through re-unification can the sectarian deadlock be broken.

INSTRUCTION FIVE

That the Congress attendees send a message of solidarity to the oppressed people of the world, with notable mention of Venezuela/Cuba/Syria who are under constant attack by the Western imperialist bloc.