NUS criticised for alleged ineffectiveness by Union

The president of the National Union of Students insisted Warwick has “a critical role in shaping the NUS”, after Stuart Thomson questioned the “value for money” the Students’ Union gets from the affiliation.

Wes Streeting said that, if their union withdrew, Warwick students would “lose a national voice” that works to defend and extend their rights.

Mr. Streeting’s comments responded to Stuart Thomson’s concerns “whether our students benefit” from the affiliation, which costs the Students’ Union £47,000.

These developments come during the week when the union investigates the costs and benefits of staying under the NUS umbrella. If the review were to recommend a withdrawal from the national body, Mr. Thomson assured that it would put the question to a referendum.

Dave Lewis, national treasurer of the NUS, pointed out the material benefits of membership. NUS Services forms a purchasing consortium for 200 students unions, giving them “better deals than if they were operating on their own” over a wide range of products, including alcohol.

He said the Students’ Union saved “over £36,900” in 2006-07 by making its purchases through NUS Services.

But Andy Glyde, the Students’ Union’s finance and governance officer, said the national body had “been ineffective in previous years”, leading other members to examine their own affiliation.

The confederation has become “bureaucratic”, he said, with “too many committees” stunting the decision-making process.

The NUS, which styles itself as “the national voice of the students”, has also become “very factional”, said Mr. Glyde, with political infighting diverting its focus from “how to benefit students”.

Earlier last week, Mr. Streeting admitted, “It is no secret that for over a decade, NUS’ members have been clamouring for change… [The] NUS has been failing to deliver on key issues.”

However, he announced an “Opening the doors” initiative last week to reshape the organisation and introduce more accountability.

But proposals to reform the NHS failed to gain the required support from two-thirds of this year’s annual conference.

The reforms put forth last year included redistributing executive powers to a new board chaired by the president, and forming “policy zones” which would recommend measures to the NUS’s annual conference. The new proposals include “a host of changes”, said Mr. Streeting.