A message from Roger
The UCU general secretary ballot result has now been declared and Sally Hunt has been elected. The union and our members face major and difficult challenges from employers and government in almost every aspect of our working lives. The turnout was just 13.9 per cent which in itself suggests the scale of the challenge the union faces. I wish Sally Hunt very well in meeting those challenges. To meet them successfully will require a clear strategic vision and a determined articulate response which members can have confidence in and ownership of. I will seek to play my part in ensuring that is the case through my continuing role as Head of Equality and Employment Rights Finally I would like to sincerely thank the hundreds of members who sent messages of support and campaigned during the election.
Tuesday, 9 January 2007
Friday 5th January 2007
“Why isn’t UCU doing more to stop the cuts in ESOL provision”
Wendy, London FE
The Guardian reported last week that the Children’s Society has joined the growing list of The Incredulous – organisations and individuals who simply cannot understand why Ministers intend to axe spending on course that even weeks ago Ministers were praising to the skies.
Foreigners applying for British citizenship have to take an English test and a quiz on life in the UK. But now the Government has decided to axe access to English courses by denying asylum seekers over 18 access to free further education and English courses.
Kafka must be alive and well and living in Whitehall.
It feels like a modern day version of a wheeze that Maggie Thatcher introduced over two decades ago in which those claiming incapacity benefit had to struggle up two floors of stairs to be interviewed by officials. If they made they’d proved they weren’t incapacitated. If they didn’t make it to the second floor they missed their appointment anyway.
UCU has thousands of members who teach on ESOL courses. They, like you, are in uproar not just because their jobs are at risk but because of the sheer stupidity and inhumanity of those who would deny migrants an essential – possibly – the essential means of opening doors.
The campaign incidentally will open with a meeting at UCU head office at Britannia Street on 15th January to be followed by much larger action in the weeks to come. Details on how you, your branch and colleagues can get involved from www.ucu.org.uk
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