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

Saturday 6th January 2007

“This looks like an argument about losing a few minutes break a day, but actually what management have done is the last straw.”

Neil – City and Islington College

Neil and about 100 colleagues were on picket lines at the Camden Road and Finsbury Park sites of Camden and Islington colleges for their one hour stoppage yesterday. The dispute is about a further intensification of work and the one hour stoppage was to remind management the mandate for industrial action continued whilst talks take place.

The stoppage was brilliantly supported and there is some limited sign of movement from management. The dispute is local but the issue is universal –out of control workloads. The reported from the local paper asked whether working ten hours of so unpaid overtime was really unreasonable (yes he really did!). A member explained that when working 50 hours a week meant staff were too tired or busy to give students the support they needed or their classes the preparation they deserved then it was completely unreasonable.

Congratulations to our members. And watch this space because the same members are joining the campaign against massive cuts to ESOL provision being launched in a few days time – see www.ucu.org.uk for details

Incidentally, a word of thanks to Laila and other UCU members including the wonderful equality rep (I don’t know your name I’m afraid) who led the chase to recover my briefcase which was stolen whilst I was speaking outside the college. Mission accomplished – they got it back after it had been thrown away by the two thieves.

Clearly the contents were worthless…….but our members are priceless.
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A trade unionist all his working life. An activist and a proud campaigner, Roger has consistently worked to defend human rights of workers. As the leader of the Equality and Employment Rights team in the newly formed UCU he continues to unite the movement around equality and keep employment rights at the top of the agenda.