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
Tuesday 2nd January 2007
"The election for general secretary of the University and College Union isn't getting any gentler. An anonymous note sent to Education Guardian seeks to explain what a dreadful fellow Roger Kline, one of the two main candidates, is. He was once a member of the Socialist Workers party and "has kept very close links since, has he not?" His record as an official with his previous employers, the Health Visitors' Association and the airline pilots' union, wasn't as good as he claims, says my informant. "Well worth checking, one would have thought?" is the meaningful signoff line. No, not really, but we wish we knew where the note came from."
Education Guardian Notebook 2nd January
Pathetic really. I’ve sent the following letter in reply. I don’t think most UCU members will be impressed by anonymous smear tactics.
“Dear editor
Your Notebook report (January 2nd) of an "anonymous note sent to Education Guardian" is the latest, unfortunate, attempt at dirty tricks in the UCU election that does no credit to whoever is behind it.
Last autumn when it was thought Paul Mackney would be standing as General Secretary of UCU there was another anonymous attempt to suggest that a combination of ill health and Trotskyite pre-history should disqualify Paul. Now that I am standing, supported by Paul, it looks as if the dirty tricks are heading my way.
For the record, every comma of my web CV on www.rogerkline.org.uk listing my work with BALPA the pilots' union, and with the Health Visitors Association, has been double checked with colleagues who worked with me or managed me at the time. I'm proud of it and so are they.
As for supposedly being a member of the SWP, I left the then International Socialists some 32 years ago, before it even became the SWP, and long before several current Labour Party leaders tried to join it in their youth.
I am happy to let my track record speak for itself. I can see why Downing Street have let it be known I'm not their favoured candidate, but I am disappointed that some involved in this campaign think smear tactics have a place. They don't. The election is too important for that.
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