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.

Friday 9 February 2007

Friday 9th February

INTO history – today is a sorry day

The saga of the privatisation of university language centres continues. Today, at breakneck speed, UCU members at the Newcastle University language centre will be transferred to their new employer.

A sad day for UCU, as well as for the members.

As I have said before, the petition launched should be supported but it is a great pity we didn’t do more in the ten months since the University of East Anglia first announced it was linking up with INTO for the first INTO PFI deal.

We face a powerful alliance. Alan Johnson, Minister, has told HEFCE he wants better commercial links with private sector companies like these. David Eastwood, now Chief Executive of HEFCE actually signed the first deal with INTO in his previous role as VC at East Anglia. Alastair Smith, chair of the UCEA employers has signed his own deal with Study group International at Sussex.

The petition is a good show of membership concern. Much more will be needed to reverse this policy and prevent more PFI deals.
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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.