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.

Monday, 19 February 2007

Saturday 17th February

Education and fascism

I contributed to a workshop at the excellent Unite against Fascism conference held at the TUC today. Quite rightly UCU has focussed its attention on the racism which exists in many aspects of post 16 education and in seeking ways to challenge it.

But we should not forget the need to pay attention to the attempts by the British National Party to grow in colleges and universities. The BNP is making a determined attempt to increase membership amongst students.

This comes at a time of a growing number of racist attacks. The most recent statistics concern anti-semitic attacks with a 31% reported increase to 594 last year, half of them in London.

You can find out more about Unite against Fascism at www.uaf.org.uk
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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.