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, 27 February 2007

Thursday 22nd February

INTO a mess

We have learnt that Newcastle University who have entered into a PFI type deal with INTO, the privatisation cheerleaders in higher education failed to meet their statutory duties under the Race Relations Amendment Act. The University were in such a hurry to clinch the deal that they failed to complete a race impact assessment or disability impact assessment prior to the transfer of staff.

Chris Nicholas of UCU’s equality unit has drawn the CRE’s attention to this breach of HEFCE’s guidance on implementing the statutory duties. You can find our press release announcing yet another shortcoming in the contracting out process at here

What a pity we didn’t start getting to grip with this company last March when they first signed a deal at UEA. A detailed report on the privatisation of language centres was contained in last Tuesday’s Guardian.

ESOL campaign just keeps growing

If you’re not coming to the lobby of Parliament next Wednesday then at least make sure you’re writing to your local MP and have signed the petition. Full details here. This is one campaign that is clearly rattling Ministers.

The Guardian carried a report of the Radio 4 discussion with Beatrice Jackson an eloquent ESOL teacher of 30 years standing, myself and Bill Rammell. You can read the report here and listen to the debate here
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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.