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 2 March 2007

Wednesday 28th February

Rain soaked lobby rattles Ministers

I flew back overnight from my family funeral in Johannesburg and spoke at the lunchtime rally in Committee Room 14 at the House of Commons.

The following message has since been sent to everyone who lobbied their MPs today, despite the pouring rain, over the cuts to ESOL provision.

Dear friends and colleagues

Thank you for very much for participating in the magnificent lobby of parliament on ESOL yesterday. Over 1000 people attended. Many MPs were lobbied. Students, tutors, refugees and representatives from a huge range of organisations in the meeting inside the House of Commons spelt out the potential consequences of the government’s plans for cutting entitlement to free ESOL courses. There was a very lively meeting at the Emmanuel Centre outside Westminster too.

You really brought the message home.

The security arrangements made it very difficult to get everybody into Westminster and we do hope that those who had to queue for a long time outside didn’t find it too frustrating. Sorry about the rain - a problem outside our control!

The government is clearly rattled and already talking about some small changes to its proposals. Now is the time to step up the pressure locally and nationally.

Do keep us in touch with your local activities. Email your news to Sharon Russell srussell@ucu.org.uk

This is just the beginning. We’ll be putting up news on our web site at www.ucu.org.uk and will be in touch very soon about the next stages in the campaign.

With very best wishes and a very big thank you,

Paul Mackney Joint General Secretary
Roger Kline, Head of Equality and Employment Rights
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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.