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UCU - Pensions and Pay Disputes

Santino said:
Typically shabby behaviour by the union in down-playing the election and sending out ballot papers as late as possible.
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That's not the half of it, they've held it in quickest possible time to avoid Congress rule changes.
 
Anyone know what Grady or McNeill's chances are? Are UCU rattled because they know they're fucked or will apathy and the status quo win the day?
 
It's hard to say - I personally feel like having two candidates means that fewer people are campaigning. Low turnout gives it to Waddup. As do random 2nd preference votes potentially. They definitely have a shout though, some IBL don't like Waddup and Vicky Blake won the VP election.
 
redsquirrel said:
Make sure Waddup doesn't get elected.
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Why? Genuine question. I'm new to the union and have been trying to research the candidates and decide.

From what I've read so far, he seems like the most experienced of the three, and they all seem much of a muchness otherwise. What am I missing?
 
Mation said:
Why? Genuine question. I'm new to the union and have been trying to research the candidates and decide.

From what I've read so far, he seems like the most experienced of the three, and they all seem much of a muchness otherwise. What am I missing?
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Well for a start he's never been an ordinary union member having been a union bureaucrat his whole career. While I have nothing against full time officials for me the union should be led and directed by its members.

That aside he very much represents the continuation of the same failed politics that UCU has pursued since its formation 13 years ago, a politics that strengthens national office and acts against member democracy. He opposed the actions of last years congress to hold the previous general secretary to account and, unlike either of the Jo's, has not committed to implementing the recommendations of the union democracy commission in full.

For me it is clear that the industrial strategy of the union has to change, and the that change needs to be based on properly becoming an organising union that will that industrial action. It is genuinely ludicrous that we cannot expel members that break our own picket lines. I don't agree with the Jo's on everything but they both recognise the need for greater union democracy and with that a more organised and active union. Waddup wants a technocratic service orientated union, hence his support for heading off any extra industrial action last year in the USS dispute (something that both Jo's opposed).


I hope that answers your question? Where you a member during the USS dispute last year? If anything isn't clear please let me know and I'll expand. There's also other internal factors at play, which I can go into if you would like me to? Are you aware of the two major internal political factions of the union, the IBL and UCU Left?
 
redsquirrel said:
Well for a start he's never been an ordinary union member having been a union bureaucrat his whole career. While I have nothing against full time officials for me the union should be led and directed by its members.

That aside he very much represents the continuation of the same failed politics that UCU has pursued since its formation 13 years ago, a politics that strengthens national office and acts against member democracy. He opposed the actions of last years congress to hold the previous general secretary to account and, unlike either of the Jo's, has not committed to implementing the recommendations of the union democracy commission in full.

For me it is clear that the industrial strategy of the union has to change, and the that change needs to be based on properly becoming an organising union that will that industrial action. It is genuinely ludicrous that we cannot expel members that break our own picket lines. I don't agree with the Jo's on everything but they both recognise the need for greater union democracy and with that a more organised and active union. Waddup wants a technocratic service orientated union, hence his support for heading off any extra industrial action last year in the USS dispute (something that both Jo's opposed).

I hope that answers your question? Where you a member during the USS dispute last year? If anything isn't clear please let me know and I'll expand. There's also other internal factors at play, which I can go into if you would like me to? Are you aware of the two major internal political factions of the union, the IBL and UCU Left?
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Thank you redsquirrel, that's really helpful :)

I saw mention of the union democracy commission but need to read more about it and its recommendations. I wasn't a member during the USS dispute. Need to read up on that too!

What don't you agree with the Jos on?
 
Mation said:
Thank you redsquirrel, that's really helpful :)
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No probs. BTW if you are a Londoner there is a hustings with all three candidates next Friday at City University

Mation said:
I saw mention of the union democracy commission but need to read more about it and its recommendations. I wasn't a member during the USS dispute. Need to read up on that too!
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This thread is probably a reasonable starting point. Also the USS briefs pieces give a decent picture. But there's quite a few UCU members on U75 that I'm sure would be happy to answer any questions you have.

Mation said:
What don't you agree with the Jos on?
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Mostly I'd just go further than them, pushing for the replacement of representative by delegates. Some wider political differences too, party politics, EU etc.
 
Jo McNeil is the best candidate for me, I think she sometimes waters down/radicalises her politics depending on who she's talking to which I don't approve of but I'd say she's the only candidate that understands building branches and recruiting members, something we desperately need.

Jo Grady is also on the left so will give her second preference.

Matt Waddup was part of an organised stitch up to end the USS dispute early, which means there will be more pension cuts in the autumn and we'll have to strike again.
 
I'm guessing Jo Grady got a big uss vote - or at least Waddup didn't. Fucking hell, Waddup was only 90 votes away from coming 3rd!
 
Well of course (and absolutely nothing against Grady whatsoever) that's always the issue with institutions and why the union needs to democratised further - even more than the suggestions in the recent democracy commission, e.g. replacing representatives with delegates.
 
Just back from UCU Congress. Jo Grady's speech was actually very good, promised to abide by the recommendations of the democracy commission, including allowing her contract to be changed. Promised not to use staff as a human shield as well!

Then she buggered off for the rest of the day but hey ho :D

Interesting times definitely. UCU Left all over the shop. IBL seem to be dieing a slow death. Everything up in the air. I think JG could be really good or Sally Hunt Mk2 but probably nothing in the middle!

We are balloting on pay in HE and balloting on pensions in pre-92's.
 
Not strictly UCU news but related - Auguer review finally out and, what it surprise, its more horrible regressive shite. Fees dropping to £7,500 but students will be required to repay for 40 years not the current 30 and payments threshold would be reduced to £23,000.
[Martin Lewis, the founder of MoneySavingExpert who gave advice to the review] said lowering the repayment threshold - the point at which you start repaying - will mean people will, on average, "pay £180 a year more", and extending the repayment to 40 years will mean people will be repaying for most of their working lives.

"What we'll see is we have a slight regressive change to the system which means people are paying more each year and repaying longer," he added.
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Turnout at mine will be awful. Post 92, I won't say which because I don't want to get into publicly berating the Exec, but I'm expecting something like the last turnout. GTVO has amounted to a couple of emails and some crappy posters (the latter done by me).
 
Wilf said:
Turnout at mine will be awful. Post 92, I won't say which because I don't want to get into publicly berating the Exec, but I'm expecting something like the last turnout. GTVO has amounted to a couple of emails and some crappy posters (the latter done by me).
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At least you did some posters. It all counts.
 
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