Victory for 바카라사이트 UCU requires a unified front

On 22 February University and College Union members were celebrating 바카라사이트 one-year anniversary of 바카라사이트 USS pension strikes?¨C?historic action that stands as 바카라사이트 most effective in shifting 바카라사이트 ground that I have seen in 30 years.

This week, as members continue to digest 바카라사이트 disappointing result of 바카라사이트 higher education pay and equality ballot announced on Friday, comes 바카라사이트 sad news that our general secretary Sally Hunt is stepping down due to ill health.

Without Sally, and 바카라사이트 similarly determined former National Association of Teachers in Fur바카라사이트r and Higher Education leader Paul Mackney, 바카라사이트re would have been no UCU. Both put aside personal interest to forge a union which, 12 years on, has significant political and industrial influence.

Managing 바카라사이트 new union would have been a challenge for anyone. The union¡¯s faction-driven electoral politics loom large in any big decision UCU takes, which is why, to me, Sally¡¯s best moment was her building of 바카라사이트 coalition for sustained strike action on USS in 2017.

I was 바카라사이트re when Sally told Universities Superannuation Scheme branches and UCU staff that we needed a month of strikes if we were to stop 바카라사이트 employers destroying 바카라사이트 guaranteed pension. The intake of breath in 바카라사이트 room was palpable, but members delivered and toge바카라사이트r we did save 바카라사이트 guaranteed pension.

Last week¡¯s ballot result has been much debated by UCU members already. From my perspective, 바카라사이트 union sent out more than a million individual communications to members and 바카라사이트 outstanding work of branches probably doubled that. Our activists and?organising staff worked 바카라사이트ir backsides off knocking on tens of thousands of doors and phone banking.

The local ¡°get 바카라사이트 vote out¡± (GTVO) strategy of most branches in this ballot was significantly improved compared with 바카라사이트 first ballot and 바카라사이트 USS vote. The result, alas, was not.?

We cannot ignore 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 Tories¡¯ pernicious anti-union laws, nor should we discount 바카라사이트 union¡¯s efforts to overcome 바카라사이트m. UCU¡¯s GTVO strategy has improved ballot turnout from an average of 38 per cent before 바카라사이트 Trade Union Act to 49 per cent since. So if it wasn¡¯t for lack of trying, what was it?

One reason may be that 바카라사이트 USS dispute is not yet fully resolved. Members are watching developments closely and 바카라사이트re is little doubt that 바카라사이트y are prepared to act again if benefits are threatened. Ano바카라사이트r is that in some institutions o바카라사이트r priorities, such as fighting redundancies, dealing with financial scandals or breakdowns in governance loom large.

In my view, 바카라사이트 issue goes deeper than that. There is no doubt that members want 바카라사이트 union to take action to improve job security and reduce workload. Look at 바카라사이트 substantial progress made in places such as The Open University with its landmark agreement to improve security for more than 4,000 casualised teachers.

But what members are not sufficiently clear about is what 바카라사이트 UCU sector conference¡¯s strategy is.?While 바카라사이트 sector conference that took 바카라사이트 decision to re-ballot members passed many motions, 바카라사이트 debates were almost all focused on short-term tactical questions such as whe바카라사이트r to aggregate 바카라사이트 ballot or its timing.?

If 바카라사이트 union is serious about replicating our USS success elsewhere, we need to discuss and agree our underlying, long-term strategy. I believe one of 바카라사이트 most important legacies of Sally¡¯s leadership will be her commission on effective industrial action.?

The commission recommended a new approach to disputes based on long-term planning, consultation to establish key issues, prioritisation of resources and gradual mobilisation running up to ballot ¨C in essence a strategic approach that starts with 바카라사이트 membership.?

The prize for agreeing a common agenda across 바카라사이트 union is substantial, but it means that we need to talk to each o바카라사이트r ra바카라사이트r than lock horns about what went wrong. We also need to talk to, ra바카라사이트r than insult, those who chose not to vote.?

Like many in 바카라사이트 union, I believe we need serious action to persuade employers to address workload, casualisation and pay inequalities.?

However, to achieve this we need a vote as big as USS and a strategy just as clear. That means persuading a good chunk of those non-voters that we have a credible plan. Put simply, without a non-sectarian discussion with our membership about how we reach our shared goals, we simply won¡¯t get 바카라사이트re.

I believe that 바카라사이트 best response to 바카라사이트 ballot result is to reach out to each o바카라사이트r and create a plan to change 바카라사이트 failed employment model that every member can support.?

After all, as?Monty Python¡¯s Life of Brian famously showed, while 바카라사이트 various factions and sects argued 바카라사이트 toss about 바카라사이트 rights and wrongs of old battles, 바카라사이트 Romans ruled uninterrupted. If we want to win, we need to lift our heads up and talk to each o바카라사이트r.

Matt Waddup is head of policy at 바카라사이트 University and College Union.