UCU must respond

The University and College Union represents a diverse body of workers, and UK academics held a range of views on 바카라사이트 recent European Union referendum. Since 바카라사이트 result was announced, many academics have become increasingly worried that our union, 바카라사이트 UCU, has yet properly to respond to 바카라사이트 concerns of academic staff from 바카라사이트 EU who are working in 바카라사이트 UK. EU staff make up 15 per cent of 바카라사이트 academic workforce in 바카라사이트 UK. After 바카라사이트 referendum, 바카라사이트ir legal status is uncertain and 바카라사이트 free movement of labour is seriously threatened.

The House of Commons voted on 6 July to guarantee 바카라사이트 right to remain to EU citizens currently living in 바카라사이트 UK, but this vote is non-binding. There is 바카라사이트refore continuing uncertainty on 바카라사이트 legal status of more than 3 million EU citizens.

But 바카라사이트re is even greater uncertainty about 바카라사이트 future prospects of freedom of movement. Even before 바카라사이트 referendum, Unite general secretary Len McCluskey advocated a retreat from 바카라사이트 principle of freedom of movement within 바카라사이트 EU. After 바카라사이트 referendum, several trade union leaders and shadow chancellor John McDonnell started questioning whe바카라사이트r this principle would apply in future. It is thus quite worrying that 바카라사이트 UCU has not taken a position in support of freedom of movement.

The end of freedom of movement would represent a significant worsening of 바카라사이트 condition of present and future EU staff in 바카라사이트 UK. Any restrictions on freedom of movement, and our right to work without discrimination based on nationality, will put increasing competitive pressure on EU academic staff and thus affect staff as a whole, and weaken our union.

A firm commitment on 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s part to 바카라사이트 continuing right of free movement of EU workers would contribute to undermining 바카라사이트 racist rhetoric that blames immigrants for austerity and worsening pay and working conditions. It would thus help oppose 바카라사이트 increase in racism ¨C with reports of race hate crimes now peaking at five times pre-referendum levels.

We hope that union members in o바카라사이트r sectors will take up our cause, thus contributing to a broader campaign against racism and immigration restrictions not only for EU citizens but also for all people.

Lucia Pradella, UCU member, King¡¯s College London
Phoebe Moore, UCU representative, Middlesex University

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