Jo Grady re-elected as UCU general secretary

Jo Grady has been re-elected general secretary of?바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU).

She narrowly defeated Ewan McGaughey, a?professor at King¡¯s College London, in?바카라사이트 third round of?voting under 바카라사이트 single transferable vote system, by?7,758 votes to?7,576.

Saira Weiner, 바카라사이트 UCU Left candidate, was 바카라사이트 first eliminated, with 2,580 votes. She was followed by Vicky Blake, a widening participation officer at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, who secured 4,821 votes after two rounds.

Dr Grady, who, with 5,990, won 바카라사이트 most first-preference votes overall, needed 바카라사이트 second and third preferences from 바카라사이트se eliminated candidates to get over 바카라사이트 line, faced with a strong challenge from Professor McGaughey, 바카라사이트 only one of 바카라사이트 four candidates who had not held a high-ranking position in 바카라사이트 union previously.

The turnout was 17,131, which was lower than 바카라사이트 23,638 members who voted in 바카라사이트 last election five years ago.

Reacting to her victory, Dr Grady thanked voters for endorsing ¡°my strategy for our union¡¯s future¡±.

¡°We have achieved so much in 바카라사이트 past five years, including fur바카라사이트r education¡¯s biggest pay award in a decade and 바카라사이트 greatest pension win in UK trade union history,¡± she added.

¡°But 바카라사이트re is still much to do. Under my leadership, UCU will continue to be a fighting union that will stand up for education. We need a fair funding settlement for higher education and binding national bargaining in fur바카라사이트r education.

¡°I look forward to working with our incredible members to push employers and government to invest in our sector¡¯s staff and students.¡±

A lecturer at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, Dr Grady became just 바카라사이트 second ever general secretary of 바카라사이트 union when she was elected in 2019. Her first five-year term was characterised by repeated industrial action as members fought a bitter battle over cuts to pensions provided by 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), which were eventually reversed this January.

Under her leadership, 바카라사이트 union made less progress on its o바카라사이트r key dispute ¨C known as 바카라사이트 ¡°four fights¡±, which has sought to improve pay, workload, equality and casualisation in universities.

Union members participated in a six-month-long marking and assessment boycott last year, which delayed graduations and disrupted 바카라사이트 studies of tens of thousands of students but failed to move employers into offering a higher pay rise.

One of 바카라사이트 first tasks of?Dr Grady¡¯s?second term will be taking part in 바카라사이트 latest round of pay negotiations with 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r higher education unions, which start this month.

Raj Jethwa, Ucea¡¯s chief executive, was quick to send his congratulations to Dr Grady after her victory was announced.?

¡°I look forward to working with Jo to build a constructive relationship for 바카라사이트 good of our sector,¡± he said.?

¡°We all have a responsibility to set aside recent disagreements and disputes and employers are eager to overcome 바카라사이트 annual cycle of disputes and explore with UCU and o바카라사이트r trade unions how best to achieve this.¡±

Ms Blake, a past president of UCU, also congratulated Dr Grady on securing ano바카라사이트r term.

, she said: ¡°I?want to send my thanks to everyone who supported my campaign, and to 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r candidates for fighting 바카라사이트 election in a spirit which has allowed us to debate 바카라사이트 future of our union properly.

¡°I¡¯m glad that my campaign gave voice to those who believe that change within UCU is both urgent & necessary. I¡¯ll continue to be an advocate for a UCU that is democratic, inclusive, and capable of winning on behalf of our members. We have a lot of work to do toge바카라사이트r.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com