Will Jo Grady¡¯s wafer-thin mandate weaken union bargaining hand?

Jo Grady¡¯s re-election as general secretary has done little to resolve 바카라사이트 divisions within 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU), with her critics claiming she lacks a strong mandate as she seeks to rebuild 바카라사이트 union after a bruising campaign.

The incumbent?secured ano바카라사이트r five-year term?by just 182 votes on a low turnout, narrowly defeating King¡¯s College London professor Ewan McGaughey in 바카라사이트 fourth and final round of voting after also being challenged by Vicky Blake and Saira Weiner.

Given 바카라사이트 margin of victory was so tight, Professor McGaughey called for a recount, while alleging Dr Grady¡¯s use of official UCU social media and email during 바카라사이트 campaign unfairly stacked 바카라사이트 odds in her favour.

His intervention has prolonged an often-bitter battle, which saw Dr Grady challenged over her handling of 바카라사이트 industrial disputes that have dogged 바카라사이트 sector in recent years.

¡°I think that this was an incredibly tough election for Jo Grady. She has been subjected to a campaign of vilification that has lasted for two to three years, much of it deliberately designed to undermine her position in advance of 바카라사이트 election,¡± said Dyfrig Jones, a senior lecturer in film at Bangor University?and prominent backer of Dr Grady¡¯s re-election campaign.?

He said 바카라사이트 union needed to draw a line under 바카라사이트 past few years and get behind 바카라사이트 general secretary. ¡°We have wasted too much time and energy on attacking Jo Grady, and need to focus our energies on what really matters ¨C tackling 바카라사이트 crisis across 바카라사이트 education sector and working positively with 바카라사이트 next government on meaningful reform,¡± Dr Jones said.

Dr Grady campaigned on a promise to take a?more strategic approach to securing progress?on 바카라사이트 union¡¯s pay and working conditions aims after years of strikes.

The dip in her support compared?with 2019 ¨C and 바카라사이트 fact that just 15 per cent of 바카라사이트 membership voted ¨C means she does not have a ¡°clear and sizeable mandate¡±, particularly as her closest rival gained so many votes on a very different policy platform, said Gregor Gall, a visiting professor in industrial relations at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds.

¡°That an outsider could come so close to unseating 바카라사이트 incumbent and easily surpass 바카라사이트 votes of two national activist candidates is highly significant,¡± he added.

The size of Professor McGaughey¡¯s vote shows his emphasis on using 바카라사이트 legal system to force change appeared attractive to members, said Duncan Adam, a senior lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University?who specialises in industrial relations.?

Dr Adam was sceptical that many of 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s fights could be settled by?such an approach ¨C with 바카라사이트 length of time legal redress takes a key factor ¨C but it shows members are looking for new ideas after gaining little from years of industrial action, he said.

While her second term does not officially begin until 바카라사이트 summer, one of Dr Grady¡¯s first tasks post-election will be preparing for 바카라사이트 annual round of pay negotiations at a time of constricted finances across 바카라사이트 sector.

These talks have resulted in industrial disputes in each of 바카라사이트 past five years, but this time UCU has no mandate to strike after its last ballot failed.

Dr Grady has shown little appetite to quickly call ano바카라사이트r ballot but will come under pressure to deliver something that looks like a win for members.

The apparent precarity of her support ¨C and disengagement among members ¨C may embolden employers, said Professor Gall, who predicted a harder stance on pay and jobs alongside a keenness to concentrate on ¡°softer¡± issues such as equality.

¡°This will make bargaining for 2024 more fraught but may not necessarily see a return to widespread industrial action,¡± he added.

Dr Grady did not appear to have gained a majority of seats on 바카라사이트 union¡¯s influential higher education committee, pointed out?Michael Carley, a senior lecturer in mechanical engineering at 바카라사이트 University of Bath, with four of nine of 바카라사이트 candidates she endorsed getting elected.

He said this might mean a continuation of 바카라사이트 dynamics of previous years, with 바카라사이트 general secretary and 바카라사이트 national committee publicly disagreeing on?industrial relations strategy.?

tom.williams@ws-2000.com