Stephen Desmond (Southampton Solent University)

Election address

AGENDA-FOR-CHANGE

BETTER PAY--BETTER PENSIONS--BETTER WORKING HOURS--AFFORDABLE LEGAL SERVICES

My name is Steve Desmond.

I would be very grateful for your vote in the election for Vice-President of UCU. I am a Senior Lecturer in Film at Southampton Solent University.

I am a long standing UCU activist and have served UCU in multiple capacities over the last 20 years. I am a lecturer, journalist and documentary filmmaker that is passionate about social equality. 

My bio is at: https://www.solent.ac.uk/staff-profiles/academic-profiles/stephen-desmond/stephen-desmond

PAY

PAY AND CONDITIONS FOR LECTURERS IN THE UK HAVE FALLEN SO FAR BEHIND IN THE LAST 10 YEARS: 

A Senior Lecturer in the Republic of Ireland currently earns 98,000 euro (£87,770.41sterling). In the UK the equivalent rate is £49,200).

I will fight for fair pay for UK University Lecturers in line with salaries paid in other European Countries. It is a DISGRACE and a farce that our pay has fallen so far behind.  I make no criticism of UCU--the political climate in the country has been difficult. But the time is ripe for a more robust approach securing BETTER PAY for hardworking teaching staff.

If you want a strong, uncompromising Vice-President, advocating tirelessly for decent pay and conditions for everyone then please give me your vote. I will not let you down.

COVID-19 & WORKING HOURS

I will fight to ensure that the move to online teaching in many universities does NOT result in increased workloads for lecturers and the undermining of our pay, conditions and contracts.

PENSION

Our pensions have been plundered. I will fight for full-restoration of the Normal Pension Age to 60 in schemes like TPS. I will fight for a reduction in our monthly contributions back to reasonable rates.

LEGAL SERVICES

I will fight for free and available legal services for each and every UCU member who is in dispute and has been treated badly at work

STUDENT FEES

I will fight to remove student fees

OLDER LECTURERS

I will fight to ensure that no older lecturer is forced into voluntary severance or redundancy.

YOUNGER LECTURERS

I will fight to ensure that younger lecturers are NOT given watered-down contracts with inferior pay and conditions. 

PART-TIME LECTURERS

I will fight to end the exploitation of part-time lecturers and ensure that all part-time staff are provided with fractionalised contracts.

EQUALITY, ANTI-DISCRIMINATION, DIGNITY & RESPECT

We must stamp out discrimination, bullying and prejudice. We MUST ensure that our union provides unequivocal legal support to all members.

These are my priorities. These are my values. These are my commitments.

Thank you for considering me.

In solidarity, Comrades....

Steve Desmond.