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Michael Carley (University of Bath)

29 January 2021

Election address

Michael Carley, Senior Lecturer. Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath

https://michael4hec.wordpress.com/

Over the next year, the effects of the covid pandemic, Brexit, and the continuedassault on higher education will demand an intelligent and forceful response from the labour movement. As an NEC member, I offer strategic thinking, good judgement, transparency and accountability. I have a track record of union service at all levels, including successful campaigns on governance and executive pay, union recognition to negotiate for professors, and a commitment to explaining the union's structures and to the opening up of the workings of NEC.

After three years of national action in higher education, the focus has shifted to local disputes, where branches are fighting redundancies, closures, and a callous attitude to staff health. The fundamental unit of our union is the branch. In the last year, branches have shown that they are willing and able to organize on issues which directly affect them. NEC's role is to work with branches, to support them in their local work, and to identify and raise demands at UK level, where NEC has the coordinating role.  Previously on NEC, I introduced changes which mean that NEC minutes are available two weeks after meetings, so that branches can follow what NEC does, with enough time to influence future decisions.

Clearly, employers will try to use changes to working practices introduced during the pandemic to intensify workloads and make universities more "productive". Remote working and online teaching are here to stay. Like any technology they have liberatory and repressive potential. We have a short time to take the initiative and ensure that new practices benefit us, and block their use for surveillance and the intensification of control over our working lives.

A trade union must defend all workers against intimidation from their employer or from anyone else. It is becoming accepted as normal that workers in education can face threats of violence, or attempts to drive them out of their jobs, because of their academic work, their opinions, or their identity. Whether it be a threat to someone's person, their employment, or their right to live in the UK, there is no excuse for making any worker live in fear. UCU must protect academic freedom, the more general freedoms of speech and movement, and the rights of everyone, however they identify or are identified, to go about their daily lives in peace. This is neither negotiable nor conditional on agreeing with anyone's views.

We face our greatest challenges ever. With strong branches and a brave NEC, we are equal to the task.

I offer understanding of our union and sector, a record of successful organizing, and a proven commitment to transparency on NEC.

Last updated: 28 January 2021