Joanna de Groot (University of York)

Election address

I welcome the chance to stand for an HE seat in the North-East electoral region.

As a Senior Lecturer at the University of York with experience as a local and national negotiator, as a caseworker, branch officer and a member of our NEC, I want to contribute to our work in institutions, regions, nations and at UK level to bring members together to tackle declining pay and pensions, job losses, and inequalities in our sector. Whatever our particular workplace, circumstances, or work role we need to unite in order to have the collective power which is vital to win what members want and need.

Uniting members means working closely with their diverse concerns, encouraging inclusive and respectful ways of working, and providing the support and training to encourage members to get involved in our activities and feel confident about our policies.

My local experience of work with members on precarious employment, on research policies and academic freedom, on equality issues, and on university restructuring has enabled me to understand and use these important approaches. My role as former officer and President of UCU 2014-18 and as current chair of the Education Committee has given me wider experience and perspectives

We are getting smarter and better at mobilising members and at thinking through the best tactics to keep us ahead of our employers as they impose market-based and managerial policies which damage universities as public institutions doing teaching and research and supporting learning and scholarship for the public good. We know that our working conditions affect our capacity to undertake these activities to the best of our abilities, and so our struggles over pay, pensions, injustice, and jobs express our commitment to students and the public good as well as our own needs. This is true whether we are academics, teaching staff, professional support staff, researchers, or postgraduates. We link these common concerns to our diverse experiences as casualised or migrant staff, and/or as staff who identify as one or more among our groups of women, LGBTQ+, disabled, or black members

We have achieved much but there is still more work to do, and I want to contribute to our NEC's efforts to make our collective struggles as inclusive and effective as possible. As the world of higher education becomes more difficult and stressful for staff and students the united and diverse strength of UCU is vital to any chance of making a difference. I am committed to supporting the big principles which underpin all our activities and also to doing the detailed practical work which ensures our effectiveness. I support Maxine Looby as candidate for the Vice President position in these elections.