John Fones (Bridgwater and Taunton College) - FE South

John Fones (Bridgwater and Taunton College) 

Election address 

For NEC re-election (third term) UK FE South. 

FE Lecturer (CompSci) at BTC.  I teach L1-L3.  Also refugee / asylum-seeker students, with low-level English skills. 

Previously Lecturer-Devon, AHoD NW-London (Adult Basic Skills, Computing-IT), Teacher-HoD (Computing-IT) in schools, now Lecturer FE again. 

Four Years years teaching/lecturing (English) in school, college and HE (Czech Republic). 

UK state sector, 43 years.  Have always been a union member since studying at Bede College, Durham (1974-77). 

Chair, UCU-BTC Branch, Secretary: UCUSW Regional Committee, NEC 2021-present: SWTUC-Executive (2019-present).  

National FE Negotiator. 
Lead Safety Representative; most facility time is casework. 

Led successful BTC strikes (2018-19 and 2022 Disputes); Wrote BTC local claims.  Major concessions in observations (ungraded), pay, workload, green agenda. 

Proposed and spoke to Congress motions on Trainer-Assessors, National Action, Ukraine and Pay. 

Committed to a national union, maintaining unity and cohesion across FE-England. 

I support Binding National Negotiation and salary harmonisation across FE England. 

I work professionally with managers - SMT but avoid being a management apologist.  My primary loyalty is to non-manager colleagues.   

In casework, I support colleagues by seeking solutions rather than conflict with management. 

I have an abiding interest in FE and in maintaining a high-quality, comprehensive and democratic post-16 provision for England as in other UK countries.  I am proud of the service provided, which promises so much for post-16 students. 

Everyone should be proud to be in the engine of growth, both personal and national.  A vibrant FE engine can drive UK economic growth. 

Without a strong FE sector, England struggles. 

I have written FEC papers supporting pay and workload claims and discussion papers on Covid 19 & Post-Covid syndrome.  

I am keen to maintain the momentum created when we set up a collaboration between NEU, NASUWT, NAHT and UCU across the SW region and helped organise rallies in Exeter and Bristol in December 2022. 

I support further cross-union collaboration - particularly with SFC colleagues. 

As Secretary (UCUSW RegCom) and NEC FE South I listen to many branches and am aware of challenges faced across these diverse regions. 

I aim to see FE top of the agenda.   No longer forgotten.   

Members need, deserve and demand respect.  Pay - rates should reflect the work, commitment, and results we are achieving for our learners, in 16-19 programmes, Apprenticeships and Adult courses. 

We shall not be hoodwinked by Government and Principals fobbing us off with badges, sorrowful looks and hand-wringing. 

Quoting a well-known trade-unionist, "We refuse to be meek. We refuse to be humble.  We refuse to be poor." 

FE is angry.   FE needs respect.  FE needs pay-parity.   
 

Vote #1 Fones 
Vote Rhiannon Lockley 4VP 

https://bit.ly/johnfones4NEC