Safia Flissi (South and City College Birmingham)

ESOL Lecturer at South City College Birmingham

Election address

I'm an ESOL Lecturer at South and City College Birmingham, teaching migrants and refugees rebuilding their lives in the UK. Watching my students-especially the women-gain confidence, find their voice, and claim their place in society reminds me daily why equality and social justice matter. I'm standing for re-election as National Representative of Women Members because this work is not finished. 

My Union Experience 

•     UCU NEC and Representative of Women Members (2023-present) 

•     UCU SCCB Vice Chair and H&S (2022-present) 

•     West Midlands Region Membership Rep (2016-2018; 2022-present) 

•     West Midlands Region FE Chair (2020-2022)      

•     UCU SCCB Branch Secretary (2015-2020)    

Why I'm Standing 

From the classroom to the picket line, I see how much further we need to go. Women in FE and HE still face pay inequality, harassment, and the combined weight of sexism, racism, disability discrimination, and transphobia. Add in caring responsibilities and brutal cuts to public services, and the picture gets even harder. Equality has to be central to everything UCU does—our bargaining, our campaigns, our politics. 

What I've Done as a Rep 

·       Led members at SCCB through a successful 7-day strike, winning a ground-breaking 5.6-11% pay rise—our first real increase in a decade 

·       Won the FE New Deal ballot at my college, helping us join the 32 branches that voted yes and building momentum for sector-wide action 

·       Was very proud to be part of the recent successful lobby of Parliament, and moved motions at Congress against cuts to adult skills funding that disproportionately harm women, migrants, disabled students, and anyone seeking a second chance 

·       Campaigned for workload limits and real equality action plans. 

What I'll Keep Fighting For 

Our members face impossible workloads, increasing casualisation, bullying, unsafe conditions, and pay that can't keep up with living costs. I'll keep pushing for binding agreements across FE and HE—so all our pay and conditions rise together, not piecemeal. 

But trade unionism can't just be about our workplaces. UCU must challenge the far right, stand with trans and non-binary colleagues, defend migrants and refugees, and support Palestinian liberation. These struggles are inseparable from equality. With the rise of Reform UK, we must fight more urgently. 

UCU Left 

I'm proud to support Regi Pilling and Sean Wallis for Vice-President and endorse UCU Left candidates because I know we're stronger when we fight collectively, democratically, and politically. If re-elected, I'll make sure women members' voices continue to shape UCU strategy across both sectors.