Dr Sinan Khwandah (Southampton Solent University)

Senior Lecturer in Electronic Engineering; School of Technology and Maritime Industries; Southampton Solent University

Election address

I am Sinan Khwandah, Vice-President of the Solent University UCU branch and a member of UCU's Southern Regional Committee (SRC). I am running for election to the National Executive Committee because I believe in building a stronger, more inclusive union that defends every member. My journey as a union activist is rooted in the principles of solidarity, equity, transparency, and consultation - values I will bring to the NEC.  

In our Solent UCU branch, I have been at the forefront of:  

·       Resisting Cuts: We halted planned redundancies and challenged course closures, defending jobs and academic quality across the university.  

·       Defending Pensions: When management attempted a "fire and rehire" ploy - moving staff into a subsidiary to strip away their TPS/LGPS pensions - I helped lead the fightback. We stood firm and stopped Solent from setting a dangerous precedent for the sector.  

·       Fair Workloads & Progression: We forced the university to reinstate the agreed Academic Workload Planning system, restoring manageable workloads and guaranteed research time. We also revived fair regrading and promotions processes, defeating a flawed "Three Pillars" scheme and insisting on an equitable path for career progression.  

Beyond Solent, my work on the SRC has given me a broad view of our union's challenges and strategies. As the Southern Region training officer, I have organized workshops that empower members and reps to fight locally. I'm actively involved in UCU's national campaigns - from the "We Are the University" campaign for fair pay and secure jobs in higher education to the "New Deal for FE" initiative to improve pay and conditions in colleges. I understand how local struggles connect to these national priorities, and I have stood with branches across our region, fighting casualisation and opposing "fire-and-rehire" wherever it appears.  

If elected to the NEC, I will champion our core priorities: ending exploitative casual contracts, advancing equality, securing fair workloads, defending pensions, and ensuring meaningful consultation with members. I will work collaboratively and transparently, drawing on my experience building consensus at Solent and in the region, to amplify members' voices in every decision. Together, we can protect staff rights and secure sustainable working conditions for the long term. I am a principled, experienced, and collaborative candidate who believes in the power of collective action, and I ask for your support to help build a union defined by solidarity, courage, and real victories for our members.