Dr Steve Sangwine (University of Essex)

Election address

Current Honorary Treasurer

UCU must fight for all our members and for this we need strong finances. I have the experience to help us maintain our strong financial base.

As Treasurer (elected 2017, re-elected 2019) I have an in-depth knowledge of the union's finances, and present the budget to NEC and Congress annually. I am currently continuing a 5-year revision of our subscription rates mandated by Congress in 2018, resulting in a fairer, more proportional, system, and reduced rates for the low paid, a goal I strongly support. I've met twice with members of the Anti-Casualisation Committee to canvas their views.

If re‑elected, I will continue to safeguard the long‑term future of UCU, as well as its immediate financial strength. I believe in using the union's financial strength to support our members, as we did so effectively in the successful 2018 USS dispute. However, the recent disputes in HE cost us a huge amount with very limited results, reminding us that industrial action is not always the best option. I very much regret that we had to raise a levy, but it followed from decisions made by the HEC to call 28 days of industrial action. I advised the HEC of the likely cost before the decision was made. Regardless of misgivings, I took strike action as democratically agreed.

• I have always backed industrial action in FE or HE when well‑supported by members in an indicative electronic ballot. I strongly support consultation with members before expensive statutory ballots (which by law must be postal).
• I believe that our union does best when engaging with the members at large, not just with those who attend meetings.
• I have supported many members as a caseworker and I understand the real issues members face.
• I am not a member of any political party (mainstream or otherwise). I'm willing to work constructively with anyone who puts the interests of UCU and its members ahead of their own political views.

Employment: Senior Lecturer, University of Essex since 2001; Lecturer, University of Reading 1985‑2000. Member of AUT/UCU since 1985. I teach electronics; and research image processing and computational mathematics.

Branch service:

University of Reading: Secretary (1995‑1997), President (1997‑1999).

University of Essex: Vice-President (2005‑2008), President (2008‑2010 and 2014‑2015). I led a successful grassroots campaign in 2008 against the private company INTO which would have outsourced English language teaching.

Served on the NEC 2010 - 2016. I have been on the Legal Support Review Panel, Education Committee, the Stress and Bullying Working Group, and the National Council of TSN (now Education Support). My work with elected lay officers, NEC colleagues, and UCU staff, has given me a good grasp of how to work effectively within UCU.