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Philippa Browning (University of Manchester)

29 January 2021

Election address

Professor of Astrophysics, University of Manchester

The Covid crisis exposes fundamental problems in HE  - dependence on student fees, overworked and demoralised staff, high levels of casualisation, aggressive management. In these most difficult times, we must stand together.

I bring to NEC:

  • Hands-on experience of branch leadership in negotiations, campaigns  and  industrial action
  • Many years  supporting members in personal casework
  • Commitment to working with fellow trade unions and students.
  • An independent non-aligned perspective
  • Commitment to listen to all members and work for their interests.

President of UMIST AUT (twice),  Manchester AUT/UCU (twice),  currently  co-Vice-President. Two years on NEC, attending almost all meetings; serving on  Legal Support Review Panel and  Education Committee.

Some achievements:

  • Led negotiations around the UMIST-Manchester merger, achieving retention of the "academic freedom" clause and enshrinement of restricted  use of fixed-term contracts in Statute.
  • Negotiated a sector-leading agreement abolishing zero-hours contracts and moving Teaching Assistants to fractional contracts.
  • Jointly led negotiations and campaigning during  local industrial action overturning over 150 threatened compulsory redundancies - the second branch ever to  beat  the 50% threshold.
  • A leading role in the 2018 USS industrial action.
  • Involved in current negotiations and campaigns resisting pay cuts and job losses

I am proud of our members' victory in retaining Defined Benefit pensions. This demonstrates the power of sustained industrial action, paving the way for future disputes  - whilst recognising prolonged strikes are a weapon of last resort.

As a woman in a traditionally-male discipline, I have a lifelong commitment to all aspects of equality. I  firmly uphold the core principle of universities as communities of scholars, founded on collegiality and academic freedom -  and resist  increasing managerialism and business ethos. I co-founded  Manchester's "Campaign for better Governance", and am an elected Senate member.  Defending and strengthening the structures of academic democracy is a crucial battle.

Supporting members through personal cases is at the heart of the union, and  is something I devote huge efforts to.  Casework doesn't just help individuals - although it can change people's lives - it defines priorities for local and national campaigns. Through personal cases, I see daily the "dark side" of universities:  bullying management culture,  job insecurity, stress, discrimination of all kinds, excessive workload and escalating expectations, performance management and lack of career progression. We must fight these through collective action.

In these  immensely challenging times - facing  Covid and Brexit - we must work together on our core issues, including:

  • Pay and pensions.
  • Gender and ethnicity pay gaps.
  • Casualisation.
  • Workload.
  • REF and research time
  • Job security.
  • Academic/PS professionalism and collegiality

The NEC must listen to ALL  members and build unity around these, leading to robust campaigns and well-supported - and successful -  industrial action. I commit to represent and work for all members.

Last updated: 28 January 2021