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Sally Pellow (University of Reading)

29 January 2021

woman

Election address

Union activity:

  • Current Branch President of the University of Reading branch
  • Current NEC/HEC Member for the South, elected 2019
  • Current member of the Recruitment, Organising and Campaigning Committee, elected 2020
  • Branch Committee member since 2014
  • Branch Secretary 2015-2019

I believe in the democracy of this Union and want to make sure that all voices are heard, not just those which are loudest. I will fight to keep the focus on matters which affect members directly.

Constructive negotiation is our best approach. At Reading, we succeeded this summer in averting the very real threat of job losses and pay cuts that had been announced because of COVID-19.

It is essential we keep abreast of members views at each stage of the negotiation and negotiate constructively. Lack of constructive engagement leads to failure.

The 4Fights and the most recent USS disputes have not succeeded because we have not negotiated constructively: we have held a dogmatic position, and we have not kept abreast of members' views at every stage of negotiations. We are now in the ridiculous stage of having a live dispute still open for the pay rounds of last year, whilst this year's pay offer (or lack of one) goes unchallenged. Our negotiations have not been flexible enough to respond to the pandemic, which is a whole new and unanticipated threat.

Negotiations are never easy, but good negotiations are possible. You put your trust in the Union to fight for you, to spend your subs wisely, and to get the best deal possible. If your heart sank last year at the prospect of more strike action in what appears to be a losing battle, then you must elect those who will take all views into account, and who will look for the way through any impasse.

If you re-elect me to NEC, I will push hard for you to be given a full opportunity to be consulted on all motions, including late motions, raised for discussion by representatives and delegates; that the costs of any proposed special committees, meetings, or conferences are made explicitly clear to all before these costs can be approved; and that the views of all members are represented fairly and proportionally.

I am a senior systems administrator and PRINCE2 project manager - an academic related role, with a solid understanding of the whole of the University's workings.

I am not a member of any political group inside the Union. I fundamentally disagree with the concept of subscription-paying bloc voting affiliations within a Union, especially where there are strong links to external political parties.

Last updated: 28 January 2021