Philip Wilson (Chichester College Group)

Election address

Putting Further Education back onto the agenda

The choice in front of us is to either accept continued austerity and pay restraint or in the aftermath of the pandemic to unite with our fellow key workers and together resist further attacks on our pay, jobs, pensions and services. 

For far too long further education has been underappreciated, undervalued and underfunded. We urgently need a stronger voice for FE, not just within our own Union but also in the national conversation about how our sector can again play its unique role in supporting any post-pandemic recovery.

We urgently need to strengthen our union in the FE sector, and not just in the South. We face a generational crisis and desperately need to recruit a younger layer of members who often don't see the need for or in many cases haven't actually witnessed the work of trade unions in the workplace. It is these workers who are most likely to be casualised, low paid and often face the unacceptable practice of delivering teaching on non-teaching contracts.

The fight against austerity over the past decade has taught us of the necessity for a unified response. Working alongside other FE unions on campuses, and with those who are taking action to defend their jobs and services. Continued pay restraint and adequate public service funding are issues that we must take up collectively. In the current economic crisis, we simply cannot allow any one group of workers to fight alone; providing practical support for those in dispute and where intersectional issues arise we should look to broaden out and co-ordinate action. 

My 5 Priorities

• Workloads - win localised agreements.
• FE Pay - oppose the pay restraint, fight to recover the 30% cut in pay since 2009.
• Strengthen the Union - Recruitment campaign in FE to strengthen branches.
• Challenge further mergers - Avoid the standardising down of terms and conditions.
• Put FE back on the agenda - Speak out for the sector which often is forgotten and underappreciated.

About me

I have worked in further education for over ten years in various support and now teaching roles. I am currently a Student Tutor and Lecturer in A Level Politics at Chichester College and am also studying towards my PGCE. My trade union experience has been of rebuilding union organisation from a low base through greater visibility, winning key victories that have led to greater recruitment.

• Re-established Trade Union presence at East Surrey College increasing membership through increased visibility in the workplace.
• Won a local pay increase above the public sector pay cap rise while at East Surrey College.
• Helped to revive Chichester College UCU and led a recruitment campaign which has seen a dramatic rise in membership.
• Member of UCU Left.