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Professor Paul Anderson (Queen Mary University of London)

1 February 2019

Election address

I am Professor of Oral Biology, Queen Mary University of London. I am involved in delivering teaching, and research, and holding many administrative positions within QMUL. Further, I have senior positions in national and international teaching and research organisations, and, am associate editor of a leading research journal in my field. I have been a member of QMUL Council, gaining insight into university senior management.

I am a UK-elected NEC member (Higher Education) for London and the South.

I have been an active member of UCU for 25 years, a Branch Committee member for 15 years, Branch Chair, and supporter of UCU Left. Our Branch campaigns include; performance management, gender pay gap, anti-bullying, LGBT staff, anti-casualisation, with successful local negotiations including restructurings, performance management, work allocation models, appraisal schemes, and intolerable work-loads. There is still much to do. The Branch campaigned vigorously during recent pension disputes, and organised substantial and effective picket lines during every recent UCU strike. I believe strike action is necessary to change the trajectory that university employers are taking. The increased use of casualised staff to make unnecessary savings in the sector jeopardises the student experience, demotivates early career research staff, and creates an intolerable working environment.

Times are changing for the worst in HE and FE. Senior University management continues to devise financial measures which undermine teaching and research, validated via inappropriate metrics, as well as, reduce pay, destroy terms and conditions, and negatively impact equality. UCU must oppose these changes. UCU must campaign and lead the opposition to these changes on behalf of its members. UCU needs to react strongly to these proposed changes, rather than taking retrospective action. UCU must work to show solidarity with other education sector Trade Unions, and with NUS. The consequences of the current UK University Management strategies for individual UCU members, and for students, as well as teaching and research, is devastating. I want to see UCU oppose these changes, putting members first, and creating a space in which members can ensure that their voices are heard, and decisive action taken following successful ballot results for strike action.

The role of Hon. Treasurer is a position of responsibility, and is an important role within UCU. This role is key to the UCU future trajectory of campaigning, informing, and building on industrial action gains. My previous relevant experience includes having been involved in Secretary/Treasurer of academic/professional organisations for teaching and research purposes.

I am a supporter of UCU Left, with considerable experience in my local UCU branch, including Chair, and vice - president as well as experience at National UCU level.  Please vote for me for an active campaigning and effective Trade Union representing you.

Last updated: 1 February 2019