Vote for Max Watson and Tomasa Bullen, NEC 2015

[UPDATE 7th April 2015]: I've been re-elected unopposed so nobody will get to vote for me other than those activists in the 17 branches who already voted to nominate me at a branch committee meeting. Good enough for me.

My election address for NEC 2015 is below.

Please also vote for Tomasa Bullen and all candidates standing on the Reclaim the Union slate.

Printed leaflets aimed at Higher Education are now available, see here. Please get in touch if you want to help, especially if you're in one of the 17 branches who nominated me.
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Vote for Max Watson to Reclaim the Union - for a democratic UNISON that really fights austerity!

I'm seeking re-election to the NEC, Higher Education General Seat, which I've held since 2010.

Since 2008 I've played a leading role in London Metropolitan University Branch, including:

• Resisting job cuts from 2009 – 2011: in 2009 we took three days strike action with the UCU, saving 200 jobs. In 2011 we took strike action and the University doubled redundancy pay on offer and opened a voluntary redundancy scheme;
• Campaigning successfully for the Living Wage in 2011 and now we are an accredited Living Wage Employer. Our outsourced cleaners, catering staff and security guards are all well organised;
• Stopping a massive 'Shared Services' proposal in 2012, which had threatened our entire back office with privatisation;
• Successfully campaigning against the deportation of 2,000+ overseas students when the Border Agency withdrew our Highly Trusted Sponsor status in 2012; 
• Winning another huge campaign against trade union victimisation in 2013 after I was suspended and threatened with dismissal alongside two others.  

We've many new reps as a result of these campaigns and have a lively branch, with regular events and a strong branch committee taking on case work on a daily basis.

I've also played a lead role in two major national disputes:

Pensions 
UNISON members defended the LGPS in 2011 with strike action and when a settlement was finally offered I vigorously opposed the compromise deal which only protected those closer to retirement. The Higher Education executive was the only part of UNISON to call for a 'reject' vote, and I’m proud of that.

I opposed separate negotiations over different pension schemes - we are stronger together but the government played us off against each other.

Predictably, we now we see the USS being eroded, so is SAUL, and some universities are even opting out of their pension obligations altogether.

Pay
In 2013-2014, UNISON's Higher Education Service Group, alongside our sister unions, lead a courageous dispute over pay and it paid off. We won a two per cent increase after three days strike action.

Two percent does not redress the soaring cost of living but we came away with our heads held high: we won movement toward the Living Wage and two percent is still the highest public sector pay settlement in years thanks to our hard line.

Further attacks 
Our sector has faced a barrage of attacks, including:

• tuition fees trebled
• drastic cuts to HE funding; 
• threats to international students; 
• constant restructures and job cuts; 
• outsourcing and privatisation; 
• national bargaining at risk; and 
• De-recognition of our union is a reality in some places.

Facing these challenges our union needs strong, fighting leadership. I have the necessary experience to resist these attacks.

I stand on my record and have kept a blog since 2010:
maxwatsonunison.blogspot.co.uk

Please also vote for Tomasa Bullen for the Higher Education female seat and all other candidates standing to 'Reclaim the Union'.