Andy Cunningham: I'm supporting Max Watson NEC because...

I'm supporting Max Watson because higher education is facing the biggest challenge in its existence and only a fighting leadership can defend our jobs and universities.

The Government and Vice-Chancellors are ripping up our education system - making it impossible for working class people to access our Universities. At the same time, they are using the privatisation of the Universities as an excuse to cut our pay, jobs and pensions.

We cannot let them get away with this. Our strength as a union is when we act together - that means campaigning and taking co-ordinated national action. To do that, we need a leadership that knows how to organise, how to lead fights and - most importantly - how to win. Max has led his Branch through difficult times and has been an inspiration for those of us who want to defend our members. That is why I am urging everyone to use your vote in these elections and to choose Max Watson for higher education.

Andy Cunningham
Assistant Branch Secretary
Manchester Metropolitan University UNISON

Who's supporting Max Watson for NEC, 2011

The following Branches nominated Max Watson for UNISON NEC. Follow the links to read short endorsements (in personal capacities) from those branches:

1. Birkbeck - Naomi Bain, UNISON Chair

2. Imperial College -

3. London South Bank University

4. Middlesex University - Jenny Compton-Bishop, Branch Secretary

5. University of East London (UEL) -

6. University of Cambridge & Colleges - Cathy Yearsley, Branch Secretary

7. London Metropolitan University - Allan Pike, Branch Secretary and Gail Cameron, Assistant Branch Sec

8. University of Bedfordshire -

9. Liverpool John-Moores University - Andrew Beech, Branch Secretary (& and HE SGE)

10. Manchester Metropolitan University - Andy Cunningham, Assistant Branch Secretary

11. Southampton District -

12. Westminster -

13. University of West of England -

14. Bristol -

15. Brighton University -

16. Senate House, Uni of London -

17. School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) - Sandy Nicoll, Branch Secretary, & Higher Education Service Group Executive

18. Birmingham University - Matt Raine, Branch Secretary & Higher Education Service Group Executive

19. Anglia Ruskin -

More endorsements:

• Sue Gallagher, (Retired), ex-Chair of Uni of Birmingham Branch and ex-NEC member until 2010
  
  
• Barry Blinko, (retired) ex-Higher Education Service Group Executive and Westminster Uni Branch Secretary
  
  
• Bill Lehm, University College London (UCL) UNISON Branch Secretary

If you want to support the campaign to re-elect Max Watson onto the NEC, send through an endorsement for this page, or just want to get involved somehow, then get in touch.

Thanks everyone for your ongoing support.

Cathy Yearsley: I'm supporting Max Watson because...

I first met Max nearly two years ago and he has never faltered in his enthusiasm and dedication to our members. I am voting for him because he is an inspiration to UNISON and is the ideal person to be on the NEC. He is passionate about everything that matters in Higher Education.

Cathy Yearsley
Branch Secretary
University of Cambridge & Colleges

Protestors block Euston rd as Camden local community denied access to budget meeting

We're marching for the Alternative on March 26th

Our branch committee recently had an 'Away Day' / Branch assessment training exercise at the London Region (thanks to the brilliant Alice Dawney), which was a great way to plan for the year ahead, go through our achievements in the last year - what worked well and what less so well - and of course pledge to March for the Alternative on March 26th.

The focus of a great deal of our work must now be towards building for this demo. It has to be huge, but also see the launch of a summer of resistance and a program of action that doesn't stop with a big demo from 'a' to 'b'.

After all, the Stop the War Coalition marched people up to the top of the hill... but we were marched down again.

This movement must be different. So, see you there, for starters.

Fighting spirit at Unison's higher education conference

by a Unison union member

Over 150 delegates from universities across Britain met in Harrogate last week at the Unison union’s higher education conference.

They met to the backdrop of the student protests and the biggest attack ever on higher education in the form of rising fees and mass privatisation.

Read the full report here.

Tory Scum, Here We Come! Student Protests: The Story So Far

The rise of the incredible student movement, in a short version for trade union and other meetings. This and the full 65 minute version are on the latest Reel News DVD (No 26), along with films of protests in Ireland and the London firefighters strike. Order your copy at www.reelnews.co.uk