UNISON statement on the Library’s Special Collections

UNISON statement on the Library's Special Collections It is with profound regret that UNISON learned yesterday of the University's Board of Governors' decision to seek new homes for The Women's Library and Trades Union Congress Library Collections. Social justice, the strides towards equality and the campaigns fought by those unwilling to accept injustice lie at the heart of these collections and they have given our students a real opportunity to engage with these movements and personal histories. These special collections truly emphasized the now seemingly lost intention of London Met Uni's original aims to widen participation and to promote social justice by offering our students these truly unique resources. The dedicated staff at both Libraries – who were not involved in these decisions in any way, despite seeking input into the reviews that lead to this decision – will now look to the future. We still believe in the value of the stories documented and want to thank everyone who has supported us so far.

We are all Alfie Meadows - Drop the Charges!

International Day Against Police Brutality is on Thursday 15th March. This will fall in the NUS week of action this year, we will be using this day as a day of action to increase awareness of Alfie Meadows' case. Download materials and find out how you and your university/workplace can get involved. http://www.defendtherighttoprotest.org/we-are-all-alfie-meadows-day-of-action/ We're remembering Alifie Meadows today as back in 2010 when Nick Clegg's Fib Dems were unmasked as unscrupulous and untrustworthy when it came to their education policy (before we knew how little they could also be trusted with our NHS), and on the day of the vote on tuition fees a student was nearly killed by the police in parliament square. I was kettled in Parliament square the same evening Alfie Meadows was struck to the head with a police baton, causing a massive bleeding and needing brain surgery. It should be no surprise that Alfie has been charged whilst the police all went unpunished for their abuse of power that night. I'll never forgive the way they treated us that night, holding young students and education workers (including members of my branch) against their will long into the cold night on Westminster bridge whilst others were rushed to hospital due to the rioting police. It could have been any one of us: it could have been me, it could have been you. So today, we are all Alfie Meadows. Show some support, as members of Birkbeck UNISON branch did yesterday after their AGM. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Justice-for-Alfie-Meadows/137723072947484 http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/justice-for-alife-meadows/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=button

Proud to be UNISON online

London Met University Branch launched our latest film, called ‘Proud to be London Met UNISON’, at our 10th AGM yesterday.

I was particularly proud to Chair our AGM as we premiered this film, as it was a long time in the making. We talked about the use of new media, social networks, video conferencing and so on a little at Brighton last week.

As this blog passed ten thousand 'visits' last month I've increasingly been thinking about the power of the interwebnet as a means for mass communication. I'm clearly a big fan of using this medium, and just getting into Twitter having been on FB for a while and even 'Union book' (anyone else on there / found it useful?)

I love to be able to communicate so easily with members who I've never met, or likely to meet outside the few hours of conference once a year. The limits are obvious though, and I'll always prefer a real face to face than a Facebook 'Chat'. Someone once told me about a legendary union branch secretary who continued right into the 21st century taking his members subs in cash on pay day each month, so he could 'see the whites of their eyes'!

So our AGM for me was a great example of combining the two: people coming together, eating together, voting, discussing, listening to each other in a safe environment. And watching a film together that will stay on Youtube and be watched by the readers of our branch website, the twitterverse, the blogosphere and so on as well.

So the first 50 'views' and the genuine, heartfelt round of applause for Ivan Orgaz, one of our communications officers, that followed, made me very proud to be London Met UNISON yesterday.

And today I'm proud also that we announced - appropriately enough on Women's Day - the election of Catherine Maguire, one of the stars of the film, as the first female Branch Secretary of London Met UNISON for many years.

Anger and frustration over pensions in Brighton

When conference heard all five emergency motions had been ruled out of order, it was obvious there would be trouble.

The 200-odd delegates who'd got down to Brighton following the hugely successful day of strike action in November naturally expected to be able to debate the major subject of the day. So when they were refused, they voted the Standing Orders Committee (SOC) out of order!

Last year it was pay, leading to a stalemate. This year, delegates went further: just one delegate in the two hundred-strong conference voted for a SOC report that excluded all pension motions from the agenda. Just one!

This didn't go down at all well with the Chair, Eleanor Smith, who couldn't hide her annoyance ('do you realise what you're voting for?!') before trying to call the vote on the first SOC report again. Some one explained to her she can't as the vote has already been taken, so the conference was suspended.

A full two hours of back room phone calls and conversations went by before the conference got going again, this time the motions were referred back but the rest of the report approved reluctantly. The vote to refer back the motions on pensions had easy majorities. About 80% of the delegates continued to express anger at being refused the chance to express their distaste with the way this had been handled.

Based on that benchmark, it was easy to see the motions calling for further action on pensions would have likely been passed. All of them called for further action against the pensions changes and to reject settling on the 'principles' or 'heads' of agreement.

Eventually, a tactical shift meant the debate about pensions was proposed during a temporary suspension of standing orders, meaning a debate on the subject but without a vote. Finally, for a full 35 minutes, delegates could now express their anger.

Speaker after speaker derided the current state of play. Some called it a 'sell out', others berated the leadership for not showing a willingness to fight when the members were up for it.

One member summarised the 'rejectionists' frustration: "This is why people leave UNISON. You can't march people up to the top of the hill just to march them down again."

Some emphasised the increase in retirement age, others the move to a career average scheme, still others the need to retain public sector unity and not let the UCU, NUT or PCS go it alone.

Others did express doubt we could muster further support for further strike action but it has to be said they were in a minority.

The only thing missing was a vote to settle the matter.

Chris Tansley was in the Chair for the afternoon. Summing up, he praised the floor for the well mannered, and articulate debate. He promised to have listened carefully and then pledged to take their concerns back to the negotiating team.

It will be interesting to see exactly what comes out of the final offer and soon the members will decide on where to go next. More interesting will be whether the rejectionist unions can muster their members to take further action despite the members feeling abandoned by the bigger unions.

One thing's for sure in my mind: the delegates to HE conference 2012 weren't convinced at all we'd done the right thing by suspending action in January.

What a pity to watch all that momentum we'd built up for 30th November dissipate into the hot air of The Brighton Centre on 2nd March. Members were passionate on the subject, feelings running high. If only that energy could have been unleashed onto the government instead of the union leadership.

Meanwhile, twenty-odd other motions were discussed and passed - almost all of them without real opposition. A motion on lunch arrangements got the battering it was aniticipated, and members were cautious about increasing the use of video conferencing.

The discussion over organising via the Internet, social networking and Twitter was potentially very good, but the frustration of members not being able to tweet about pensions over-shadowed the whole event.

The best thing and the worst thing for me about HE conference 2012 was the Living Wage campaign launch, which the official report online rightly emphasised. The campaign was launched along with the NUS at a lunch time fringe meeting, with photos taken of delegates with our new placards and it was taken up in the national papers.

The best part of that was witnessing a first-time delegate, Tamar Emmanuel, who works in catering at London Met, introduce the composite motion on the Living Wage, having seen the benefits herself.

The worst part was a visitor who was instrumental in winning the Living Wage at London Met being excluded not only from the conference floor but the fringe meeting of that campaign launch.

I'll come back to blog here on some of the other issues in detail later: about a national strategy to fight job cuts; our pay claim; encourging new activists; organising face to face rather than Facebook to Facebook; and yes, on allowing access to UNISON events for women who are nursing babies.

Overall, delegates once again showed we're a force to be reckoned with and it was an honour to be the elected NEC representative of the HE Service Group.

The living wage isn't just about money - it's about dignity

Tamar Emmanuel from London Metropolitan University, where the living wage has just been introduced, spoke out to say: "I'm proud to say I earn the living wage.

"The living wage isn't just about money - it's about dignity, dignity at work. The living wage doesn't solve all our problems - but it makes such a difference to our lives."

And she explained that the campaign for a living wage has meant that "nearly everybody has now joined the union. The only way to get dignity at work is to get organised. There are millions of people not on the living wage and it isn't right."

Read the full official report of UNISON Higher Ed conference here. A personal report to follow soon.

For a fighting, democratic UNISON in Higher Education

For a fighting, democratic UNISON in Higher Education * Pre-conference meeting * WHEN? 7pm, Thursday 1st March WHERE? The UMI Hotel on the seafront, booked from http://umihotelbrighton.co.uk/ which is on the corner opposite the Odeon, here.    WHAT? An open discussion on how to win the ongoing struggle to turn UNISON into a fighting, democratic union. WHY? Whether it's defending our pensions or pay, when resisting job cuts, tuition fees or privatisation, we need a union that can stand up the most right wing government in a generation. WHO? All Higher Ed UNISON members/ activists welcome for an open debate on the eve of the Higher Ed Service Group conference. It will be an organising meeting, followed by a social, so come with your ideas and join our network of left activists in UNISON HE. Speakers: Max Watson (NEC - in a personal capacity) Linda Holden (Manchester Met Branch) Glenn Kelly ('Defend the Four' campaign) Contact Max Watson for details, on: 07793 145 754

Elect Claire Locke #1 for NUS President!

Claire Locke has been an inspiration for London Met students and staff alike. Her energy, instinctive common sense and her dynamism know no bounds. She took our Students Union by storm in 2010 when she was elected Communications officer and then President, and has achieved a huge amount - especially important for us has been the building of really close links between staff and students.

When we fought against job cuts last year Claire was instrumental in passing policy through her union to support our strike, even though some argued it would 'harm the students'; she supported our Living Wage campaign, despite the cuts at London Met to student services, and was on the picket lines again on our fight for decent pensions - we know we can always rely on her support when needed.

She is articulate, passionate and absolutely solid - UNISON members in HE couldn't have a better advocate within the student movement. She's one of us.

So I'm delighted she is standing for NUS President and very much hope all the activist groups rally round her campaign, put their differences aside, and do the right thing. Elect Claire Locke #1 for NUS President!

I am running in this election because I want a national leadership that will fight for our future.

I have been a representative of London Met Students' Union for two years. London Met is the most working class university in the country, and has more black and ethnic minority students at it than the whole of the Russell Group combined. We have been hit with 70% course cuts, and the total removal ...of subjects like history, philosophy and performing arts. Our staff have faced a jobs massacre, and student and disability services have been attacked.

As a mature student from a working class background, I don't think that studying is something that should be left only to the rich. The privatisation of education, healthcare and other public services is regressive step that will increase the class divide.

These attacks are a disaster for ordinary people, and for society. Time and time again, NUS has failed to fight effectively for education. Last year we were denied national mobilisation, forcing grass roots students to fight back with limited resources and support. We need a union that is willing to take the fight to the Tories, not sit back and let politicians destroy our society.


I stand for:
- Quality, publicly funded education for all; access to student resources and support should not be dictated by the size of your bank balance.
- Free choice; people from working class backgrounds should not be forced to study vocational style degrees.
- National mobilisation; to plan effective resistance and challenge the government's plans.
- Local fightback; we need access to support and clear strategies to fight cuts on campus NOW!
- United resistance; building relationships with our staff unions so we can collectively fight to save our learning communities.
- Equality; fight for the right of every student to be treated with equal value regardless of race, sex, creed, sexual orientation, disability or socioeconomic background.
- Fighting racism and fascism; these are unacceptable on any level.

Claire Locke #1 for NUS President!