PinnedVote for me in the UCU NEC by-election!To restore confidence and transparency in the democratic structures of the union — and for a union that truly represents the majority of the membership. I’m Michael Abberton, current University of Cambridge UCU Branch President, and I’m running for the position of geographically-elected NEC member for HE London and the…Ucu4 min readUcu4 min read
Jul 28Member-onlyThe Wizard of OppenheimerChristopher Nolan’s flawed retelling of The Wizard of Oz and the disneyfication of history Oppenheimer (Christopher Nolan, 2024) is being hailed as a modern classic. Believing the hype and liking some of of the director’s previous work, I went to see it on Imax. I did stay for the whole…Oppenheimer9 min readOppenheimer9 min read
Apr 6A consultation denied? Has UCU delivered what the members wanted?In an online survey at the end of March 2023, an undeniably overwhelming majority of UCU higher education members who took part expressed their combined desire for a formal consultation in both of the ongoing disputes — 4 Fights pay and conditions with UCEA, and the USS pensions with UUK…Ucu Strike5 min readUcu Strike5 min read
Mar 25What do YOU think?Why is posing that question to UCU members in the current Higher Education dispute a problem? Another week goes by and again UCU branches are in turmoil over another round of member consultation prior to another Higher Education Committee (HEC) meeting. Branches are being asked to consult members to find…Ucu Strike7 min readUcu Strike7 min read
Feb 5UCU Elections Candidate Survey: E-ballots and Voting TransparencyThere has been a lot of concern recently within the Higher Education element of UCU about how our democratic and member consultation processes work. Questions have been raised about how the current campaign is being run — from the way the timetable of the campaign was set, to the consultation…Ucu Elections7 min readUcu Elections7 min read
Jan 28HOW to vote in the UCU NEC electionsThis is about HOW to vote using the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, not WHO to vote for. For transparency, I am the Cambridge University UCU Branch President, but I am writing this blog in a personal capacity and the views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the…Ucu Strike3 min readUcu Strike3 min read
Dec 21, 2022How to win a campaignA rebuttal of How to Stop a University by Zara Dinnen and James Eastwood in relation to the UCURising campaign and the debate on strike action. I have been Cambridge University UCU Branch President for two years but am writing this in a personal capacity. …Uss Strike10 min readUss Strike10 min read
Aug 7, 2022Member-onlyThe Conservatives are a Far Right PartyPolicies previously considered extremist have been normalised — the UK is now in a very precarious position Back in 2014, the far-right party UKIP tried to have me arrested for tweeting. My crime was simply that I had taken someone else’s claims of the more extreme policies of UKIP and…Tory Leadership7 min readTory Leadership7 min read
Apr 17, 2022Member-onlySeverance — an allegory of corporate cultureSpoiler-free zone — The SF thriller hit from Apple TV+ that should be a must-watch for anyone with an office job. Severance (Apple TV+, 2022) is a science fiction thriller series that should be a must watch for every corporate employee. Brought to life by excellent design, writing, performance and…Severance5 min readSeverance5 min read
Jan 23, 2022Member-onlyUniversities and Operation Red MeatStudents and staff health and wellbeing put at risk in the latest attempt to protect Boris Johnson from his own party As more and more allegations of corruption, hypocrisy, criminality and now racism are made against the Johnson regime and the top of the Tory party, the Prime Minister will…University4 min readUniversity4 min read
