3 days agoWhat 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
Aug 15, 2021Member-onlyRe-entry — The Unexpected TableMy first time back in the office for 17 months — from workplace to alien environment, being stalked by an unseen predator… I looked down at the table that shouldn’t have beeen there. Just inside the revolving doors, a cheap, circular table, the wood-grain formica jarring with the carefully-styled furniture…Mwc Reentry8 min readMwc Reentry8 min read
Jul 18, 2021Member-onlyCOVID Passports — No ThanksVaccine Passports — No Thanks! Vaccine Passports could put the fight against discrimination back thirty years and should be opposed — particularly by unions and those on the left. (updated 22 Dec 21) Before I start, let’s be absolutely clear — I’m completely in favour of people getting the vaccine…Covid-196 min readCovid-196 min read
Jul 11, 2021Member-onlyCome on, England!What side are you on in the culture war? The Tory Party in the UK, in pace with their ideological right-wing sister party in the US, the Republicans, are stoking a full-blown culture war against what they term to be ‘left wing’ or pejoratively, ‘woke’. This seems to range from…England Football6 min readEngland Football6 min read
