Dear subscribers,
On Monday, we introduced you to Emma, sharing her video focusing on priorities for building momentum in the current #ucuRISING disputes and beyond. Yesterday - Valentine’s Day - we shared Emma’s thoughts on why love, care, compassion and the nurturing of relationships are all essential for effective trade unionism. We wrote on Monday that there’d be two videos. But Emma has so much more to give, and so much to share, so in fact she’s made three videos. Today’s third - and final (we promise this time!) - short film builds on yesterday’s. It’s all about Emma’s care and critical compassion, and how she will draw on these to address the conflicts that affect our union.
As well as being an academic historian and sociologist, Emma is experienced in conflict management with teams, and she is informed and inspired in her work by critical Indigenous scholarship and expertise. This caring, compassionate ethos, with an emphasis on building trust, clear communication and mutual aid, is exactly what UCU needs to bring people together.
There’s lots more information about Emma on her campaign website. There, you can find her election statement, which we’ve also included at the end of this post. You can follow Emma on Twitter @EmmaUCU
Emma also took part in the UCU officer hustings alongside David Harvie, our candidate for Honorary Treasurer. If you haven’t these yet, we strongly recommend you do so here.
Finally, if you’re joining pickets today or tomorrow - or next week - and you share UCU Commons’ values and aspirations for our union, you can help us promote our candidates in this election. Our flyers are available in both English and Welsh and can be downloaded from our website.
In solidarity,
UCU Commons
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Election Statement | Emma Battell Lowman | Vice President [HE]
Vice President is a vital role. From negotiating with employers, to chairing key decision-making committees, to liaising with members and staff, I am ready to serve our union with focus, compassion, and creativity. I am ready to build collaboratively on the brilliant work of members, representatives, the General Secretary, and staff.
About Me
I am a queer cis woman (she/her/they) who relocated from Canada in 2009. Like many of you, I have spent most of my career precariously employed, despite recognised teaching and research excellence. As vice-chair of Leicester UCU, I brought that university to the table to address casualisation, demanding a response to the human toll of precarity. Elected to NEC in 2021, I energetically represent diverse member views and push for strategic use of strike action, cross-sectoral support, and improving transparency and union democracy.
Facing Our Future
For years, post-16 educators demanded reasonable improvements to pay and conditions – demands employers and their representatives attempted to dismiss. They misrepresent facts, choosing to invest in vanity projects and obscene executive salaries. They stoke fear with threats of punitive deductions and artificially-created austerity. We must choose critical hope and face these challenges with unity.
UCU has a powerful alternative vision for the future of post-16 education. We know education is a common good – not a commodity. We know our contracts and working conditions can and should be better. We glimpse our future through enthusiasm on picket lines, heroic efforts of caseworkers, creativity of branch-building activities, and the way union education and engagement empower members.
Building our Union
If elected, I will:
Develop a series of short, accessible, energising resources explaining how UCU works and outlining diverse pathways to engagement
Lead meetings with consensus-building techniques to ensure participants know their contributions are valued and large committees achieve powerful decisions
Build relationships of understanding and shared support between members in Prison, Adult, Further, and Higher Education
Improve understanding of the political environments of the devolved nations and NI and their impact on members
Deploy intersectional techniques in concert with UCU’s Equality Committees to address discrimination and harassment and improve inclusivity and accessibility
Identify, amplify, and embed engagement approaches that maximise member accessibility, enjoyment, and satisfaction
What next?
Until July 2022, I worked for the University of Leicester as a research associate in History. Remaining unemployed is a real possibility and worry, as it is for many members, but my commitment to UCU does not change with my employment status. I continue to fight for our members and hope you will support me.
We are the Union.
I’m proud to stand with David Harvie for Treasurer and all UCU Commons candidates.
Contact me, find out more, stay connected:
