Dear subscribers,
We hope you’re heading into the weekend feeling cautious optimism. As well as progress on the pay negotiations, because of our efforts we are at the start of a process that will restore USS pensions, as well as potentially reducing member contributions based on newly published data. This a huge achievement that should not be understated. We should all feel extremely proud of what we’ve done, but we need to keep the pressure up for the re-ballot, which launches on Wednesday 22nd February.
Today, we’re very excited to be introducing you to Bijan Parsia, who is our candidate for Disabled Members’ representative [HE] on the NEC. Bijan is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Manchester, and unlike most of the other candidates we’ve spotlighted so far, Bijan is already a member of the NEC - since 2021, he’s been a UK-elected representative. This time, Bijan is running for Disabled Members’ rep, as he understands that (in)accessibility is not a technical problem for which is there is a one-size-fits all ‘fix’. Rather, it is a structural injustice that must be remedied by structural transformations. As Bijan says, ‘accessibility’ does not simply equal adding a video-call option to an in-person meeting, as online participation might be life-changing for one disabled person, while seriously compromising accessibility for another. In other words, there are intersectional differences within disability as well as between it and other marginalised identities. You can find out more about Bijan from the video above.
You can read Bijan’s full election statement on our website, or simply scroll down to read it below. Bijan is also on Twitter @bparsia.
That’s all from us today - we hope you enjoy your weekends.
In solidarity,
UCU Commons
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Election Address | Bijan Parsia | Representative of Disabled Members [HE]
I am a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Manchester. I sit on NEC as a UK-wide elected rep and the Disabled Members Standing Committee. I have lifelong social anxiety and developed arthritis and major depression during my PhD. I have been fortunate to win the career lottery after a lot of precarity.
Fundamentals
Disabled people face the injustice of lack of access, whether to buildings, online content, education, jobs, advancement, or participation in a Union. However, access accommodations that work for one person in one instance might decrease access for another. For example, online meetings might open up a class to a housebound person, but present a serious burden to another whose executive function is compromised by Zoom. Thus, we must face intersectional issues within disability as well as between it and other identities. We must also be vigilant against ableism used against other characteristics, e.g., the common line that trans people are “mentally ill” thus “dangerous” or “unfit”.
Universal design, that is, making systems, processes, and the physical environment accessible for all, is what we should aspire to. But realising it is challenging, not least because existing systems resist such change.
Goals
I believe that UCU institutionally and in its membership is committed to access for all both within the union and in our workplaces. But getting there is not an easy road. I want us to develop a long range strategy for improving meaningful access across the sector.
COVID lockdowns showed us that things traditionally claimed to be “too hard” or “too expensive” could be done but also done badly. We need to build on our recent common experiences. For example, future UCU meetings need to be meaningfully hybrid, or rather, multi-model, to allow people to participate regardless of circumstance. This is not just a tech issue! We should restructure our meetings to facilitate variant participation. We know from our emergency shift to online teaching is that it is not enough to slap a video call on a lecture. We need to rethink the goals of such meetings and ensure everyone has fair access to the most critical.
The pandemic continues and many disabled people face greater restrictions with the Government’s irresponsible policies. Long COVID is pushing millions out of the workforce with little accountability from employers who risk our lives and our health. We need to hold universities responsible for the harm they have facilitated.
I am running on the @UCUCommons slate and encourage you to vote for it, especially Emma Battell Lowman for Vice-President and David Harvie for Honorary Treasurer. Find me on Twitter @bparsia. DMs open.
