Dear subscribers,
We hope you all had relaxing weekends, and are heading into the next week refreshed and full of critical hope and resolve.
Today we are VERY excited because we are spotlighting the one and only Emma Battell Lowman, our candidate for Vice President. Emma is an historian and sociologist who has worked in both pre- and post-92 universities, and most recently has had a series of precarious contracts at the University of Leicester. Here, she joined Leicester UCU’s branch committee, first as the migrant members’ representative, then as vice-chair and branch negotiator. Since 2021, Emma has sat on the NEC as HE Midlands' representative, and she is currently re-contesting this seat too. Emma brings her infectious kindness, compassion and care to everything she does.
The first of Emma’s two videos is about the power of industrial action, which has won impressive victories across our sectors at both regional and local levels. However, Emma knows that we’ll also have to think beyond the current #ucuRISING disputes. In this video, Emma talks about:
Bringing back stability to workers and learners in HE
Confronting the Hostile Environment
Building active, collaborative connections with the broader labour movement
You can find out more about Emma on her campaign website. Here you can find her full election statement, or you can scroll down to the bottom of this post and read it there. You can also 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 already watched these, we strongly recommend you do so here.
One last thing - if you’re picketing this week, why not flyer for us? 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
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:
@EmmaUCU EmmaJoyUCU@gmail.com
