The UCU Left is a national organisation of University and College Union activists. It is committed to ensuring that the new union has a democratic structure through which members can determine policy, and elected officers and professional officials can be held accountable. It seeks to defend educational equality, and to oppose the consequences of neo-liberal marketisation. It is opposed to all forms of racism, sexism, oppression and imperialism.
UCU NEC By-election

LGBT Members Representative

Vote for Howard Miles

Election Address [Click (here) for election leaflet] [Click (here) for recent article on transgender rights]

This by-election is open to all UCU members in all sectors. I urge you to exercise your right to vote and to vote for me. This is why:


About me
  • I have been an activist in Natfhe/UCU since 1979 and have held various Branch and Regional officer posts including Regional LGBT rep. My current roles include being section rep for a mixed HE/FE site at Bradford College. I deal with bullying and workload issues on a daily basis.


  • As an anti-war activist, anti-racist and socialist UCU Left supporter, I believe Equality issues are absolutely integral to our working conditions and our relations with employers, colleagues and students.


  • Since coming out as Trans at a Natfhe Annual Conference a few years ago I have become increasingly involved as an LGBT member and see fighting over ‘bread and butter’ issues of pay and conditions and fighting over Equality issues as being of a piece.


  • Currently I serve on the NEC as an FE rep for the North East Region. I sit on the NEC’s Equality Committee as an LGBT member and serve on the LGBT Standing Committee. I am also involved in the TUC LGBT Oral History Project. For several years I have been a delegate to the TUC LGBT Conference. I have helped initiate LGBT History Month events at my college. I see part of my role on the NEC, if elected, as helping to develop LGBT History Month much more widely in UCU.


Issues
Management bullying and the misconceived stampede towards marketisation in education often mean Equality concerns get sidelined and training gets junked. This affects everyone. The struggle for LGBT rights must mean the robust defence of victimised and bullied individual members but must also mean fighting for better and more consistent FE and HE funding against government enthusiasm for wars and welfare cuts. It must mean resisting short-term market measures and the drive towards privatisation in post-16 education.

  • To resist these attacks UCU needs a robust voice on the NEC promoting LGBT rights and liberation in the context of defending educational principles. I believe I can be such a voice.

Despite recent advances in legislation and rights at work affecting LGBT people, homophobic and transphobic attitudes and behaviour persist in education.

  • All of us, LGBT and straight alike, are affected by this, although in different ways. This is one reason why all UCU members should exercise our right to vote in this election.

Teachers and lecturers often lack confidence to tackle homophobic bullying and harassment directly, but it can blight the lives of those affected. I want to enhance UCU’s good reputation on Equality issues generally and tackle homophobia and transphobia through empowering reps, educating members and tackling employers’ failures in duty of care to staff and students.

  • Where employers fail we must pressure them through collective action. A public sector duty on sexual orientation would add strength to our side and UCU must also continue to campaign for this.

Finally, members with LGBT concerns must feel confident to approach branch reps and the national union and be assured of prompt support and action. I want to ensure this really happens and that effective LGBT Equality structures, training and resources are in place.

For all these reasons I ask you to vote for me in this election.


Testimonials

"In my mind there is no doubt that you should vote for Howard Miles as LGBT Rep. Howard’s record as an activist in NATFHE and UCU is outstanding. During his time on the NEC he has made an outstanding contribution through his ability to analyse a situation logically and propose a coherent strategy. His courage in coming out as a trans person in the course of a speech at Annual Conference earned the respect of all who were there. He has made a strong contribution to the LGBT Standing Committee this year. He is the person with the experience, commitment and enthusiasm to fill this position."
Alan Whitaker, Current NEC LGBT Rep, and NEC Vice-President (FE) elect.


"Howard has made a significant difference to the work of the union in relation to LGBT issues. Over many years he has helped to provide a clear focus on Trans issues and worked generally in the field of equality. In the current climate where legislation for LGBT but in particular Trans people has fallen behind that of other groups there is a lot of work to be done, in my view Howard is best placed to be able to advise the union on that work."
Maire Daley NEC Women's Rep.


"Howard has led from the front to build the accountability of NEC reps and has vigorously fought for effective anti-bullying and harassment strategies in our union. He has also been a passionate campaigner over many years for all equality issues, particularly for LGBT rights."

Réshad Suffee, (Chair -Leeds Dispersed Branch, Secretary- Further Education Committee, Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Council, and member UCU LGBT Standing Committee)


"Howard has worked tirelessly to promote the interests of our LGBT members. He has made valuable contributions to the work of the Equality Committee. He would make an excellent champion for LGBT members, ensuring that LGBT issues are given a high profile"

Angie McConnell, NEC and Chair of Equality Committee.


"I have known Howard for nearly 8 years. He is a dedicated, hard working trade unionist and an active campaigner on equality issues. Howard has always supported disabled members and has been a true ally in our struggle for civil rights."
Sasha Callaghan, UCU Vice President


"I warmly endorse Howard's nomination: we have worked together since the days of the NATHE equality advisory committee and I have no doubt that he will continue to campaign for equality for all in the workplace. Please vote for him."
Maeve Landman, NEC and Equality Committee


"Together Howard and I initiated a branch Equality Group at Bradford College, one of the very largest colleges in the country, and we have set up events for LGBT History Month here. Through working closely with him I know that Howard will strive to promote the interests of LGBT members in the union."
Umit Yildiz, Equality Officer, Bradford College


"I am delighted to give my full personal endorsement to Howard in his election campaign. As we are both very keen to promote equality in our union, Howard has been a real source of expertise to me in LGBT issues and bullying at work. His dedication and ability to lead campaigns and support those who are discriminated against is crucial to us making equality a strategic priority. I would ask all members in FE and He to give Howard their full backing so that we can continue to be a strong union with equality at it’s root"
Sue Abbott, Regional UCU Equality officer-Northern Region and University of Northumberland


"As Regional Secretary for Yorkshire and Humberside I know that Howard is highly conscientious in reporting back to Branches in the Region and circulating written reports. This really makes a difference to Branches in terms of knowing what the debates on the NEC are. It is vital for the democratic process that NEC members take their role of reporting back seriously."
Liz Lawrence, Regional Secretary, Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Council and Sheffield Hallam University


"I would encourage members to vote for Howard Miles. Howard has been active in campaigning over equality and discrimination in UCU. At the UCU Scottish Congress this year we agreed to support the establishment of equality networks and recognise this is an area that we need to develop a much greater emphasis in the union's work. Howard's experience will be very welcomed in aiding those networks to be established."
Carlo Morelli, President Dundee UCU


"Since merger I have got to know Howard and to appreciate his work and commitment to equality issues. I support him for the seat both as a committed equality activist and union member."
Bill Gulam, Secretary Salford University UCU; NEC; Chair Black Members Standing Committee.


"I have known Howard for many years. He is as committed to the UCU, and to the defence of the interests of its members, as any activist I have met in my years in the trade union movement. He has long had a detemination to force equality issues into the centre of the union's campaigning and bargaining agenda, and has fought for this position at sucessive congresses and conferences, even when it was unpopular to do so, and for this he is to be commended. This determination has never deflected him from the centrality of the fight for all members' interests in improving pay and condition. This integration in his activity of what were once perceived separate campaigning agendas makes him a model of a modern campaigning trade unionist."
Tom Hickey, NEC, member of Strategy and Finance Committee, Chair of the Recruitment, Organisation and Campaigns Committee.


UCU officers above are all writing in a personal capacity. However, in addition, Howard has so far been officially endorsed by the following UCU branches and branch committees: Manchester Metropolitan University LA, Bradford College Branch, Oxford Churwell Branch, Barnsley College Executive Committee, Brighton University (Grand Parade) Branch Committee, Greenwich College Branch Committee, and Lambeth College Branch Committee.


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