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.
NEC Election 2008 - Regional HE - London & East

Jane Hardy (University of Hertfordshire)

WHAT I STAND FOR [Click (here) for election flyer]

Prioritising a campaign to ensure delivery of Year 3 of the pay deal
Year Three of the pay settlement is fast approaching. The gains made have already been eroded by inflation. We must build a new fight over pay. Our resolve during the 2006 pay dispute demonstrated that when we take action we have real power. National pay bargaining is vital as it is our guarantees that all UCU members benefit and are protected.


Against marketisation
Universities are being transformed from scholarly institutions into profit centres and students turned into ‘customers’. UCU must resist market competition by campaigning against creeping privatisation. UCU needs to take-on government’s spending priorities and its obsession with market-based league tables and inter-university competition.


Defending working conditions
The lowest funding of HE in Europe, the diversion of resources towards ‘pet’ projects has increases the workloads of university staff. The resulting stress and bullying is one of the major concerns of UCU and has increased across the sector. Increasing casualisation must be stopped by organising and defending the rights of part-time staff.


Academic Freedom and research
Freedom for all staff to engage in research should be defended. Attempts to move to all teaching and elitist all research institutions should be opposed. Teaching and research should not be hitched to the narrow interests of business. A metrics based research assessment further negates equitable institutional research funding.


A strong and democratic union
Resisting the market driven agenda of New Labour, defending working conditions and national bargaining depend on our ability to build a strong and democratic union. This involves strong workplace organisation and an accountable national leadership.


A local and global union
The UCU should be committed to involvement in wider struggles for social equality. This involves supporting campaigns against the closure of local hospitals and supporting Unite Against Fascism. The union should not shy away from political and international issues. New Labour refuses to radically increase HE funding while it wastes billions on wars.


Biographical information including service to the union

I have been a workplace representative and on my Branch Committee for the last eight years. I have been elected to the NATHFHE/UCU National Executive Committee for the last four years. In that time I have argued for the strongest action to fight for salaries and defend working conditions and pensions, and for unity with other workers at home and abroad.

I am a member of the sub-committee which ratifies Framework Agreements and as such I have a broad knowledge of local pay and conditions across sector. I am also a member of the UCU Education Committee which discusses and responds to a wide range of government policy and participating in a sub-committee on university governance.

In my locality I have been involved in the campaign to defend out local hospital and I am a member of Stop the War. I am a supporter of UCU Left.


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