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 - Regional Seat - HE North West

Karen Evans (University of Liverpool)

Election Address

Managerialism and harassment

Since joining the AUT in 1999 I have been increasingly concerned with the way that working life at my and other universities is changing for the worse as the market has been steadily brought into further and higher education. The increasing managerialism, measurement of outputs and bureaucratic demands on academics’ time is reaching ridiculous proportions and I have seen good colleagues being harassed and stressed beyond their capacity to cope. We are losing good people from academic life as a result and those who remain are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with all the demands put upon us.

Our voices need to be heard

In addition I felt very let down by our union leadership over the pay dispute last academic year. I know I am not alone in feeling a sense of betrayal over the way in which the dispute was ended. At Liverpool, and especially within my department I felt as though there was a continued commitment to fight but that the union nationally did not have confidence in our strength as trade unionists to continue in the face of bullying tactics from management. However, I feel that this had strengthened rather than lessened our resolve. I now feel compelled to act for all our sakes and to put myself forward for a position on the NEC to make sure that the voices of ordinary members are heard.

Academic freedom and student safety

I am particularly concerned that UCU take on board a more offensive position concerning the attacks on our working lives. Workload is an obvious issue which we must deal with head-on in order to prevent the continuing deterioration in our conditions of work and to right some of the wrongs already perpetrated. We must also resist any attempts to limit our academic freedom in order that we become better income-generators.

I also feel strongly that we must refuse to co-operate with any attempts to make us report – or spy - on the activities of our Muslim students. We must protect them from any Islamophobia on university campuses. I have been an active member of Unite Against Fascism since its inception and despair that the activities and extremism of the BNP on campus has never been taken seriously although I feel this has undermined safety on campus for many students.

Member-led union

I welcome the formation of the UCU Left as a real step forward in creating a network of UCU members who will campaign to build a democratic, member-led organisation and bring to the fore the aims shared by so many of us in all sectors of UCU.

I was and remain against the imposition of student fees and feel this has distorted our relationship with students and that we need to work closely alongside the student body.


I would like to take up a position on the NEC in order to continue to:

  • Work to restore a higher and further education sector which is not built around the demands of the market but seeks to truly educate


  • Restore closer relations with our student organisations so that we can work together for change.


  • Work closely with other campus unions


  • Defend academic freedom however and whenever this is attacked


  • Restore free and open access to education to all groups most crucially at this time to refugees and asylum seekers


  • Resist further attempts to increase workloads and to restore the balance between teaching, research and administration which has been distorted by the managerialist demands on our time


  • Ensure that UCU is an open and democratic union which listens to its members

Biographical information including service to the union

UCU involvement at national and branch level:

I have been an active trade union member since starting full-time work back in 1984. I have been a TGWU and UNISON shop steward when I worked for the voluntary sector and for local authorities. I have remained an active union member but not involved in taking official position in a union since joining the AUT as a permanent lecturer in 1999. Previously I spent 12 years in temporary research positions at various universities so understand the important work UCU must do for people in such positions. I was co-opted onto the local committee of Liverpool UCU in 2006. I am currently a senior lecturer in the School of Sociology and Social Policy at Liverpool University and was active in the recent pay dispute, organising union meetings in the department as well as making links with other departments across the campus.


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