Endorsement from Dr Helen Eborall and Ms Rebecca Linnett, University of Leicester
Helen is Lecturer in Social Science applied to Health, University of Leicester, and Equalities Officer for Leicester UCU. Becky (and her sidekick Reuben, aka @dogwithajob) is a PhD student in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Leicester and a member of the Disability Staff Forum.
We are endorsing Jo Grady for General Secretary for so many reasons, but given our involvement in equalities work we particularly support her stance on this topic. It’s easy to talk about having a commitment to equality issues, but Jo has consistently demonstrated that she does, from regularly calling out discrimination on Twitter to her tireless campaigning within numerous branch positions.
Jo’s manifesto is a breath of fresh air for the future of Higher and Further Education. She is matter-of-fact and realistic about the current and future challenges to the sector, and as General Secretary of UCU will bring new ideas and approaches to the work ahead and to the ethos of the union. In particular, we welcome the more coordinated approach she proposes to fighting discrimination—which will be a godsend to branch equality officers—and her ideas around collective negotiation and bargaining with employers on issues relating to intersectional inequalities.
Jo Grady as General Secretary of UCU gives us hope for the future of HE and FE, and confidence that UCU can—and will—be pivotal in transforming the sector for the good of us all.
Jo Grady for UCU General Secretary