Dear all,
By now you will have received an email from the Vice Chancellor trying to revive the moribund staff council. It has been clear from the outset that no-one in the University has any confidence in this imaginary body, for reasons already outlined: it will not be representative; it will have no formal role and so will be ignored and, for all Mr Roper's protestations, it is clearly designed to undermine the recognised trades unions. Very sensibly, almost no-one stood for election. Management's response has been to attempt to exert yet more pressure on individuals to lend their names to this farce.
What is encouraging is the implicit recognition that he has to respond to the legitimate concerns of University staff. It is a pity that Mr Roper has chosen to do so by flogging a dead horse but none the less, it shows that when we stand together, the University has to take notice. Let's maintain our boycott of the staff association and call again for the University to begin proper discussions with the representatives of staff here: UCU and UNISON.
Best wishes for an enjoyable weekend,
Amanda Sackur
Chair, Co-ordinating Committee,
London Metropolitan UCU