I've hesitated telling my #PrecarityStory because it's tied up in my immigration story, and as I am still not secure there I have a lot of anxiety. But in honour of the #UCUStrikesBack @ucu, in solidarity with my colleagues, this is mine. 1/
I came over in 2010 with a student visa and a scholarship for my PhD. I'd hoped to finish and return but rapidly realised the job market wouldn't allow it. At the time you could get a one-year extension on a student visa for work experience if timed perfectly. 2/
I vivaed in Sept 2013 with minor corrections. This was crucial because finishing without corrections meant I couldn't apply for a visa extension because of timing, and my funding had run out if I'd had moderate/major. So I aimed to finish with minor for the sake of my visa. 3/
October 2013, extension granted, corrections passed. I was already working at two institutions with an one-off session at a third. One was my PhD institution, where I lived. The other was a 2 hour commute each way to teach a class from 6-9 + office hours 5-6. 4/
There, I'd been hired in week 1 to start week 2, the students missed a week. This was to run a module that was two semesters, though I'd only been offered a one-semester contract. Fortunately I knew 3 people who taught similar courses and I was flooded with support to teach 5/
That semester I also put myself into counselling. My immigration and work anxieties were already strong, along with my then-partner's. My mental health was poor from the stress and anxiety. I knew I couldn't handle it alone. 6/
At that institution I saw no one as night teaching, although a few people (incl. head) did their absolute best to help out. But mostly I was on my own there, spending about 8-9 hours once a week to teach 3 hours. 7/
At the same time the job I had been part-covering with this module came up. I applied and didn't get short listed. 8/
The HoD made time to meet with me and explain why - essentially the job market was strong, I needed more publications, etc. I was wounded - was I not already partly doing that job? In any case when another institution offered me S2 work, I took it instead. 9/
This meant that I was no longer available to teach the second semester of the course I had taught 1st semester. They hadn't offered me a contract covering both semesters. Some consternation on their part. I left anyway. 10/
(In retrospect I sometimes feel bad about that decision, knowing it undoubtedly left them in a pickle. 11/)
Spring 2014 I was still at my 'home' institution and commuting to the Midland. That was a pretty good job. They reimbursed my travel and provided board a night a week, and paid relatively well. 12/
At the end of that contract I interviewed for a post there and was rejected, partly, to my understanding, because students expected British staff (this was a study abroad college.) 13/
May 2014, I was out of jobs and out of work. I fortunately still had a partner to help out. I spent the summer pushing out publications, applying for everything, and fretting. Anxiety was high. 14/
By dint of hustle and supportive colleagues I had written a few modules for a new programme at my home institution. This meant, in the nick of time, I was awarded a 9 month contract to help teach the new programme from September 2014. Respite. 15/
I applied for a work visa. The NHS surcharge had come into effect by August 2014 and I paid thousands for a visa for a 9-month contract, even though I had been paying my taxes since 2011. So now I pay for the NHS twice (and still do). 16/
A 9 month respite does very little to ease fear of losing one's visa status. I was teaching entirely new modules and applying for EVERYTHING. Nothing happened. One interview for a postdoc I didn't get. 17/
Somewhere in there, my Head realised that by giving me a 9 month contract I would have to leave the country at the end of May 2015. If you're applying for jobs out of the UK, you're at the bottom of the pile. My career would have been over. My then partner was also in the UK. 18/
My Head found money somewhere to extend my contract to a full year. I had to reapply for a work visa to cover those three months. More thousands of pounds, I think, to work out a year, get paid, and have a chance for the September hiring round. 19/
My mental health was terrible. I had no future in front of me. My personal and professional lives were here. My then partner and I went through terrible times (for MANY reasons, but immigration was one.) I was faced with returning to my childhood home at 36 & rebuilding again 20/
By the grace of good timing, a prof at my institution stepped down, triggering hiring. Please dont believe that internal candidates are a shoo-in. I wasn't, I was not a perfect replacement. I presented well, but was told I interviewed like someone who was about to be deported 21/
(Which, to be fair, was correct. 21/)
They waited 2-3 weeks after interview to announce which was agony. What I didn't know was they were trying to convince HR that one senior prof stepping down could hire two junior lecturers. They got their way and a brilliant colleague and I were hired in at the same time 22/
I reapplied for my work visa. Thousands of pounds again etc. 23/
Next year, I get to apply for ILR, which exacerbates all of my fear and anxiety about being an immigrant. 24/
In almost all ways I am lucky. I know I am privileged. I 'survived'. But precarity and immigration left me empty and damaged and afraid, it partly wrecked my personal life and to this day don't remember a lot of 2014-15 because of the anxiety and stress. And I'm a lucky one. 25/
This is why I would strike. This is my #PrecarityStory and why I will stand up in way I can for my colleagues AND for immigrants. Thank you for all who are able to strike for me. END
And for those of you who made it this far, here's Morgen for you. 
