Thread by @ucu

Our General Secretary @DrJoGrady is kicking off her keynote speech to Congress 🧵

"It’s wonderful to be here in Glasgow, a city with such glorious traditions of working class militancy and radical internationalism." ✊

#ucuTOGETHER

"From the Colton Weavers who were murdered fighting against wage cuts in the 18th century to the Women’s Peace Crusade activists who took a stand against the slaughter of WW1.

And, more recently, the heroes who stopped an immigration raid in Pollokshields just two years ago." ✊

Jo turns first to the USS dispute, telling delegates:

"Today, thanks to your bravery and determination, your steadfastness on picket lines, in the face of freezing winds and vindictive employers we are on the verge of seeing our retirement benefits restored, in full."

The GS says that "this will be the biggest pensions win in British trade union history", and that we are "setting the standard for all workers" in fighting for the restoration of pensions. 🙏

On our marking and assessment boycott, Jo says:

“I have never been so proud to be part of this union as I have in recent weeks, watching you all stand firm in the face of vindictive, bullying behaviour from employers. You have refused to bow down”

#ucuTOGETHER

Jo is now pointing to our incredible wins over the past year:

Almost 5,000 staff moved onto permanent contracts at the Open University

Branch recognition at Cambridge, after 800 long years

Rolling back zero hours contracts at Sheffield Hallam

💪

Delegates are applauding our incredible FE members, who have won improved college pay deals at:

Newham, Hopwood Hall, Abingdon and Witney, Croydon, Hugh Baird, Capital City Group and Waltham Forest 👏

Turning to UCU’s political role, Jo says that our vision is not limited to the workplace.

She talks about “holding a Labour Party that is simply not offering enough to account”

On our international solidarity work, Jo says:

“Our solidarity doesn’t stop at borders, because throughout history the cause of labour and the cause of freedom have been one and the same.” 🤝

We are a union transformed after winning two national ballots, says Jo:

“No longer are we a union that takes isolated action, picked off by the bosses.

Now, we challenge the employer at the same coordinated, national scale on which they attack us.”

#ucuTOGETHER

Jo now turns to our plans for building the union in the months ahead:

“The bigger the union the bigger the change we can deliver – in the workplace and in wider society.

Just imagine what we could achieve with many thousands more of your colleagues in the union.”

Nearing the end of her speech, Jo stresses:

“Our wins this year have been achieved through unity.
Facing the fights ahead, let’s focus our energy on the real enemy: the employers.” ✊

#ucuTOGETHER

“Together, we will build an education sector that belongs to us. To the staff. To the students. To the people.”

👏👏👏