We are fighting for the fair pay, decent conditions, and fair pensions we deserve. If you've ever met me on a picket line, you know that I feel very strongly about the power of song to bring people together. We have a grand tradition of singing at our picket rallies at Uni of Leeds UCU … Continue reading Stronger Together In UCU
Feb 1st Strike
Yesterday, I was so glad to represent UCU at the Yorkshire and Humber TUC rally in Leeds. The demo brought striking unions and supporters together for a march right through the centre of town, and we rallied before and after in front of our city's iconic Town Hall. We will not apologise for fighting for … Continue reading Feb 1st Strike
NEC Election Statement 2023
Widening Participation Officer (Academic-Related), University of Leeds Serving four years as a UCU UK officer has been tough, and an incredible privilege. Vice President from 2019, I took office as President as the pandemic hit and we suffered further consequences of a vicious Tory government. This gave me significant and realistic insight into the challenges of organising … Continue reading NEC Election Statement 2023
About Me
We face huge challenges, but we can and must be the strong and confident union all our members need. I said more about these challenges in the presidential address I gave to Congress 2022, [here]. I served as UCU's UK President from 2020-22, stepping into the role early following the devastating loss of our President … Continue reading About Me
Burnley College UCU strike
Burnley College UCU strikers out in force on the pickets during a college open evening, refusing to be intimidated by bizarre claims from the HR department that they could be sacked for the as long part in this ‘illegal’ strike (the strike was not illegal, it was lawfully decided upon and arranged in compliance with … Continue reading Burnley College UCU strike
Funding our Fight
Two years ago today I had the pleasure to organise and host our first online Fighting Fund-raiser with UCU Campaigns! We need more of these... Action in FEMandate in Prison Ed HE results tomorrowWatch again via this Facebook link (should be visible without an account) and please donate if you can [here]!https://www.facebook.com/ucu.campaigns/videos/366300701391922/
May Day March and Rally, Leeds
It was brilliant to join Leeds Trades Council and unions yesterday for our annual May Day rally.Our theme was the importance of joining a union, so we celebrated union wins, expressed solidarity for all who are in struggle, and recognised the battle we are in is one for basic decency in conditions across society.We must … Continue reading May Day March and Rally, Leeds
Letter to the Guardian: Higher education’s casual approach to employment
Robyn Orfitelli (an elected UCU negotiator) and I wrote to set the record straight [here] in the Guardian. We were aghast to see the employers' representative body UCEA's commentary in a Guardian piece last week, which downplayed the very real impact of casualisation in Higher Education. UCEA also incorrectly asserted that UCU had “repeatedly reject[ed] … Continue reading Letter to the Guardian: Higher education’s casual approach to employment
Grim Campus: Failing “leadership” and Covid Calculus
Many senior "leaders" of UK universities continue to insist on returning to face to face teaching and upon peddling the myth of a "covid safe" campus when the science tells us there is no such thing. A particularly horrific consequence of this absence of real leadership in their institutions is that some members have felt … Continue reading Grim Campus: Failing “leadership” and Covid Calculus
Independent SAGE panel 21 August 2020
I joined the Independent Sage panel on behalf of UCU this afternoon, to discuss the (many) issues around the return to campus and plans for face to face teaching. You can watch the whole thing - also including important and incisive input from fellow UCU member Felicity Callard - here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t4MjpN2d_U The Indy SAGE report … Continue reading Independent SAGE panel 21 August 2020
Vicky Blake 