Emma Battell Lowman (she/her/they)

Stood for VP of UCU in 2023 - @UCU and PROUD
Historian, sociologist & trade unionist
EmmaJoyUCU@gmail

[Emma Battell Lowman (she/her/they) @EmmaUCU]

I'm running for @UCU Vice President
This 2-min video explains my plans beyond current disputes
If we haven't met, it also gives a sense of my vision, experience, expertise, and values
Because I genuinely care about @ucu and the critical importance of post-16 ed in the UK 💖

[Bijan Parsia @bparsia]

Due credit to the GS for being an early proponent of aggregated ballots. Aggregation has higher upside (all can go out) but higher downside (none can go out). @ucu members have shown that we can get that upside comfortably and repeatedly.

[UCU @ucu]

Pensions:

Ballot papers dispatched 51,238

Ballot papers returned 29,924

A turnout of  58.40%

#ucuRISING

[UCU @ucu]

The reballot has closed and we have given it everything

Next week we find out if it was enough

Join us at 3PM on Monday for a special UCU LIVE with general secretary @DrJoGrady

Set your reminder: https://t.co/gApHJ3QMG4

#ucuRISING

[FE Week @FEWeek]

'We know the money is there to pay staff fairly' - @Maxine4UCUVP
https://t.co/3TvICCmahM

[Julie 🍃💚🍃 @mankeycat31]

PLEASE SIGN 🐙
The world’s 1st octopus farm would cram a MILLION of these smart and sensitive creatures into tiny tanks before painfully freezing them to death – but a massive public outcry can help stop it. Sign and share now! #BanOctopusFarming https://t.co/snVPRmkvDg

[Queen Mary UCU @qm_ucu]

In another packed branch meeting, members overwhelmingly voted to take local strike action in response to management confirming they will deduct 26 days for the 6 days of strike in February. #ucuRISING

[Noreen Masud @NoreenMasud]

all the alpacas are on precarious contracts and their real terms pay has been cut by 25% since 2009

[UCU @ucu]

A message to students:  

We are striking for you 

We are voting YES for you 

Your support has been incredible 

#ucuRISING

[Emma Battell Lowman (she/her/they) @EmmaUCU]

@Really_Alex @ucu BDM, eballot consultation, talking to members at different branches, reading widely on this platform the views of as many members as I can find, emails directly from members and branches via the NEC web form

[Emma Battell Lowman (she/her/they) @EmmaUCU]

I voted to put the decision to members, and will continue to faithfully represent @ucu membership on HEC

No amount of hand-wringing absolves those who voted against member views. - evidenced by the emails continuing to pour in from members who feel betrayed by that decision

[Emma Battell Lowman (she/her/they) @EmmaUCU]

Adding my explanation https://t.co/7Vc9TEKZar

We wrote this as plainly as possible - @ucu structures and challenges are complex but far from impenetrable, just usually out of view of most members

Members are our collective power, respecting expressed their views is fundamental

[Emma Battell Lowman (she/her/they) @EmmaUCU]

@signsofrevolt @ucu I wrote that members feel betrayed - to be clearer, that’s the word being used in the member emails I’ve been receiving via the NEC web form, so think the critique/swipe is misplaced

[Wolverhampton UCU @WolvesUCU]

Here is @PlashingVole - Chair of @WolvesUCU - explaining why he is on strike today.

#ucuRISING #EnoughIsEnough #BudgetDayStrike

[Emma Battell Lowman (she/her/they) @EmmaUCU]

@joshmbowsher @dyfrig @zenscara Respectability politics? Hmm ok
Do ppl have to constantly absorb harm and put out positivity as the price of support? Because after months of that, yes the strain showed. I’m human and get exhausted too!

[Emma Battell Lowman (she/her/they) @EmmaUCU]

@PhilipProudfoot @joshmbowsher @dyfrig @zenscara Didn’t know I was a whole group of people 😆

[Emma Battell Lowman (she/her/they) @EmmaUCU]

@marta_zboralska @joshmbowsher @dyfrig @zenscara Good to hear you voted and are feeling engaged in the current discussions and work!

[Emma Battell Lowman (she/her/they) @EmmaUCU]

@DidemDeryaOzde1 @dyfrig @zenscara This happens in branches, through info and comms, BDMs, informal consultations (like emails to national reps), and other means

[Emma Battell Lowman (she/her/they) @EmmaUCU]

@Brodie_Waddell @dyfrig @zenscara Thing is, this is a HEC with a majority who favour a vanguardist position in an organisation where members engage out of consent making a tactical mismatch (call strong action but likely to be poorly supported) and undermining collective strength and progress

[Emma Battell Lowman (she/her/they) @EmmaUCU]

@Brodie_Waddell @dyfrig @zenscara It’s a head-heart analysis, and I think it’s ok to make these issues, behaviours, and frustrations visible from my experience
Manipulation couched in niceness is still problematic, I’ve opted for a direct and honest approach because of my experience of bad faith engagement