SecretUCU

In despair.

Temporarily only hanging out here for the stragglers at the back. Otherwise over here:

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

👆This was spotted in a @uniteucu motion: https://t.co/eacnw2jdhI

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

I see Jo Grady & her sidekick Greg are lowering the bar once more on their trade unionist credentials. Every single time they pull union-busting shit like this they give free rein to employers to do the same.

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

There is something disappointingly symbolic about @ucu sending blank Christmas cards to their staff. They couldn’t even write as much as a ‘Happy Christmas’?

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

Watching this with interest, because if the staff being targeted by UCU SMT’s
insignificant - but apparently urgently critical restructure - don’t accept their changed job descriptions then….?

[UCU @ucu]

We've written to Bridget Phillipson to express our concern about the current situation at the Open University with management’s plans to fire and rehire staff.

Read the letter from @DrJoGrady here 👇

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

White power structures don’t prove they’re not racist by manipulating, misleading and hiding behind certain Black faces in order to continue the bullying & intimidation of Black staff. But they do define their own special brand of toxicity.

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

Gets worse, apparently.

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

Management?

[Bruce E. Baker @BruceHistorian]

Isn't there a word for someone who crosses a picket line?

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

And yet…

Is this why she’s crossing picket lines? Damage limitation after adding fuel to the fire?

[UCU @ucu]

“It has created a very xenophobic and very unwelcoming environment for international students”

@DrJoGrady explains the effect of hostile rhetoric and restrictive visa policies on Politics Live

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

Wow. Never let it be said Grady will pass up an opportunity for self publicity. Did she sic the right wing attack dogs on international students again, or was her sole intention to stick two fingers up at Unite by crossing their picket line?

No surprise @ucu is in trouble.

[BBC Politics @BBCPolitics]

On Monday's #PoliticsLive

Jeevun Sandher, Labour MP
Sir John Whittingdale, Conservative MP
Jo Grady, General Secretary of the University and College Union
Inaya Folarin Iman, Broadcaster and Journalist

BBC Two 12:15 https://t.co/SCfNgM8uQx

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

How do branches deal with this? Seeing officials complicit in union busting, rejecting democratic branch decisions, proactively breaking recognition agreements & maybe even crossing picket lines? How can you trust advice from people for whom trade union principles mean so little?

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

#Solidarity to @uniteucu this week. It’s awful to think of the damage being wrought internally by a small cohort of @ucu officials, in cahoots with Barnett & a paranoid GS, who’ve chosen power over principles. Their aim to discredit Unite & sow division is tearing UCU apart.

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

I think @ucu senior managers are having a bit of a breakdown. At the same time as claiming the @UniteUCU strike action next week is unlawful (seriously) they’re also actively encouraging strike breaking by telling staff to work from home.

This is beyond embarrassing now.

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

Shame this still hasn’t happened, though it’s not too late. She could start with Greg Barnett given he’s responsible for UCU staff & seems to be the main protagonist behind the current toxic shambles.

[Jo Grady @DrJoGrady]

At some point we’re gonna have to have a thread about career trade union officials, their role/function in union bureaucracy, how they get their jobs, how much they earn, & why their interests can often seem at odds with the membership. But today, is not that day #UCU2018

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

Here’s an “astonishing” idea - maybe the GS could sort out UCU’s own equality problems before touting herself as some leading equality mouthpiece.

Although going by recent messaging to staff I expect her and Greg are blaming @UniteUCU for UCU’s institutional racism as well.

[UCU @ucu]

We've got to put equality at the heart of everything we do.

@DrJoGrady talks through the important and meaningful conversations taking place at the @UCUequality conference in Birmingham this week👇

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

Let’s not forget this fantastic show of solidarity from last time @UniteUCU went on strike.

[Unite UCU @UniteUCU]

🚨 THREE DAY WALKOUT CALLED 🚨

Our members will take strike action from 9-11 December after our employer further breached our long-running dispute & failed to prioritise finding a resolution. We take action reluctantly & are sorry to impact @ucu members.

https://t.co/nsDrMHTSLL

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

Good on them.

The main thrust of the restructure is to rip apart UCU’s national bargaining unit - just when we need them most.

Even Grady’s HR consultant (£?) will struggle to spin how this will benefit branches & members when it stinks of a personal attack on certain staff.

[Unite UCU @UniteUCU]

🚨STRIKE ACTION🚨

After our employer refused to pause their restructure plans in order to first resolve our ongoing dispute over a Safe and Professional Workplace, members today voted overwhelmingly to call strike action as soon as possible.

https://t.co/8L6A9P1mBW

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

There are many things that raise alarm bells here, but trade union victimisation by a trade union employer is more screwed up than I could have imagined possible.

NEC needs to pull its finger out and end this mess. If NEC won’t, branches must.

[Unite UCU @UniteUCU]

🚨Employer ignores dispute to rush restructure🚨

Instead of focusing on resolving our long-standing dispute over a racist, dysfunctional & toxic workplace, our employer yesterday announced a significant restructure that will impact nearly a quarter of staff, some significantly.

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

Seems Grady announced a pretty major @UCU restructure today - because of course you would focus on this instead of resolving the current staff disputes. 🙄

Worst part of the meeting was apparently taking no questions and shutting it down by telling staff “you can go now”. 👀

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

This reflects very badly on the GS (who will be behind it) & UCU’s president as NEC chair, who backed it.

Maybe if you base your success only on follower numbers & pointless metrics, this attitude is to be expected.

Is there even policy saying UCU should be on here anyway?

[SecretUCU @SecretUcu]

Hearing a lot of speculation there’s going to be a restructure announced at a hastily arranged staff meeting next week.

Will there be proper consultation?

Will this solidify the quiet transfer of power to the unelected GS?

Will this mean a new bloody video starring Grady? 😱