Dear Colleagues

The education sector is facing major challenges. In Adult Education there are massive cuts in provision. In Universities we see unprecedented job losses. In both FE and HE there are problems in achieving decent pay settlements.

We see academic freedom and genuine education under threat from marketisation and privatisation in many forms, including the endless talk about education as a business, not a public service, and outsourcing of provision.

For many UCU members workloads are going through the roof. Whatever the outcome of the next General Election, we are likely to face further massive cuts in education and other public sector funding, and attacks on our jobs, conditions of service, pay levels and pensions. In this context we need to fight back and to link educational and industrial struggles.

This election is important for all UCU members, whether working in Adult, Prison, Further or Higher education. It is important whether you are academic or academic-related, whether you are an administrator, researcher, tutor or lecturer.

We need to elect a Vice-President who is committed to defending education standards, academic freedom and the jobs and conditions of the education workforce.

Many of us have worked with Sean Vernell on UCU campaigns and committees. We know Sean to be a dedicated trade unionist, who takes the responsibilities of union leadership seriously, attends meetings regularly and is committed to building UCU as an effective and democratic trade union.

Sean’s priorities are the same as most UCU members: defending education, jobs, and working conditions. Sean understands that a good quality education for students and good conditions of service for education workers are two sides of the same coin. This is why Sean has been active as Vice-Chair of UCU’s national FE Committee in supporting UCU members when they are taking industrial action.

We believe that Sean Vernell has the vision, energy and commitment to lead the union in the difficult times ahead. We call upon you to vote for Sean as UCU Vice-President.

Statement of support for Sean VernellUCU Election for Vice-President (FE)

UCU BranCh/region endorsements• London Regional Committee• Manchester University UCU

national exeCUtive Committee memBers• Alan Whitaker: Chair FEC /President elect • Sasha Callahan: Immediate Past President • Dave Armstrong: Barnet College• Lynne Chamberlain: UK-elected FE/Greenwich College • Maire Daley: Representative of women members FE/Chair Education Committee/Liverpool Community College • James Eaden: FE Midlands/Chesterfield College • Alison Gander: UK-elected FE/Nelson and Colne College • Brian Ingham: UK-elected FE/Strategy and Finance Committee/Richmond College • Angie McConnell: FE North West/Chair Equality Committee/Wigan & Leigh College • Laura Miles: Representative of LBGT members/Vice Chair FEC/Bradford College • Loraine Monk: FE South/NESCOT • John Murphy: FE North West/TU & Education Centre • David Swanson: UK-elected member FE • Mark Campbell: UK-elected member HE/LMU • Karen Evans: HE North West/University of Liverpool • Jane Hardy: HE London and East/University of Hertfordshire • Tom Hickey: HE South/Chair of ROCC/University of Brighton • Maeve Landman: UK-Elected member HE/UWE • Ron Mendel: HE Midlands/University of Northampton • Malcolm Povey: UK-elected member HE/University of Leeds • Gavin Reid: HE North East/Vice chair Education Committee/ University of Leeds • Christine Vie: UK-elected HE/Manchester Met University • Liz Lawrence: HE North East/Vice Chair HEC/Sheffield Hallam University • Dave Gibson: FE Yorkshire and Humberside/Barnsley College • Alan Barker: UK-elected member FE/New College Nottingham

BranCh offiCers: higher edUCationMike Healy: Branch Sec/Westminster University• Adrian Budd: Southbank University, Branch Sec • Paul Brookes: Manchester University, Branch Sec • John Buglear: Nottingham Trent University, Branch Officer • Patrick Connellan: Nottingham Trent University, Health and Safety rep • Mike Haynes: University of Wolverhampton, Rep • Richard Bradbury: Open University

Branch SW Region Associate Lecture rep • Des Freedman: Past President Goldsmiths Uni •Jim Wolfries: Kings University, Branch Sec • Geoff Abbot: Newcastle University, Branch Treasurer • Terry Wriggley: Edinburgh University, Assistant Sec • Joanna Gilmore: Manchester Metropolitan University, Committee Member • Pete Hicks: Manchester Metropolitan University, Campaigns Officer • Jon Berry: University of Hertfordshire, Branch Negotiating Officer • Paul Blackledge: Leeds Metropolitan University, Committee member • Peter Skrandies: University of Greenwich, Rep • Tony Sullivan: University of the Arts, Branch Sec of The London College of Fashion • Rob Murthwaite: London Metropolitan University, Equalities officer • Graham Kirkwood: Edinburgh University, Assistant Secretary, Equality and diversity • Sean Wallis: University College London. Branch Sec • Rick Saull: Queens Mary College, Branch Sec • Nicolas van Labeke: Nottingham University, Committee member • James Cussens: University of York, Branch Sec • Iain Ferguson: University of Stirling, Branch Executive member • Carlo Morelli: Dundee University, President • Alexis Wearmouth: Dundee University, Anti-casualisation Rep • Lesley McGorrigan: Leeds University, Branch Officer • Tony Brown: University College London, Rep

BranCh offiCers: fUrther edUCation• Andy Strouthous: City and Islington College/Branch Sec Camden Road • Phil Magee: City and Islington College/Branch Sec Finsbury Park • Tony Hodges: Carlshalton College/ Branch Sec • Sue McDowell:Lambeth College/Branch Sec • Carol McLeo: Lambeth College ,Committee Member • Maggie Carmen: Hackney Community College/Chair • Terry Sweeney: Newham College/Branch Sec • Richard McEwan: Tower Hamlets College, Poplar/ Joint Branch Sec • Mark Winter: Tower Hamlets College Poplar/Joint Branch Sec • Richard Palser: Tower Hamlets College, Arbour Square coordinator • Roberto Foth: Tower Hamlets College, Bethnal Green/coordinator • Louise Orick: Westminster College/Branch Sec • Florence Akepokodje Greenwich College, Committee member • Julian Thomas: Uxbridge College/Branch chair • Patrick McCann: Uxbridge College/Branch Sec • Timothy Dalrymple: Hammersmith

and Ealing College Branch Sec • Susan Willis: Waltham Forest College, Branch Sec • Lucretia Packham: Rotherham College of Arts and Technology/Branch Treasurer • Pete Green: Westminster and Kingsway college, Branch Sec •Penny Charles: College of North East London, Branch Chair and UCU Black members Rep • Graham Mustin: Barnsley College, Assistant Branch Sec • Hazel Raven:Barnsley College, Branch Chair • Geraint Evans:Bradford Ace Branch Sec • Graham Peterson: South Thames College, Branch Executive member • John Baxter: Sheffield College, Committee • Rod Challise: Doncaster College, Branch Sec • Hazel Raven: Doncaster College, Branch Chair • Sue Christie: York College, Branch Sec • Dave Carrier: Richmond College, Branch Sec • Debra Callow: Richmond College, Branch Magazine Editor • Cheriee Psaros: Croydon College, Branch Chair • Margot Hill: Croydon College, Branch Sec • Adele Potten-Price: Chesterfield College, Branch Sec • Alliya Stennett: Birmingham College, Branch Chair • Umit Yildiz: UCU Black Members National Standing Committee

regional offiCers• Jenny Sutton: Chair FE sub Committee London Region and College of North East London branch Sec • Louis Wood: Sec FE sub Committee London Region and Hammersmith and Ealing College Branch Committee • Cliff Snaith: Sec London Region • Geoff Carter: Chair London Region, Barking College Branch Committee • Sean Wallis: Sec HE sub committee London Region • John Westmoreland: Sec Yorkshire Humberside Region • Jeanie Robinson: Sec East Midlands • Geoff Abbot: Northern Region, HE sector Committee Chair • Sue Abbott:Equality Officer Northern Region

signatories include: