Professor Paul Anderson (Queen Mary University of London)

Election address

I am seeking re-election as a London and South NEC and HEC member for a second term.

I am a Professor of Oral Biology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, having been at QMUL for 32 years. I am involved in teaching and research, also holding administrative positions within QMUL, including teaching and research committees, as well as senior positions in national and international teaching and research organisations, and associate editor of the leading research journal in my field. I have been a member of QMUL Council, gaining insight into university senior management,.

I have been an active member of UCU for 25 years, a Branch Committee member for 15 years, and have been Branch Chair, and now Vice-President. Our Branch campaigns on issues including performance management, gender pay gap, anti-bullying, LGBT staff, anti-casualisation, as well as successful negotiations on local issues including restructurings, performance management, work allocation models, appraisal schemes, and intolerable work-loads.. The Branch has always campaigned vigorously during recent local disputes, and organised substantial and effective picket lines during every recent UCU strike. I believe strike action is necessary to change the trajectory that university employers are taking. The increased use of casualised staff to make unnecessary savings in the sector jeopardises the student experience, demotivates early career research staff, and creates an intolerable working environment.

I have been a member of UCU NEC and HEC for the last 18 months, attending and participating in many meetings, particularly on USS, REF and workload. I have also participated actively with UCU London Region. I support Margot Hill for Vice President.

Times are changing for the worst in HE and FE. Senior University management continue to devise financial measures which undermine HE teaching and research, validated via inappropriate metrics, as well as, reduce pay, destroy terms and conditions, and negatively impact equality. UCU must oppose these changes, particularly now with the recently proposed USS pension changes supported by UUK. My reason for standing for UCU NEC election is that UCU must campaign and lead the opposition to these changes on behalf of its members. UCU needs to react strongly to these proposed changes, rather than taking retrospective action. UCU must work to show solidarity with other education sector Trade Unions, and with NUS. The consequences of the current UK University Management strategies for individual UCU members, and for students, as well as teaching and research, is devastating. I want to see UCU opposing these changes, putting members first, and taking effective strike action.

I am a supporter of UCU Left, with NEC experience, and within branch. Please vote for me for an active campaigning and effective Trade Union representing you.

Prof. Paul Anderson