Build now towards serious national action in 2026
Elections to the University and College Union (UCU) National Executive Committee (NEC) open on 30 January. Socialist Party member Duncan Moore is standing for re-election in a UK-elected Further Education (FE) seat.
Duncan Moore says
These elections come at a crucial time for our union. After 18 months it is clear that Keir Starmer’s Labour government has no intention of solving the enormous crisis of funding, pay, privatisation and casualisation in post-16 education.
UCU members have said loudly and clearly: no longer will we put up with our sector being ignored, our workloads increasing, our pay falling behind the cost of living.
In ballots in the autumn in both further and higher education (HE), UCU members voted overwhelmingly for national action.
Members in HE were scuppered by the anti-union turnout thresholds, disgracefully still left in place by Starmer – our union must demand they are repealed immediately.
Members in 17 FE colleges in England took coordinated strike action for a 10% pay rise and for funding in January, in a show of strength against employers and the Labour government. In many more, concessions on pay have been won.
Funding and national pay bargaining
Members demand that FE is properly resourced so that education workers can meet the needs of our students. We also demand a proper, national bargaining mechanism with the government, instead of fighting each college management separately.
To fight to win that needs serious national action, which I have argued for since being elected to the NEC in 2024.
Opening 2026 with nationwide strikes was a step forward, but we could have been stronger. Our action could have taken place sooner, and it could have involved many more branches.
But the majority on the Further Education Committee (FEC) – those who support the current general secretary Jo Grady – voted to delay the ballot and delay the action. I argued to reballot branches which narrowly missed the thresholds, but that was opposed by the majority on the FEC.
Now we need to build the action, for those colleges still fighting to win the best possible settlements. If the leadership of the national union will not act, then I will give support to those branches discussing and coordinating their own strike dates. That action will pressure the government and inspire others.
I will be arguing for an aggregated national ballot of FE colleges in June, to be strike-ready in September.
I am clear that most members in FE are not content with the state of our sector. Unfortunately, too many on our FEC simply are not willing to lead a fight.
That needs to include fighting to end marketisation and casualisation – FE should be under democratic public control and management, not unelected corporate directors. The rich are getting richer while the education crisis deepens – make them pay!
On the NEC, I also fight for the UCU to build national action alongside other education unions, including the National Education Union in schools. September’s TUC Congress agreed to call a national trade union demonstration against Labour austerity. UCU must campaign for that to be called as soon as possible.
And we need our own political voice. Along with my fellow Socialist Party member on the NEC, Marco Tesei, I have campaigned for our union to open up a debate about how we can achieve that. UCU Congress voted overwhelmingly for that last May.
UCU has now set up a parliamentary group, but we need the lay elected leadership of our union to call in all politicians who say they stand on our side to put our demands to them, so that we form a parliamentary group that really fights for us.
UCU should take the lead in discussing with other unions about political representation. And encourage our members to stand as anti-austerity, socialist candidates in the council elections. We need socialist policies!
And that applies to standing against the rising support for Reform as well. They are seeking to exploit the deep-seated desperation of people driven down by decades of poverty and austerity. That is why, to undercut support for Reform and the racists who want to divide us, we have to fight for jobs, homes and fully funded services for all.
Organise together for a democratic, fighting UCU
A number of candidates are standing in the NEC election who want a more democratic, fighting union. Some are members of the SWP-led ‘UCU Left’ grouping, others are independent lefts.
I have argued for a united left stand to maximise our chance of winning a fighting leadership.
There are three UK-elected FE seats up for election. Given what is at stake, it is very disappointing that the UCU Left have chosen to stand for all three seats, against myself as the left incumbent.
Thanks to all those in UCU Left who argued against that. I want to work with all serious activists to build a strong, genuine broad left within UCU.
- Vote Duncan Moore #1 for UK-elected (FE). Back fighting, left candidates for other NEC seats and Regi Pilling for Vice President
- If you would like to know more or get involved, contact: mooredalex@googlemail.com
