NEC elections
Vote Elaine White for UK-elected FE

My name is Elaine White. I am an ESOL lecturer at Bradford College since 2009. I am standing for the NEC as an FE, UK-elected member.

My active involvement in UCU started soon after I joined the college. I have had various roles on regional and national committees since around 2015/16. 

I am currently chair of my branch and of the regional FE committee.

I’m standing for election because I want to be a voice for action to win national pay and workload agreements for all branches. 

I am delighted that my branch is one of the 32 branches that beat the anti-trade union laws to win a strike ballot for the New Deal for FE campaign. However, on FEC and NEC, I am not just fighting to secure the best deal for my branch. It is not enough to work in a college that has the best pay deal in the region when colleagues in other parts of the country are on worse terms and conditions. I want FE to have national pay scales and nationally agreed workload agreements, and all who work in further and adult education to benefit from them.

The national pay campaigns have made a difference. Recent governments have increased funding for 16–18-year-olds, which is helpful but it’s not enough. We need to continue escalating industrial national action if we are to force the government to listen to us and really invest in the FE and adult education sectors.

It is appalling that the far-right are being allowed to use divisions in society to scapegoat asylum seekers and other oppressed minorities. UCU and the trade union movement must work actively against racism, xenophobia and bigotry in all its forms. Migrant rights must be defended, including their access to public services including health and education,

I am in UCU Left and I am also interested in building consensus across all activists on common ground. I am also involved in grassroots local campaigns particularly around combating the climate and ecological emergency.

If elected, my priorities will be to focus on:

• the fight for national binding agreements on pay and workloads in FE and adult education. 
• The end of exploitative casualised contracts in education.
• the campaign for a just transition away from fossil fuel use with the role FE can and should be playing.
• Defending and strengthening rights of Women, Black, Disabled and LGBTQ+ (trans and non-binary inclusive) Members.

To support the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and all efforts towards conflict resolution for peace and justice worldwide.