Jo Grady elected general secretary of the University and College Union
?OFFICIAL UCU GEN SEC LAUNCH ?
This vid is the first of many accessible campaign materials – please watch, RT, & encourage others to vote. Be part of the rank & file movement, & contribute to my platform: https://t.co/jbRevp8Upc
Together we can change things ?♀️⚡️#Grady4GS pic.twitter.com/iLChrXWyAK
— Jo Grady (@DrJoGrady) March 25, 2019
Jo Grady has been elected as general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU) on a record turnout. The senior lecturer in employment relations at the University of Sheffield secured 64% of the vote after the second round of counting.
The other candidates were UCU’s national head of policy and campaigns Matt Waddup, and the president of the University of Liverpool UCU branch Jo McNeil.The turnout was 20.5%, compared with a previous high of 14.4% in 2007 and 13.7% in 2017.
Jo Grady said: ‘This victory was won by, and for, the members of UCU. We have chosen to start a new chapter of open and democratic leadership in our union at a time of extraordinary challenges for all staff who work in tertiary education, from the pressures of volatile funding regimes to the indignities of Brexit and the Hostile Environment.
‘We can meet and overcome those challenges because we are skilful, dedicated, passionate people, and we know we deserve better. Expectations are high. I have been given an overwhelming mandate on the back of a hugely improved turnout. I look forward to carrying out that mandate by working with UCU’s outstanding staff and harnessing the talent and commitment of our members.’
Jo Grady’s start date is still to be confirmed and her five-year term of office will commence when she starts the role. She will address the union’s annual congress in Harrogate tomorrow afternoon.
Jo Grady succeeds Sally Hunt who had been the union’s general secretary since its inception in 2007. Sally resigned in February due to health reasons.
The result in full:
Second round results:
Jo Grady: 15,214 (64%)
Matt Waddup: 7,721 (33%)
Votes not transferred: 703 (3%)
First round results:
Jo Grady: 11,515 (48.7%)
Matt Waddup: 6,104 (25.8%)
Jo McNeil: 6,019 (25.5%)
Jo McNeil eliminated (5,316 votes to be transferred)
Turnout 20.5%
Previous UCU general secretary election results:
2017
Sally Hunt: 8,138 (59%)
Jo McNeill: 5,586 (41%)
Turnout 13.7%
2012
Sally Hunt: 10,776 (73%)
Mark Campbell: 3,941 (27%)
Turnout 12.8%
2007
Second round results:
Sally Hunt: 8,463 (52%)
Roger Kline: 7,117 (44%)
Votes not transferred: 670 (4%)
First round results:
Sally Hunt: 7,605 (47%)
Roger Kline: 6,151 (38%)
Peter Jones: 2,494 (15%)
Jones eliminated (1,824 votes to be transferred)
Turnout 14.4%
Turnout comparisons with selected other unions’ recent general secretary elections:
Unite 2017
Usdaw 2017
Paddy Lillis re-elected unopposed
NUT 2016
TSSA 2016
Prospect 2016
Mike Clancy re-elected unopposed
NUJ 2016
Michelle Stanistreet re-elected unopposed
Aslef 2016
Mick Whelan re-elected unopposed
GMB 2015
Unison 2015
CWU 2015
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