Marketisation in the UK education system risks reducing equality and social responsibility within the UK Education system. The Green Paper on Higher Education is pushing the agenda of marketisation further, and questions the transparency and accountability of Students’ Unions in the context of the recently proposed reforms to Trade Unions. Workers’ rights are being eroded, and some may argue that traditional structures of Trade Unions and Students’ Unions have become at best ineffectual in resisting, and at worst complicit in governmental plans.
However, the National Union of Students and the Trade Union Congress have stated they will jointly campaign under a “shared vision of a society based on the principles of social justice where all people have access to quality education, decent jobs and individual and collective rights at work” drawing a horizon of hope, knowing that we are stronger together.
The Unionising the Future project looks to understand and bolster local relationships between Students’ Unions and Trade Unions. We are looking to provide research and resources in this area, working with Students’ Union and Trade Union representatives to share experiences, map activity and bring people together to discuss the future.
Some practical things we are looking at doing include:Providing a guide for Students’ Unions about Trade Unions their working students can join with details on costs and benefits. Sharing Case Studies on successful joint campaigns. Trying to understand that this is not always an easy relationship, and bringing people together to discuss why this is, and ways we can overcome it. Providing training and resources for both Trade Unions and Students’ Unions on joint working….
…. interested?
How you can get involved:
- Join our steering committee
If you would like to be involved in the shaping of this project, provide input to the materials developed, get your union involved, or develop ideas for what can happen in the future please email your details to unionfuture@magneticideals.org we’ll be in touch soon. Staff, officers, students and trade union reps are all welcome.
- Submit a case study
The unions we have spoken have indicated that it would be great to hear more about what other unions are doing, how Students’ Unions and Trade Unions are working together locally and how you can overcome difficult challenges. We know that different Students’ Unions are in very different places with their relationships with local Trade Unions, but we also know that some of the great work that is happening needs to be shared across the network to inspire people. If you have a story to tell about a campaign, direct action, a policy win or just a great working relationship please drop us an email to unionfuture@magneticideals.org make sure you include any weblinks to news stories or blog posts about the work you have been doing!
- Complete our survey
This survey is based on conversations we have had so far with Student Officers and Trade Union reps. As with all surveys it is a blunt tool, but will provide the starting point for future research. Please can you complete and send the link to staff members, officers and trade union reps within your union! Complete the Survey.
About Magnetic Ideals: We are a collective of researchers and artists in Brighton working to find and fund projects for social good. Many of us have, or do, work in or with Students’ Unions. We have provided activism, leadership and liberation training for students’ unions, supported homeless artists to get their work exhibited, helped establish a community organisation providing circus skills for the disabled, worked with YMCA to help improve how young people get involved in their governance structures, as well as on research with critically evaluating community engagement by students… now we are Unionising the Future!
More Information about the Project: The initial stage of the project is funded by a Seedbed Research Funding Grant. Full details of the aims and objectives of the initial project are available here.
The second part of this project will be run as a three year research project through University of Sussex Law School, the full research proposal is available here.