Swansea University’s UCU committee brings many years of experience of engaging with management to our institution. To date, this has been successful – via negotiation, conciliation and dialogue. We’ve maintained good relations and weathered the worst of economic storms without compulsory redundancies, unlike other universities in Wales. But this may be coming to an end as we are now faced with losing our long-held place on the University’s governing body – Council.

The allocation of 2 trade union nominated trustees on Council has long been recognition of the importance of participative and transparent governance. But, having been told that it now needs to decrease numbers on Council, Swansea University is seeking to remove the 2 union trustees – the Council members who are in fact the only truly independent, authentic cross-campus voices.

Union nominated trustees provide Council with a direct link to all staff not just to the professoriate. This has been immensely helpful to Council, when other voices have proved less than effective in communicating matters of urgency or high sensitivity to the governing body. How does it look, therefore, if, as part of reducing the size of its governing body, the University chooses to remove its two trade union representatives?  

Swansea West MP, Geraint Davies, conscious of the historic role of trade unions in helping to establish the colleges of the University of Wales, has written powerfully to the Vice Chancellor supporting our case and asking that this important conduit be maintained.   

You can read his letter here:  he is awaiting a reply (6/4/20)