Emma Battell Lowman (she/her/they)

I'm running for @UCU Vice President This 2-min video explains my plans beyond current disputes If we haven't met, it also gives a sense of my vision, experience, expertise, and values Because I genuinely care about @ucu and the critical importance of post-16 ed in the UK 💖

Due credit to the GS for being an early proponent of aggregated ballots. Aggregation has higher upside (all can go out) but higher downside (none can go out). @ucu members have shown that we can get that upside comfortably and repeatedly.

Pensions: Ballot papers dispatched 51,238 Ballot papers returned 29,924 A turnout of  58.40% #ucuRISING

The reballot has closed and we have given it everything Next week we find out if it was enough Join us at 3PM on Monday for a special UCU LIVE with general secretary @DrJoGrady Set your reminder: youtube.com/watch?v=2v5xtN… #ucuRISING

'We know the money is there to pay staff fairly' - @Maxine4UCUVP feweek.co.uk/we-know-how-to…

PLEASE SIGN 🐙 The world’s 1st octopus farm would cram a MILLION of these smart and sensitive creatures into tiny tanks before painfully freezing them to death – but a massive public outcry can help stop it. Sign and share now! #BanOctopusFarming fb.avaaz.org/campaign/en/ba…

In another packed branch meeting, members overwhelmingly voted to take local strike action in response to management confirming they will deduct 26 days for the 6 days of strike in February. #ucuRISING

all the alpacas are on precarious contracts and their real terms pay has been cut by 25% since 2009

A message to students:   We are striking for you  We are voting YES for you  Your support has been incredible  #ucuRISING

@Really_Alex @ucu BDM, eballot consultation, talking to members at different branches, reading widely on this platform the views of as many members as I can find, emails directly from members and branches via the NEC web form

@EmmaUCU @ucu How do you know what members really wanted when we were consulted in a rushed and flawed eballot which asked two questions in one and didn't distinguish between USS and 4 fights?

I voted to put the decision to members, and will continue to faithfully represent @ucu membership on HEC No amount of hand-wringing absolves those who voted against member views. - evidenced by the emails continuing to pour in from members who feel betrayed by that decision

@signsofrevolt @ucu I wrote that members feel betrayed - to be clearer, that’s the word being used in the member emails I’ve been receiving via the NEC web form, so think the critique/swipe is misplaced

@EmmaUCU @ucu Betrayed? We have a democratically decided decision making structure, ‘betraying’ it is sending out ad hoc undemocratic e ballots on a strike day to decide on what? There’s nothing new on the table -stop being so disingenuous

Here is @PlashingVole - Chair of @WolvesUCU - explaining why he is on strike today. #ucuRISING #EnoughIsEnough #BudgetDayStrike

@joshmbowsher @dyfrig @zenscara Respectability politics? Hmm ok Do ppl have to constantly absorb harm and put out positivity as the price of support? Because after months of that, yes the strain showed. I’m human and get exhausted too!

@EmmaUCU @dyfrig @zenscara Sorry try that again. I'm someone who was sympathetic to commons and even voted for some of you in recent elections. However the behaviour from some of you has been really off-putting for a number of weeks now but especially this weekend. You've really lost my trust.

@PhilipProudfoot @joshmbowsher @dyfrig @zenscara Didn’t know I was a whole group of people 😆

@marta_zboralska @joshmbowsher @dyfrig @zenscara Good to hear you voted and are feeling engaged in the current discussions and work!

@DidemDeryaOzde1 @dyfrig @zenscara This happens in branches, through info and comms, BDMs, informal consultations (like emails to national reps), and other means

@EmmaUCU @dyfrig @zenscara Can I just say as a lay member who doesn't even know who is who most of the time, for voting to be meaningful, we need to first have a democratic debate where all sides put forward their arguments so members can form their opinions. Voting for voting's sake isn't democracy.

@Brodie_Waddell @dyfrig @zenscara Thing is, this is a HEC with a majority who favour a vanguardist position in an organisation where members engage out of consent making a tactical mismatch (call strong action but likely to be poorly supported) and undermining collective strength and progress

@dyfrig @zenscara So by all means make your case for the offer(s), but I don't think it's helpful to the union to criticise HEC members for fulfilling their constitutional role in the union.

@Brodie_Waddell @dyfrig @zenscara It’s a head-heart analysis, and I think it’s ok to make these issues, behaviours, and frustrations visible from my experience Manipulation couched in niceness is still problematic, I’ve opted for a direct and honest approach because of my experience of bad faith engagement

@EmmaUCU @dyfrig @zenscara I don't think this kind of language is going to help the union win this fight, Emma. Even if you believe it in your heart (and I have a lot of feelings about UCUL's behaviour!) twitter is not the place for this.