Fragmented UCU strikes leave reballot campaign ‘in the balance’

I think the situation is more complex than just a failure on the part of Grady, although she most take her share of the blame. The failure to reballot over the summer is clearly the fault of the central office, which she supposedly leads. But we shouldn't forgot that Grady did have a different strategy, but we, as a union, rejected it (I believe in part because we felt like she was manipulating us into it). But she did say she didn't think this was the time for a do or die final stand, but we went ahead anyway, and it failed. Yes it would have been better with a continuing mandate, but I remain unconvinced that, given the evidence that unis don't care in any way about students getting their grades, in the end it would Jane made a decisive difference.

The widespread capitulation has just illustrated to UCEA how weak and fragmented UCU actually is. Abandoning the strike this week whilst completely understandable from a financial perspective has put the final nail in the 4 fights coffin.

The widespread capitulation has just illustrated to UCEA how weak and fragmented UCU actually is. Abandoning the strike this week whilst completely understandable from a financial perspective has put the final nail in the 4 fights coffin.

This has been the 'everything, everywhere, all at once' strike. Effective unions pick their targets carefully, and use members in work to support those on strike. The problem here has been the disproportionate influence at NEC level of the SWP-controlled UCU left, which is ideologically committed to all-out strikes on every issue. Smart branches are now making their own terms where they can. The lockjaw left will blame Jo Grady and an imaginary 'right' for bowing to reality, but it is they who should consider their position.