LEAD. We show up. We listen. We act.
The coming two years will be marked by uncertainty for UM on many fronts. We are running for the University Council because we want to address these uncertainties in ways that give the whole UM community a sustainable future.
These uncertainties affect our community in different ways. LEAD can represent these differences because our members come from academic and support staff from all faculties and service centres. Our candidates bring a wide range of experience levels and job profiles. Plus, we continuously seek feedback from across the UM. That is how we practice representation and how we work toward a more democratic university.
Here’s an example of our track record and positions on four crucial topics:
1. Cuts to Higher Education
LEAD opposes the cuts in their entirety. LEAD members have been at the forefront of national campaigns against the cuts. At UM, we’ve been feeding staff concerns back to the Executive Board. If UM is forced to implement the cuts, LEAD pledges to invoke the solidarity principle with regard to all direct and trickle-down effects of the cuts to defend jobs and job quality. This means spreading the burden across and within faculties and service centres.
2. Internationalisation
A strong UM is an international and locally embedded UM. LEAD has been proactively defending the international character of UM, while promoting kind, inclusive integration for international staff. We pledge to actively defend the interests of international, particularly non-EEU staff, who face significant uncertainty in the current political climate.
3. Rewards & Recognition and Career Development for All Staff
LEAD believes all UM staff need opportunities for growth and promotion, as well as recognition for their contributions. Rewards & Recognition is being implemented at UM for academic staff (WP) but not for support staff (OBP). LEAD will push for UM’s Executive Board to rectify this imbalance and create central policy. LEAD will advocate for continuous monitoring of the implementation of R&R across faculties to ensure the process is fair and equitable.
4. MUMC+ Integration
OBP and WP members of LEAD have taken part in all University Council level discussions on UM and MUMC+ integration. We have been vocal about the need for clear communication between the Executive Board and our wider community about the process of this integration. LEAD will advocate for giving staff interests priority and for transparency in the process.
Vote LEAD for engaged and effective council work for the whole of UM!
