scribblings on politics, passions and participation
As more of us find ourselves locked out or expelled by Labour, a simple explanation of the leadership's motivation lies with their personal social aspirations, writes ANYA COOK IT’S a fair cop! I have been caught — in a “prohibited act.” My Labour Party membership days have been numbered since appealing last summer’s investigation into … Continue reading Class metamorphosis in Starmer’s Labour – 3 October 2023
Restoration of the EMA is a key policy in the SEA manifesto and is also demanded in the SEA ‘s proposed motion to Labour Conference. Anya explains why. EMA was a payment to students that was introduced under Labour in 1999 to improve participation in education post-16 both in FE colleges and sixth forms. Students … Continue reading Reinstate Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) 17 May 2023
A Report to Friends of Al Aqsa North East, NCG, Newcastle College, NEU Northern, Newcastle Unites, PSC Newcastle, Socialist Educational Association and Suffrage Sisters Alliance: Introduction In February this year, I participated in a delegation organised by the National Education NEU with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign PSC. The NEU delegation of twelve people comprised primary … Continue reading Report on NEU Educational Visit to Palestine 11-17 February 2023
“WE need every free voice in the world to stand with education in Jerusalem” — Saed Erziqat, general secretary of the General Union of Palestinian Teachers. On a recent National Education Union delegation to Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, education professionals from England and Canada visited six schools, met national and regional GUPT officials, … Continue reading “We fight to stand still” 20 March 2023
Anya Cook Socialist Educational Association national executive, Trade Union activist and currently chairing NE COP26 Coalition It is high time we recognised the inter-connectedness of our planet and our people - we are not separate from it or each other. The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26 takes place in Glasgow in November. Many … Continue reading Climate Change Education
The go-to education publication TES has announced that it will no longer cover further education from September. No real reason was given , and in stating that journalists had already been reallocated tasks, confirmed this as a done deal. There are other publications, of course, but writing for sector specific audiences only creates an echo … Continue reading WHY HAS THE TES DECIDED NOT TO COVER FURTHER EDUCATION? (Right2_Learn 2 September 2021)
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/join-the-unemployment-fightback PEOPLE’S Assembly North East in partnership with Tyne & Wear County Association of Trades Councils and Durham Trades Council have just launched a short video campaign to highlight the impact of unemployment in the region. North-east England is facing a jobs crisis. Thousands of jobs have been lost, tens of thousands of people are … Continue reading Join The Unemployment Fightback – 27 February 2021
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/supporting-memory-late-cllr-bernard-pidcock-caravan-care-convoy Supporting the memory of the late Cllr Bernard Pidcock with a ‘Caravan of Care’ convoy UCU activist ANYA COOK explains how young Labour members will be delivering humanitarian aid to Calais refugees, thanks to the assistance of a sterling local campaigner LAST January I was invited to Blythe Valley’s Constituency Labour Party meeting at … Continue reading “Caravan of Care” 20 January 2020
Writing for the People’s Assembly: https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/universal-credit-oxymoron Universal Credit is an oxymoron. It is only universal if everyone can access it - but what if you don’t speak English or have access to the internet? I work at Newcastle College. On Wednesday last week I spent an hour — a whole hour — on the phone … Continue reading “Universal Credit is an Oxymoron” 2 December 2019
Leading workshop on 'Democratic Local Planning'.... ‘Democratic Local Planning’ is one of the four themes of the New Lucas Plan campaign. The Lucas Plan sets out a plan for human-centred, socially useful production within one organisation, but this approach can be used to produce plans for new jobs for one local area, but it can … Continue reading Engineering for Peace, Jobs and Climate Justice 9 November 2019
I was asked very specifically to talk today about trade unions supporting school strikes. Thank you Alex, for inviting me to speak. UCU, University & College Union is the biggest trade union for education professionals in post-16 education in Europe. I ran a UCU stall at Jamie Driscoll’s ‘Green Industrial Revolution’ event in April this … Continue reading Capitalism and Climate Change – 19 October 2019
Students I bring you greetings of solidarity from UCU - from University and College Union - the trade union that works with teachers and lecturers in colleges and universities. UCU supports you and we are campaigning to take action in support with you, in September. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please take a lesson and learn from the past. … Continue reading Youth Strike 4 Climate Change – Newcastle 19 July
(Speaking for University & College Union national executive, further education committee) https://www.facebook.com/122098561182392/posts/2391440194248206?s=100000500624699&v=e&sfns=mo I can tell you that UCU’s national executive deplore the scapegoating of migrants and we will continue to challenge all forms of discrimination and we will continue to fight against the politics of austerity and the impacts of it. UCU’s starting point is … Continue reading Conference on Children’s Rights (organised by Roma Access)
(Speaking for UCU nec and Newcastle Unites carnival team) Good Afternoon Newcastle! Welcome - welcome to our Newcastle ‘We have a dream’ carnival. Are you having a good time? Isn’t it great to be here - in Newcastle? And isn’t it great to be here - at The Monument, this symbol of peace and freedom … Continue reading Newcastle Unites – ‘We have a dream’ Unity Carnival 2019
Anya Cook introduces Newcastle Unites, celebrating diversity and equality ON Saturday July 6 Newcastle Unites will be celebrating unity in our community at our second annual Unity Carnival. The event starts with a walk from the multicultural West End of Newcastle and ends in costume, music, dance, theatre and poetry at Grey’s Monument, renowned symbol … Continue reading ‘I have a dream’ Newcastle’s Unity Carnival 2019
Anya Cook UCU National Executive Speaking today for Newcastle Unites Our anti-racist coalition stands for the people of Newcastle ⁃ be they of left or of right ⁃ Be they of binary or non binary ⁃ Be they of faith or of no faith ⁃ And whatever their immigration status We are united against all … Continue reading Together Against Trump – Newcastle Protest 3 June 2019
Anya Cook Newcastle College Branch Secretary National Executive We have been challenging workload in a systematic campaign since 2014. We have had some wins and our UCU President came to the branch to celebrate with us in 2017. Our Workload Working Group model of working was rolled out nationally by UCU in the national workload … Continue reading Speaking to FE16 Workload and Contact Hours at UCU FE Sector Conference 2019
Tyne and Wear May Day March and Rally 2019 Anya Cook UCU National Executive speaking for Newcastle Unites Good Afternoon. The first thing I want to do is to invite you to the Unity Carnival, Saturday 6th July. It starts with a walk from The Beacon in the West End of Newcastle and ends here, … Continue reading Tyne & Wear May Day March and Rally 2019
The good ship UCU has been without a steer on the wheel since October last year. The imminent election for general secretary presents an opportunity to turn the rudder and plot a new course. Whoever wins is a servant to the union, a servant to masters in both higher and further education. The truth is … Continue reading One Servant, Two Masters (Three Candidates): UCU general secretary election 2019
Good Afternoon Anya Cook UCU National Executive Speaking today for Newcastle Unites I would like to start with a lyric from Akala - he’s a rapper, poet, author, political activist: “Racism, sexism and nationality Just to me it all seems like insanity Why must I rob you of your humanity To feel good about mine?” … Continue reading Solidarity with Christchurch & Bahr Academy. No hate in our beautiful city. (Counter-demonstration against the North East Patriots)
Anya Cook UCU National Executive and Branch Secretary at Newcastle College Chronic underfunding of schools and colleges through privatisation and cuts is leading to failings. In Northumberland, in October, the combined inspection by Ofsted with the Care Quality Commission into SEND failed spectacularly. Their report highlights severe staff shortages, severely overworked staff and gaps in … Continue reading Speech to support NEU’s motion on SEND at #NTUC19
Anya Cook University & College Union National Executive And Branch Secretary at Newcastle College where we had the first Period Poverty campaign at a college in England- launched back in October. Our campaign was funded by our branch and we invited contributions from organisations and colleagues. In February we secured agreement from the principalship to … Continue reading Speaking in support of Unite’s motion on Period Dignity at #NTUC19j
Vote Anya for Hexham Trade Unionist, Socialist, Feminist I am proud to be shortlisted as Labour Candidate MP for Hexham. I hope you will support me to be your MP. If elected, I will work to improve the life chances and conditions of everyone, including those in marginalised groups, isolated or lonely within the constituency. … Continue reading Hexham PLP Candidate Statement
Trade Unions Are Vital Trade unions are the weights and measures of the conditions of employment and are absolutely essential now in these most difficult times. More and more deregulation has resulted in workers’ rights being undermined and the pernicious Trade Union Act 2016 has made it harder and harder for unions to organise and … Continue reading Trade Unions Are Vital
My name is Anya Cook, Newcastle North Constituency, University & College Union National Executive and mentor at Newcastle College. I support this motion. I would add that those of us trade unionists here can work to take the principles of this motion forward in our own workplaces. Women in the workplace, when they disclose they … Continue reading Speech to support Motion: Violence Against Women (not called to speak) Labour Women’s Conference 23 February 2019
Anya Cook sits on University and College Union’s National Executive and Further Education Committee and she is Branch Secretary at Newcastle College where she is employed as a Mentor. In the decade I have been a UCU trade union rep at Newcastle College we haven’t had a women’s officer on the branch. In September we … Continue reading Period Poverty Campaign
""I am seeking re-election to a second term on the NEC. Employed as Mentor at Newcastle College, I deliver academic study skills and pastoral support to FE and HE students. I have 12 years’ experience of working across Entry 3 - Level 7 programmes of academic and vocational study. I am lead caseworker and negotiator … Continue reading UCU NEC Election Address
Why I Am Supporting JD4Mayor I am not going to get into the whys and wherefores of whether the North of Tyne should be devolving - we are where we are. I am not going to get into the whys and wherefores of whether the nominations process for the mayoral election should have been allowed … Continue reading Why I Am Supporting Jamie Driscoll for North of Tyne Mayor
Period Poverty Blythe Valley CLP Meeting Seaton Deleval Wednesday 9 January You can view here: https://www.facebook.com/ucu.nclcoll.branch/videos/142298476646151/ When Janine invited me to speak this evening she wanted me to talk about our Period Poverty Campaign but within the wider context of trade unions and the Labour Party working together. There’s a word for that. … Continue reading Bringing CLPs and Unions Together
(Dedicated to Mr Charisse who died earlier this week – a teacher who looked me straight in the eyes and spoke to me in kindness. I remember his love of Asterix, Franglaise, Dire Straits ‘Money For Nothing’ and, of course, that moustache). You can watch here: https://www.facebook.com/100000500624699/posts/3111511585542165/ People have tried to stop me speaking here, … Continue reading Stand Up For Humanity, Stand Up For Rohingya (North East Solidarity with Rohingya Public Rally Saturday 15 December 2018)
Making It Better Anya Cook sits on University and College Union’s National Executive and Further Education Committee and she is Branch Secretary at Newcastle College where she is employed as Learning Mentor. Language, Locus and the Law is my alliterative triptych to improve opportunities and reduce barriers to Further Education in an Age of Austerity. … Continue reading Making It Better
Newcastle Unites for our Muslim Sisters Saturday 29 September 2018 Anya Cook UCU National Executive Good afternoon and thank you to Newcastle Unites, to Tony and Shumel for inviting me to speak. I bring greetings of solidarity from University and College Union. I am proud to stand alongside our Muslim sisters who have been targeted … Continue reading Newcastle Unites For Our Muslim Sisters
Anya Cook sits on UCU's National Executive and Further Education committee and is Branch Secretary at Newcastle College where she is employed as Higher Education Mentor. Here she tells Transforming Lives why we should all rise up and support FE Fights Back, UCU's national campaign on funding and pay. "Never before have I had a … Continue reading Cauldrons of Change – Further Education in England: transforming lives and communities
You deserve to have a representative who knows your job and what you have to do. Anya has worked here for nearly 12 years, through countless restructures, in a cross-college role that takes her into every school … she understands the demands on teaching and support staff. You need a STAFF REP who will take … Continue reading Newcastle College Board Staff Rep – Election Statement – Vote for Anya !!!
The Employee Engagement Blueprint: employee engagement made simple (Emma Alcock) From Emma Alcock I learned a new model of whole person engagement with two emotional elements - Does it connect with me? Does it fire me up? Quite simply yes. Kit and Caboodle it's all here, off-the-shelf for the executive lead - 'why,' 'what' and … Continue reading Book Review – The Employee Engagement Blueprint
Those of us without very strong political leanings are in danger of sleepwalking into being represented by those who have no interest in our views.
Full text of UCU general secretary Sally Hunt's speech to Congress 2018 Source: UCU general secretary Congress 2018 speech
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Good Morning Conference. I am Branch Secretary of UCU - University & College Union - at Newcastle College and I am proud to sit on both its National Executive and its Further Education Committee. I would like to thank Tony Dowling and the organisers for inviting me to speak to you here today. Our theme … Continue reading Building Strong Unions Conference #TUC150
(Speech to UCU National Executive) I was shopping for a leaving gift for a colleague on my way home from work. It was late, I was tired and not paying attention to the lad on the checkout who was trying to convince me to complete one of those online questionnaires about my ‘experience’ so that … Continue reading The Charge of The Education Brigade (original version)
The Grenfell fire is totemic of the politics of neo-liberalism and the drive for profit over any other human consideration. As such totem, it is beyond a local issue and is etched on the national consciousness – the refusal to take health and safety seriously, the shear and unnecessary loss of human life, of working … Continue reading Response to Grenfell
Mince Pies & Misery This December our UCU Branch at Newcastle College convened an open meeting to discuss George Osborne’s Comprehensive Spending Review and the implications for Further Education. In this democracy, that is our UCU branch – Neal our Branch Secretary said to me, “You can welcome people to our meeting and I’ll do … Continue reading Mince Pies and Misery
From Acorns And Oaks 