Stop the Witch Hunt - public meeting

A public meeting in North London tonight gave overwhelming support to three members of staff who have been suspended from their posts at London Metropolitan University (where I work as a psychology lecturer). The suspensions began following the election of Jawad Botmeh as the staff governor. Jawad has a conviction (also the subject of a miscarriage of justice campaign) which was declared to the university upon his initial appointment in 2008 and again in 2010 when Jawad applied for a permanent post. Vice-Chancellor Malcolm Gillies was himself made aware of Jawad's conviction in 2010.

Following Jawad's election as a staff governor in February 2013, with over 50% of the vote, the Vice-Chancellor suspended him. He also suspended Max Watson, the Chair of UNISON at London Met, who was involved in Jawad's appointment, and subsequently suspended Steve Jefferys from the Working Lives Research Institute who authorised Jawad's appointment. Steve has been an outspoken critic of the kinds of change that Vice-Chancellor Gillies has been trying to implement (outsourcing of admin services, the appointment of Capita to oversee a review of business processes) and Max Watson has led a very successful UNISON campaign against these changes. As a UNISON nominee for staff governor Jawad Botmeh could have been expected to offer a similarly critical perspective at the Board of Governors. None of these three colleagues appear to have broken any university rules, all are critical of the direction the VC is taking the university, and all find themselves suspended. A full account of the whole saga can be found here.

It is worth noting that a couple of weeks prior to Max Watson's suspension, Vice Chancellor Gillies used an all-staff email to suggest that one of Max's emails had been intimidatory to some staff, and said that henceforth neither Max nor any other member of any union were allowed to represent their members at Business Process Review meetings. No evidence for the allegation was provided. UCU sent an open letter which challenged the Vice Chancellor to provide evidence, and suggested that some people might consider his own action to be bullying. No response has ever been received.

Speakers calling for the reinstatement of Jawad, Max, and Steve included local MP Jeremy Corbyn, Mark Serwotka (General Secretary of the PCS union), Catherine Maguire (London Met UNISON Branch Secretary), Professor Linda Clarke from Westminster University, and Denise Bertuchi (Assistant National Officer for UNISON). Supporters from the floor included Peter Cooper, who is campaigning for presidency of the student union.

At the request of the organisers no photos were taken of the audience.

Mark Serwotka, General Secretary of PCS

Michael McNeil (UCU Head of Higher Education)

Professor Linda Clarke, University of Westminster

Denise Bertuchi (Assistant National Officer, UNISON)

One of those suspended: Max Watson, Chair of UNISON at London Metropolitan University

Jeremy Corbyn, MP for Islington

Also suspended: Professor Steve Jefferys, Director of the Working Lives Research Institute at London Metropolitan University

Save the Women's Library

September 22nd

In Old Castle Street, East London, a rally took place as part of the campaign to save the Women's Library. The Women's Library collection is held in a purpose built site at London Metropolitan University, that was lottery-funded on the condition that the collection would remain here. However, London Met management now maintain that they cannot afford to maintain the collection and are seeking an external buyer. The campaign to save the library insist that the collection and its expert staff should remain in place. A full statement from the campaign's Facebook group is at the foot of this page.

From the Facebook page to Save the Women's Library:

"A selection committee formed by Dr Paul Bowler, Deputy Chief Executive of London Met met behind closed doors on Sept 13 to consider the only bid submitted, a proposal from LSE that will see the collection permanently removed from The Women’s Library building. London Met’s Board of Governors will meet Sept 27 to ratify the recommendation put forward, details of which have not been made public.

The Save the Women’s Library campaign holds that moving the collection out of its building on Old Castle Street effectively closes The Women’s Library. The campaign has called for London Met to reopen the bidding process and adapt criteria that ensures the collection retains its building, staff, accessibility, and commitment to community.

The Women’s Library moved to its current location in 2002, a purpose-built building converted from a historic East End washhouse with the aid of £4 million Heritage Lottery Funding. Designed by Wright and Wright Architects, it includes a reading room, archival storage, classrooms, staff offices, and exhibition space. The collection, which attracts over 30,000 visitors annually, is accessible to all and the library is committed to both academic and community engagement. London Met may be required to repay over £4 million to the Heritage Lottery Fund if the collection moves out of The Women’s Library building.

The Save The Women’s Library campaign seeks to:

1) Keep the library in its current purpose built building
2) Ensure the collection remains intact and accessible to all
3) Retain the library’s expert staff

Over 12,000 people have already signed the on-line petition to Save The Women’s library. A lively demonstration held at London Met Sept 13th to protest the Selection Committee meeting to consider LSE’s bid attracted a good crowd.

On Sept 22nd, Save The Women’s Library supporters will call on the spirit of the suffragettes and other activists who’s very history they seek to preserve as they rally outside The Women’s Library.

More information at: http://savethewomenslibrary.blogspot.co.uk/
also follow us on Twitter: @Savetwl #savetwl"

War memorial: London Metropolitan University

This stained glass window stands just inside the entrance to the Jewry Street building of London Metropolitan University, located on Minories in the City of London.

Light and shadow: Inside the Goulston Street building, London Metropolitan University