Staff members at the UK¡¯s main higher education union have complained of a?¡°culture of?fear¡± in?the workplace, amid claims that black staff members are victimised and discriminated against.

The Unite union ¨C which represents the University and College Union¡¯s (UCU) own staff ¨C said disputes over pay, health and safety, trade union recognition and equality issues had reached ¡°crisis point¡±.

UCU employees who spoke to Times Higher Education on condition of anonymity raised concerns about the lack of racial diversity in the union¡¯s leadership, and claimed that black staff members were viewed as ¡°awkward and difficult¡± when they spoke?out.

One worker said racism, particularly discrimination against and victimisation of black staff, was an ¡°open secret¡± at the trade union, with black women in particular feeling isolated and unwelcome.

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

Staff have been frustrated that UCU bosses have taken more than a year to act on equality concerns that were raised through a 2022 survey.

¡°The longer I¡¯ve been there, the more I¡¯ve seen that every time a black member of staff stands?up and [complains], they don¡¯t last long in the organisation,¡± another employee said.

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

¡°They¡¯ve got legitimate concerns¡­but there doesn¡¯t seem to be a drive to address that.¡±

A UCU spokesperson acknowledged that the survey had highlighted that the union had work to do to ensure that black staff feel included and supported in their roles.

¡°We are keen to work with Unite to continue our work to tackle workplace inequalities and ensure that UCU is a welcoming and inclusive environment for all staff,¡± they added.

Meanwhile, a dispute over pay is ongoing, with Unite claiming that senior leaders are prioritising their own pay packets over more junior workers¡¯ salaries. One member of staff said this raised questions about whether UCU ¨C locked in a long-running pay dispute with vice-chancellors ¨C was living up to its principles.

The UCU spokesperson said the union hoped to conclude the 2023-24 pay award as soon as possible, but Unite said it?was no?longer confident that the employer was committed to reaching a compromise, and it is making plans to escalate the dispute.

¡°There¡¯s a culture of fear and unease in the workplace at the moment because the employer seems intent on not listening to staff about some of their concerns,¡± said one employee.

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

¡°It¡¯s gone on for so long and the issues are so far encompassing, it¡¯s got an air of dysfunctionality about?it.¡±

As for Jo?Grady, the general secretary fighting for re-election, UCU staff said ¡°the buck stops with her¡±.

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

¡°Jo does bear a lot of the responsibility, but she¡¯s also appointed some people in senior management who, in my view, are doing a terrible job and don¡¯t know how to run things properly,¡± said one.

¡°There¡¯s a real stench of hypocrisy that we¡¯re all expected to go out into colleges and universities and argue for health and safety and equality and fair pay,¡± said another.

¡°That that¡¯s not being played out in our own workplace is really harsh.¡±

A spokesperson for the Unite branch said UCU had disregarded the trade union values of equality and solidarity in the treatment of its own staff.

¡°Trade union employers should be a beacon for progressive workplace practices, and equality should be at the heart of everything we do,¡± they said.

¡°It is shameful, therefore, that our members feel so let down by our employer. Our members are angry, stressed and fearful.¡±

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com