Lee JonesPreliminary thoughts on the Myanmar “coup”Early this morning, the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) seized control of state power. The picture is still very confused, and so the below is…Feb 1, 20213Feb 1, 20213
Lee JonesThe Seven Deadly Sins of Marketisation in British Higher EducationOver 45,000 workers in British Higher Education (HE) are in the middle of an eight-day strike over pay, pay inequality, casualisation, and…Nov 28, 201910Nov 28, 201910
Lee JonesUniversity lecturers make just £10.44 per hourAcademic and academic related staff at many UK universities are to take strike action over pay (and pensions, equalities, casualisation…Nov 16, 2019Nov 16, 2019
Lee JonesWhy Reform’s “solution” to university grade inflation will not workIn an earlier piece I explained why rampant grade inflation at British universities exists. It is best understood as “market failure”, a…Jun 22, 2018Jun 22, 2018
Lee JonesMarketisation is destroying academic standards through rampant grade inflationThe long summer exam season of British universities is finally drawing to a close. But many academics may be wondering why they spent many…Jun 22, 20183Jun 22, 20183
Lee JonesThe USS Joint Expert Panel is being set up to fail. Here’s what you can do.NB: edited to reflect outcome — scroll to endApr 30, 2018Apr 30, 2018
Lee JonesWhat Next for UCU in the USS Pensions Dispute?On 13 April, the ballot on whether to accept the employers’ latest offer in the USS pension dispute closed, with 64% voting “yes” on a…Apr 15, 2018Apr 15, 2018
Lee JonesWhy UCU General Secretary Sally Hunt Should ResignSally Hunt has been an unmitigated disaster as General Secretary of the University and College Union (UCU). The latest industrial dispute…Apr 14, 20181Apr 14, 20181
Lee Jones#RejectUUKdeal: the case to vote “no” and how the ballot can be wonIn my previous posts, I’ve explained at length what is wrong with UUK’s latest offer in the USS pensions dispute, and why UCU was wrong to…Apr 4, 20181Apr 4, 20181
Lee JonesUCU’s Rush to E-Ballot Reflects the Weakness of Union DemocracyOn Wednesday this week, UCU branch representatives were summoned to UCU HQ to discuss the latest offer from Universities UK on the USS…Mar 29, 2018Mar 29, 2018