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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Wow! Some incredible ballot results across the FE South Region. Five colleges in the extended SW just smashed it. Bournemouth and Poole New College Swindon Truro and Penwith Bristol Abingdon and Witney What amazing work from your reps and an amazing effort from all of you. Congratulations all!

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

I missed NEC today in solidarity with striking UCU staff. NEC was cancelled. I was one of 14 NEC members signing the statement reported (Times Higher Educn.) A UCU spokesperson is reported saying, "We respect our staff. We reward them. We value them." Unite-UCU have a different view!

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

@dyfrigjones.bsky.social Congratulations, Dyfrig. Can I also now look forward to seeing you at the Durham Miners' Gala and the Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival? Comradely wishes John

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

@dyfrigjones.bsky.social @illdoitanyway.bsky.social Hi Dyfrig, Hi Rhiannon The UCU SW Regional Committee met last Saturday and are now keen to go ahead with a Hustings event. I have emailed you both with a few more details. Please also respond by email if you can. John fonesj@btc.ac.uk

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

@drjogrady.bsky.social Excellent video, a brilliant "coup" getting a Minister for interview. Particularly interested in the FE section (31 m in). Questions were spot on. 👌 Answers - very ministerial! Very disappointing from Jacqui Smith. @ucu.org.uk @ucusw-regcom.bsky.social @ucu-btc.bsky.social

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

Bloody good effort Jo. But Jacqui Smith really said NOTHING. Govt says £300m. Govt says £50m. ?? April - but not where or how. Jacqui Smith - what is going on? FE pay is going nowhere. Some action please. Your words are utterly hollow. @ucu.org.uk @ucusw-regcom.bsky.social @ucu-btc.bsky.social

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

@dyfrigjones.bsky.social @illdoitanyway.bsky.social Hi Dyfrig, Hi Rhiannon Would you like to take part in a final wk online hustings run by the UCU SW Regional Committee? 30 days' notice would take us to 27th/28th February. Let me know ASAP and please provide an email address. John

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

@illdoitanyway.bsky.social Hi Rhiannon. Pleased you are able to use another endorsement from FE. Best wishes J

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

Hi Rhiannon I've tested on other devices. Seems it may be because Deepa is using an older iPhone. Hope you can see the pages including endorsements. I'll try next week to send you something extra for your endorsement pages. John. ✊️ ✊️ ✊️

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

johnfones4nec2025.wordpress.com Includes my endorsement for Rhiannon Lockley @illdoitanyway.bsky.social Also Sean, Marco Tesei, Saleem Rashid and for HE South - Michael Carley @drmcarley.bsky.social

johnfones4nec2025.wordpress.com

John Fones 4 UCU NEC 2025

John Fones - Standing again for UCU NEC FE South

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

Summer '24 - NEU strike threats win 5.5%. Jan '25 - NEU strikes in SFC win another £50m. WTF do we do to demonstrate that FE England needs national UCU action? National indicative ballot? Why not? Stand together, stand fast. @ucu-btc.bsky.social @ucusw-regcom.bsky.social #UCU_FE_NationalAction

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Agreed. Workload won't be solved by AI if there is no funding to support fast, effective infrastructure. Most of my frustrations stem from trying to work with #Shit_IT. There's a limit to the miracles I can work if I can't even connect. @ucu.org.uk @ucu-btc.bsky.social @ucusw-regcom.bsky.social

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

2028 Carey reports on Social Care. So, WTF are Skills England doing? Why seemingly so secret. My recommendations - for free. - Nationalise FE - National Pay Scales - Parity with schools. It'll take time - so better start now! @ucu-btc.bsky.social @ucusw-regcom.bsky.social #UCU_FE_NationalAction

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

@drmcarley.bsky.social U3A -University of the Third Age - Burnham on Sea (Maoist Tendency)

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 26/12/2024

@bwinternational.bsky.social Zdravím Vás z Brna. Veselé Vánoce a hezký nový rok.

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Just in case anyone is thinking of using Starbucks - even though most of us boycott it anyway (BDS) bdsmovement.net/countries/un...

bdsmovement.net

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Yep. Invest in workers. By paying them well, providing rewarding work and a rewarding working environment. You train them to the highest standards and raise their morale. None of which applies across the board in FE England. @ucu-btc.bsky.social @ucusw-regcom.bsky.social #UCU_FE_NationalAction

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Spot on, Geoggers! Principals! Every time you pay staff the way you do .. FE is devalued, Education is devalued, your staff feel devalued, and ... your students get a bad deal. And Govt? Words fail me. @ucu-btc.bsky.social @ucusw-regcom.bsky.social #UCU_FE_NationalAction #UCU_SpreadTheWord

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

UCU asked for 10%. A very modest step. They offered 3% .. or 5%. You pay peanuts .... You don't treat staff as professionals, so don't expect professional commitment. Another kick in the teeth for FE. @ucu-btc.bsky.social @ucusw-regcom.bsky.social #UCU_FE_NationalAction #UCU_SpreadTheWord

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

So someone had a 5% pay award in FE. SO WHAT! It's an insult. It still leaves them even further behind in the struggle for parity. And what about the college down the road? We need a National Pay Scale. @ucu-btc.bsky.social @ucusw-regcom.bsky.social #UCU_FE_NationalAction #UCU_SpreadTheWord

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

A 3% rise may seem reasonable, but parity now even further away. It is NOT a good offer, albeit better than some others. Face it. Parity means a national pay scale. Still a million miles away from that goal. @ucu-btc.bsky.social @ucusw-regcom.bsky.social #UCU_FE_NationalAction #UCU_SpreadTheWord

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

£300m × 2? Can anyone point to the factual source of this story? I've had no luck so far, but very happy to be proved wrong. @ucu.org.uk @ucu-btc.bsky.social @ucusw-regcom.bsky.social #UCU_FE_NationalAction #UCU_SpreadTheWord

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

There are some really committed fans in Truro! 😉

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

What is going on? We need our staffers. We need their support. We need our Regional Offices. We need our Head Office. Do we need our HO restructured when the Unite dispute is still unresolved? Is there something else going on here? What is going on? @ucu.org.uk @uniteucu.bsky.social

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

'Spose I'd better say something about myself. ●Branch Chair: UCU Bridgwater and Taunton College ●Secretary: UCU SW Regional Committee ●NEC & National FE Negotiator ●SW TUC Executive Proud that, in CMT, a manager was heard to say, "Don't let John Fones hear that! Must be doing something right! 😉

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Congratulations, @vickyblake.bsky.social, on your uncontested election. Now for the contested elections! 😉 @leedsucu.bsky.social

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Other colleges held Anti-Racism Themed Learning weeks. I wonder if we could combine forces with Bridgwater Together to do the same at BTC. @ucu.org.uk @ucusw-regcom.bsky.social @briansmedley.bsky.social #UCU_SpreadTheWord #BridgwaterTogether #UCU_NoToCulturalAppropriation #UCU_4AntiRacism

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

@ucu-btc.bsky.social #UCU_FE_NationalAction #UCU_SpreadTheWord Does anyone know about this £300m? Someone in a Further Ed college somewhere in England must know something about this fund and how it has been allocated. Please tell us all about it. @ucu.org.uk

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

Calling colleagues in Further Education. My branch joining Bluesky this week. Watch out for Bridgwater and Taunton College. BTC. How about you? How about your branch? @ucu.org.uk @magdaph.bsky.social @katefurniture.bsky.social @davebiology.bsky.social #UCU_SpreadTheWord #UCU_FE_NationalAction

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

If we really love it, then I guess we have to adopt the "missionary position"! 😉 @ucu.org.uk #UCU_FE_NationalAction and #UCU_SpreadTheWord

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

I'm obviously behind the times. Can any FE colleague report funds coming from the £300m that we are told (by our GS) has already been allocated to FE colleges? (NOT the £300m in the budget.) No mention yet in my college. (Perhaps we're preoccupied - OFSTED.) @ucu.org.uk #UCU_FE_NationalAction

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Reposted by John Fones 4 UCU NEC

John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

OFSTED - they come, they go, and we just carry on doing the good stuff! This should be a normal week. Don't accept any harassment! Nothing more, nothing less. UCU is here for you all. #OFSTED-NO-BULLYING #UCU_FE_NationalAction #UCU_SpreadTheWord

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 23/10/2024

@gbuttars.bsky.social Gotcha. I'm sitting at Paddington atm waiting for the 20:00 to Bristol and then on to Highbridge and Burnham. Blake country! @vickyblake.bsky.social

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 07/10/2024

Unfortunately too many of our colleagues are already at breaking point. Demotivated and demoralised. Worn down. No energy for fighting back. The only glimmer of hope is finding another job. So, so angry. Grr. ANGRY!! 😠 😡 👿 #UCU_FE_NationalAction

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 07/10/2024

Well. No-one got visibly upset. Except for me. I guess they'll wear me down, unless my colleagues sharpen me and send me back. 😉 #UCU_FE_NationalAction

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 07/10/2024

Feels like dancing around each other, trying not to give much away. Others more optimistic than me. The government is going to have to cough up. Hard to see Reeves loosening her Iron Chancellor grip. Q: Are we angry, and if so, how angry? #UCU_FE_NationalAction

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 05/10/2024

My first time on Monday sitting at the table with the AoC as a National Negotiator. Let's hope it's not completely pointless. #UCU_FE_NationalAction @magdaph.bsky.social @davebiology.bsky.social @katefurniture.bsky.social @lecturer6183.bsky.social @vickyblake.bsky.social

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 28/09/2024

AoC - a toothless tiger. No real voice at all. Certainly not over funding. A self-serving association of college principals who built, over the last 30+ years, petty empires at the expense of staff pay. Well-meaning principals are shackled by the legacy of predecessors. #UCU_FE_NationalAction

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 28/09/2024

@John_atBTC AoC is now making noises about a 2% maximum pay rise for FE. These people relentlessly drove down staff salaries for 30+ years. Now they want us to believe and feel sorry for them. Never forget this history! Can you trust these people? #UCU_FE_NationalAction

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 20/09/2024

Have you signed the New Deal petition? Have you read the full national FE claim? Have you emailed the Education Secretary and your MP? Have you attended a branch meeting about the 2024 claim? Are you bothered? Are you involved? What are YOU going to do about it? #UCU_FE_NationalAction

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 19/09/2024

Our 2024 pay claim is all about parity. Small steps towards parity with school teachers. A starring salary of £30,000 in every FE College would be a great start. A commitment to Binding National Negotiation should be the reddest of red lines. But will you support UCU? #UCU_FE_NationalAction

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John Fones 4 UCU NEC @johnfonesucu.bsky.social · 18/09/2024

Rail workers 4.5% School Teachers 5.5% Train drivers 15% Junior Doctors 22% FE 0% WHY? Because their trade union members were prepared to act together, support each other across the country, and hold their nerve! #UCU_FE_NationalAction

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