Boss levels

Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union, talks competition, collaboration and Covid-19

May was always going to be a big month for Jo Grady. Elected just under a year ago as general secretary of the University and College Union, she would, under normal circumstances, be preparing for her first full annual congress as leader.

She would also be preparing for the next stage of battles against university managers on multiple fronts—pensions and the ‘four fights’ over pay, workload, casualisation and equality. These battles continue: negotiations are ongoing with Universities UK and the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, despite the distractions posed by Covid-19, which led to institutions being locked down shortly after the end of 14 days of strike action.