Philippe de Saint-Seine

Hi there! I'm Philippe, 3rd yr PhD in Physics. Hobbies (excl. bagpipes): singing, swimming, gliding.

The PGR Rep Chair coordinates efforts by your department and faculty reps at University level. Why should you care?

1. The Union is lobbying for UKRI to increase the stipend 'London bonus', unchanged since 2006 at least, perhaps even 1994(!).

The campaign garnered support in every London-based students’ Union, and is now stuck at UKRI level; UKRI are not acting on it. Let's not give up now!

2. We've all heard too many supervisor-related horror stories.

Supervisors control our futures. The majority of them are wonderful, supporting, and caring. But each group has that supervisor. The current training system doesn't compel those supervisors to interact with the material they need to improve. Let's start a discussion.

3. The Employments Rights Act 2025 will change the way you TA.

Imperial will, by this new law, be compelled to change your workers’ agreements starting (probably) next year. I will make sure each department rep is happy with the changes made to their department's system.

Other things: We have no maternity/paternity time, no pension contributions, no National Insurance contributions counting towards state pension, no real, enforceable holiday or sick time policy, no meaningful input in building management policy e.g., having a say in White City development. These issues are symptomatic of us being “students”, not “employees”. I am an advocate for changing our status to employees.