22/06/2026
As you know SOAS University of London has been trying to terminate the contract of one of the leading union activitists for migrant workers rights in the past 20 years. Lenin Escudero, a friend, colleague, and comrade to so many of us for so long has a some poignant and important words to share with us.
Shame on SOAS for exploiting workers and union busting!
You will forever be a mentor and inspiration for all of us Lenin!
La lucha continua!
---📢 FAREWELL — A LIFE, A FIGHT, A LEGACY
Dear friends, comrades, and colleagues,
Today I write with a heart that is both heavy and full —
full of pain, full of pride, and full of memories that no one can ever take away from me.
I do not write only as a worker, but as someone who has given years of his life, his strength, his voice, and his commitment to a struggle that has always been bigger than himself.
🌍 Where It All Began
My journey with Justice for Workers began around 2006.
At that time, we had very little — no recognition, no protection, and very little respect. We were invisible workers carrying out essential work.
But we had something far more important:
we had belief.
Belief that we deserved dignity.
Belief that we deserved justice.
Belief that we should be treated as human beings.
From that belief, we built something powerful — a movement based on courage and solidarity.
🔥 The Struggle and the Sacrifice
This journey was never easy.
In 2009, we experienced one of the most painful moments in our history — nine of our colleagues were deported. I saw fear, heartbreak, and injustice in a way that changed me forever. That moment made me promise myself that I would never remain silent in the face of injustice again.
In 2012, I was suspended. Not because I did something wrong, but because I chose to stand up, to speak, and to challenge what was unjust. It was a difficult time, but it strengthened my conviction that this struggle was not only about me — it was about all of us.
🌱 Sandy — My Mentor
Throughout this journey, I had the privilege of learning from Sandy.
For me, Sandy was more than a colleague — he was a mentor, a guide, and like a father in this struggle. He believed, from the very beginning, that we deserved to be treated with dignity and respect as SOAS workers.
There were moments when I felt alone, and moments when I doubted myself. But Sandy stood by my side and believed in me when it mattered most. That is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
From him, I learned an important truth:
We do not fight to be recognised.
We fight because it is right.
✊ Gratitude
I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who supported this struggle:
To the students, who stood with us from the beginning.
To the academics, who used their voices to defend justice.
To the trade unions — UNISON, UCU, and the Students’ Union — whose solidarity made our fight possible.
Without all of you, none of what we achieved would have been possible.
🏆 A Historic Victory
In 2018, we achieved something historic — we brought cleaners in-house at SOAS.
This was not given to us. It was achieved through years of effort, sacrifice, and unity. It brought an end to a system that had caused hardship and insecurity for many workers.
In that moment, we showed that change is possible — not as an idea, but as a reality. We showed that when workers stand together, they can overcome even the most difficult challenges.
⚠️ After the Victory
After that victory, things began to change.
The pandemic had a significant impact on our community. In 2020, restructuring reduced our team from 60 cleaners to 20. The strength we had built began to weaken.
After Sandy retired, the situation became more difficult. It became increasingly clear that both Consuelo and I were being targeted. We continued to stand up and defend what we believed in, but this time the support we needed was not there in the way it should have been.
🎯 The Reality
I want to say something clearly and with dignity.
SOAS did not dismiss me because I did something wrong.
I did not fail in my role, nor did I break any rules.
What I did was stand up.
What I did was speak out.
What I did was defend fairness, dignity, and respect.
And sometimes, when a worker does that — when a worker refuses to remain silent — it challenges those in power.
❤️ Consuelo
There is one person I must speak about with deep emotion — Consuelo.
Consuelo has been there from the very beginning. We have shared this journey together. We have cried together, laughed together, and faced many challenges side by side.
She is not just a colleague — she is family.
Consuelo has given everything to this struggle. Not a small part, but a lifetime of commitment and strength. She has helped shape the spirit of this campaign and inspired many of us to keep going, even in the most difficult moments.
Her contribution cannot be measured, and her value cannot be replaced.
I want to say this clearly:
Please support her.
Please stand with her.
Please do not leave her alone.
She deserves respect, protection, and fairness.
Consuelo, from the bottom of my heart:
I love you. You will always remain in my heart and in my mind.
🧠 What I Leave Behind
My chapter at SOAS now comes to an end.
But I do not leave with regret.
I leave with pride — pride in what we built together, pride in every worker who found their voice, and pride in every moment of courage and solidarity.
No one can take that away.
🔥 Final Reflection
This is not the end.
It is a reminder that change takes time, that justice requires persistence, and that progress is built through many struggles.
If I had to go back, I would choose the same path again.
Because what we built was not only a campaign — it was dignity, humanity, and hope.
✊ Closing
I may be leaving SOAS, but I am not leaving this fight.
I will continue to stand for justice, dignity, and fairness — for all of us.
Today, tomorrow, and always:
La lucha continúa.
Viva SOAS — as one community, as one workplace.
With respect, dignity, and solidarity,
Lenin
