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| McCluskey: revolution my arse |
Jerry Hicks writes: On a day of press releases, two stand out. One from Unite’s Len
McCluskey, the other from Labours Ed Balls.
McCluskey promises Unites full support for Labour and Ed Miliband,
including funding - and my word there will be a lot of that. While Ed Balls,
Labour’s ‘would be’ next Chancellor of the Exchequer, promises what? Workers
rights? Repeal of anti union laws? No, he promises tax breaks for
businesses.
What an about turn considering McCluskey recently caught the headlines
when he said “Unite may break with Labour, threatening to launch a ‘new party’" adding that "Ed Miliband is drinking in the last chance saloon”
When was this announced? At a press conference on April 1st
or April Fools Day as it’s also known.
So did Len McCluskey mean it? Not a bit! Unite under his leadership are
completely and utterly wedded to Labour. Anyone who hopes, believes or argues
otherwise should be in no doubt now.
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| Lucky Balls |
So when McCluskey wrote in his 2010 election address that there would be
‘No blank cheque for Labour’. Did he mean it? Not a bit! Unite doubled its
donations to Labour in the first quarter of this year.
I predict up to £10m of members’ money will be stuffed into the coffers
of Labour between now and the General election May 2015. So Ed Miliband is
drinking in the last chance saloon eh? Well that’s one hell of a bar bill.
I say Unite should keep our money in clenched fist and demand that
Labour repeal the anti union laws, reverse the privatisations of the past, end
austerity by making the bankers pay for their mistakes. Labour makes no such
promise, nor Unite make any such demand. Instead it offers cash galore, up
front and unconditional.
I loathe the coalition, I detest the Tories, I despise the Lib Dems, but
I have little faith in Labour and Len
McCluskey reminds me of a hamster on a wheel, forever running but getting
nowhere.He has learnt nothing from Labour’s record when last in office. While
Unite handed over £10ms of members money to Labour during their 3 terms, Labour
refused to repeal anti union legislation that criminalizes workers who take
solidarity action in support of others, carried on privatising, and prosecuted
an illegal war.
| McCluskey Head of Unite |
But just imagine how effective the public sector strike on July 10th
would be if every other worker had the right to decide to support their fellow
workers by taking our own action against the coalition government.
It amazes me how some sections of the political left, the labour
movement and the media are so easily or readily taken in and question little or
nothing. Well done then to the delegates of the independent PCS union currently
being urged by their leadership to accept a takeover by Unite, who rejected
these overtures at their conference.
I find it remarkable that in a union as big as Unite with hundreds of
appointed officials, scores of senior appointed officials, not one ever speaks
out, airing caution, let alone any criticism. It may have something to do with
the fact that they are all appointed by the union, it would be easier to, if
they were elected to office by the members.
I was Len
McCluskey’s only rival in last year's election for Unite General Secretary,
surprising everybody by polling nearly 40% of the vote. Then it emerged that
158,000 ballot papers had been sent to members no longer paying fees.
Notwithstanding that, during the election some senior appointed national
officials who are paid out of members pockets failed to remain neutral by
openly supporting Mr McCluskey, some even slurring my character.
After
getting nowhere with the union I lodged a complaint with the Certification
Officer [CO] the independent trade union watchdog, which after a very long
process, I have been granted a full hearing by the CO to be held in London on 1st
and 2nd of October. And it may
result in the election having to be re-run. So perhaps Labour will have to work
harder for our members money after all?
Jerry Hicks
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