Executive elections

Lesley Mansell - robbed last time just like the members are being now?

Ballot papers will be with you this week.  The Grass Roots Left candidates are Lesley Mansell (LGBT) and Ian Bradley (London Eastern) .

Apparently it will cost members over £1,000,000 to run this ballot.  The cost is outrageous.   It's a shame this has to be done so soon. 

Members are querying why the runner up (Lesley Mansell)  was not allowed to take up  the seat to save this enormous expense. Perhaps because she is truly on the left and opposes McCluskey's entrenched bureaucracy.

Lesley stood for the seat in the first place and was challenged by Harry McAnulty with seemingly little experience either at work or in the LGBT field.  McAnulty then decided to take off for Australia after a short time in the post. In our view he has let down the LGBT members and the Unite left. There seems little evidence of any impact he has made on the LGBT agenda. He failed to turn up at National Unite LGBT meetings and the TUC LGBT conference.  So LGBT members were not being represented.

Lesley was the "runner" up after the last election.  Four of her nominations were suspiciously given to the winner and Unite failed to do much to correct their error. 

Vote Lesley Mansell the candidate with the experience, commitment and track record of securing rights for LGBT and other members.

"I have represented members for over 30 years, founded ‘Lesbians and Gays’ in MSF (1989)  and had a very positive impact which resulted in the TUC awarding me their prestigious Gold badge.

Homophobia and transphobia have not gone away. I continue to challenge the discrimination members still receive. We can be the first to go during any cut backs.

My record is outstanding in giving expert advice and support to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans members to improve their lives.

I've led campaigns for:

·       Equal rights at work

·       Repealing Section 28

·       Inclusion of bisexual and trans people

·       Civil partnerships

·       Dignity and respect for HIV+ members.

I started my union activity in engineering and became convenor and held various elected union positions including:

·       TUC LGBT Committee

·       National LGBT Committee

·       Equality Representative

·       Regional Council Deputy President

·       Standing Orders Committee

I am standing as a Grass Roots Left member and will fight for:

·       Unite to be a model for genuine involvement of LGBT members and all equality groups.

·       Officers elected by the members

·       Confronting anti-union and other unjust laws in the UK and EU.

·       A fighting union for jobs, terms and conditions, not just campaigning.

·       Public ownership and keeping public services.

·       Re-building manufacturing.

·       Employees/officers to be reinstated whenever a Tribunal

finds employers guilty of unfair dismissal.

·       A union fully accountable to members.

I am an NHS Equality manager and held similar roles in councils, education and voluntary organisations. I am a Labour party member and Chair the local Town Council.   Please contact me on mobile: 07980 695117

Email: lesleywinningunite@yahoo.co.uk"


Ian Bradley: 

"I am from a new generation of Unite activists. I am a socialist and was elected to the Electricians’ Rank and File London Committee during the BESNA dispute and play an active role nationally. I hope to bring the independence, experience and the spirit of the successful fightback in construction onto the Executive.

It’s great to see the union is finally taking on the blacklist in Construction and supporting the campaign launched by ordinary members. Professor Keith Ewing described the blacklist as, “the worst human rights abuse in relation to workers in Britain for 50 years.”

Many members want to see a more determined united fight to save jobs, services and pensions and stop years of pay freeze and pay cuts. Len McCluskey has spoken out against Tory austerity and called for civil disobedience and mass strike action against the government and employers.

But there is a gap between what Len is saying and what’s being delivered. The example in construction of rank and file activists working with the union leadership to deliver official and unofficial action was the key to our success. I believe we need to try and develop a similar approach across other sectors in Unite―in finance, passenger transport, manufacturing and the public sector.

I consider our union’s Equalities agenda as one of the most important aspects of our work, and one that must be developed alongside our industrial strategy. This is especially true after the terrible events in Woolwich. The EDL and BNP are trying to use the horrifc murder to make us blame migrants instead of bankers and politicians for the economic mess we face.

That’s why I’ve been active on all the recent protests against the BNP and EDL in the region. We must continue to take a lead in opposing discrimination in all its forms in the trade union movement and wider society.

We’ve just successfully delivered a big vote to keep our union’s political fund. It’s great that Unite has the ability to campaign for the NHS, against austerity and the Nazis. However, many members don’t see why we should be donating millions to Labour when Ed Miliband attacks our union if we strike or when Len McCluskey says Labour shouldn’t make the Tories cuts for them. We need to spend more of our political fund on political campaigning and we need visibility of how much money goes to Labour.

That’s why in the recent general secretary election, alongside almost 80,000 Unite members I voted for Jerry Hicks for a democratic union and the election of officers on an average workers wage. I support the unions Organising drive and am in favour of branch restructuring and the emphasis on workplace branches. However, I am opposed to the closure of branches without any consultation in our region.
I ask you to vote for me as part of building a genuine network of solidarity across Unite. I am happy to address branch meetings and reps committees. 

Please contact me for further information about our campaign at:
ianbradley.unite@gmail.com

Ian addressing the crowds in Trafalgar Square at the May Day Rally 2012.
“I played a leading role in this region in initiating a fight by ordinary members against 35% wage cuts and employers’ attempts to tear up national agreements in Construction. A combination of official protests and unofficial action delivered a huge victory for our members and our union.” 

Get in touch with Ian:Email: ianbradley.unite@gmail.com  Phone: 07513 333 845"

Press Release: Jerry Hicks, blacklisted candidate for Unite General Secretary, speaks out

Press release: Press release: Press release: Immediate 24/01/2013

Blacklisting of workers is a ‘national scandal’. And the scandal is that it has gone on for so long and not enough was done by those shouting the loudest now.

Millions of people would be forgiven for thinking that the illegal blacklisting of over 3,000 construction workers has suddenly been discovered. Yet it has been the worst kept secret for over two decades that those who spoke up with concerns for Health and Safety on construction sites or defended wages and conditions were punished and denied employment.

Brave people paid a heavy price as each year, each month, each day brought more discrimination - more lives were being wrecked, houses lost to repossession, stress induced ill health, heart attacks and even worse.

It was more than 3 years ago in 2009 when the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) raided the offices of the Consultancy Association and found the illegal records of files kept on 3,200 workers. Ian Kerr was fined a paltry £5,000 for storing information contrary to the Data Protection Act. To add insult to injury, the fine was paid not by Mr Kerr but by the employers who had enlisted his services.

Then last year before he met with his untimely death Ian Kerr ‘spilled the beans’ when he gave evidence to the Scottish Select Committee.

Jerry Hicks, who is on the illegal blacklist, says, “There are those that liken this to the ‘phone hacking’ scandal, but I believe this has more similarities to the Jimmy Saville scandal. How many institutions knew or suspected? How many employers outside of the contributors knew? How many MPs suspected or knew? How many union officials suspected or knew and perhaps benefited? What and how much did the police know?”

Why the lack of effective action? Why has it been left to the determined struggle of the Blacklisting Support Group along with some very courageous people already on the list to expose the abuses and attempt to redress the wrongs and bring those responsible to book?

As a spokesperson for the Information Commissioner’s Office rightly pointed out to today’s outcry from trade union leaders, “Where were the unions 3 years ago?”

Jerry Hicks, the only challenger in the current election for Unite General Secretary, said “The union had the perfect opportunity to confront blacklisting employers. The Olympics could have, should have been the time and the vehicle to take on and defeat the blacklist, It would have propelled the abuse into the national news. It was an opportunity lost.”

Back in 2010, Jerry Hicks was among those protesting at the Olympic site over workers failing to find employment there. At the same time, trade union leaders at the TUC conference only a mile away made speeches about the need for ‘civil unrest’, yet not one of them came to the protest.

It would seem that some band standing is going on here. After all, who spoke out the loudest or even at all during those long grim years? Labour in office? Unite’s leadership?
Jerry Hicks pointed out “Two years ago during the last election for the top job in the UK’s biggest Union I was the only one of four candidates that made blacklisting in construction an issue and to promise to redress the wrongs – both in my campaign and election address. Mr McCluskey and Ms Cartmail - also candidates - chose not to mention it. They obviously had other priorities. Perhaps for them it has only just become a National Scandal.”

Now there is another election on for Unite’s General Secretary, it having been called ‘out of the blue’, brought forward 3 years and fast tracked.

To many it seemed as though it would go uncontested, allowing McCluskey to extend his term of office without actually going to the members. But Jerry Hicks has challenged and is well on his way to securing the 50 branch nominations required to force the ballot of 1.5 million members.

Jerry Hicks said “There are two candidates, one on the blacklist who has always spoken out and acted against it and one who decides to shout about it now it has hit the headlines. In life everything is about timing. I have my views as to why Mr McCluskey has chosen now, but I leave it to you to draw your own conclusion.”

He [Jerry Hicks] added “Labour ‘shadow business minister’ Chukka Ummna is now calling for an investigation into allegations that firms involved in major projects, including the Olympics and Crossrail, blacklisted workers. Great! But why wait until in opposition? What did Labour do during its 3 terms and 13 years in government? As every year went by demands for justice went unanswered, while trade unions poured money into their coffers.”

Unite’s General Secretary Len McCluskey calls for a “Leveson-style enquiry” which is correct but also an easy demand now that it has already hit the headlines. Why didn’t the Unite leadership maximise the opportunities that previously came their way to highlight the abuse?

Assistant General Secretary Gail Cartmail, who openly supports Len McCluskey in his election campaign, described the 40 or so guilty firms on Radio 5 Live as  - “an industry in denial, failing even to apologise”. She is right.

However it’s not just employers that Unite officials can be hard on. In 2011 when 8 construction companies gave notice of unilateral withdrawal from a national agreement ‘BESNA’, 500 Unite electricians took matters into their own hands, met, agreed and embarked on a year long campaign of protests and unofficial actions which proved to be a very successful strategy. Official backing did eventually come ‘better late than never’. But Unite’s initial response to this campaign beggars belief.

In an email to Gail Cartmail copied to every Unite construction official and some staff, the National Officer for Construction Bernard McAuley began “Good morning Gail, in reference to our conversation last night” and went on to spew his bile at those very same members of the union describing them as a ‘cancerous group’, ‘opportunists’, ‘mindless individuals’ and mentioned Jerry Hicks by name.

When he received this email fourth hand, Jerry Hicks challenged this outrageous and libelous diatribe and its wide circulation. No formal apology ever came nor condemnation, and both officials are still responsible for ‘looking after’ construction members. It is easy to see how by design or carelessness names can appear on blacklists.

Legal action is being taken on behalf of a number of construction workers, who are seeking compensation for having their names on the blacklist. But shamefully this, the only major court case, is a private case brought by the workers themselves and not funded by Unite. It has been left to the good offices of Guney, Clark & Ryan to take legal action on behalf of the construction workers.

Just as the blacklist was more than just rumoured for years, so was the possible involvement of some union officials in supplying information to the consultancy agency. A Leveson-style enquiry that Len McCluskey now calls for, may embarrassingly prove if union officials were involved, where internal union investigations have failed in the past to find sufficient evidence.

Jerry Hicks said “In life, chances to really make a difference come and go. The Vestas occupation on the Isle of Wight was one. It was wasted, I believe the best chance to save the Remploy factories would have been protests and occupations during the Paralympics but that chance went begging. There will be other chances to fight injustice and the Con-Dem cuts but who will recognise them and act and who will inspire people to believe that big victories are possible?”

Ends:

Notes to Editor:

Unite is the biggest union in the UK with 1.5 million members.
Unite is currently holding an election for its General Secretary, in which there are only two candidates, Jerry Hicks and Len McCluskey.
Jerry Hicks was runner up in Unite's General Secretary election of 2010 beating two senior national officials and securing 52,527 votes. He can be contacted by mobile 07817827912 or email jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk

Anyone who believes they may be affected by the Consulting Association Blacklist should first contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on 0303 123 1113.

If you find you are on the list, you should immediately contact Guney Clark & Ryan Solicitors (GCR) on 02072757788 between 8am and 8pm. GCR have been representing innocent blacklisted workers in their fight against the major construction giants since 2009, and have over 100 clients on board already. Most importantly, GCR and the barristers they have instructed (led by Hugh Tomlinson QC) are working under a Conditional Fee Agreement (no-win-no-fee type arrangement) and have insured the case with QBE Insurance.

Anyone who contacts GCR can be assured of their confidentiality and professionalism, and that the call will be on an obligation-free basis.

2012 Just another year of 'Blacklisting' workers? Don't you believe it!

2012 –A year in blacklisting:

Power to the

Blacklisting support group


January

Electricians take industrial action in Scotland, Wales, North East, North
West and London to make blacklisting a central issue of the ongoing BESNA
dispute.

Reel News release Blacklisted 2012 video

Smith v Carillion Employment Tribunal – 400 pages of unredacted documents
come into the public domain after being used as evidence in the court case.
The company provide a written statement admitting that their managers
supplied the information on the blacklist file because of union activity
and for raising safety concerns. ICO admit in evidence that “information on
some blacklist files could only have been supplied by the police or the
security services”. Carillion win the Tribunal because worker was employed
via an agency and not directly employed by the blacklisting firms.

First ever joint legal meeting to discuss blacklisting arranged by the
Blacklist Support Group takes place at Old Square Chambers co-chaired by
Professor Keith Ewing and John Hendy QC – over 20 QCs, barristers and
solicitors discuss High Court, European Court of Human Rights and
Employment Tribunal strategies.

February

John McDonnell MP demands a public inquiry into blacklisting following
evidence about security services involvement.

Professor Charles Woolfson announces he was blacklisted for raising
concerns about safety issues in the North Sea after the Piper Alpha
disaster.

Guney Clark & Ryan solicitors start High Court proceedings on behalf of
blacklisted workers by issuing pre-action letters

300 electricians carrying “End the Blacklist” banners blockade Park Lane
rush-hour traffic outside ECA awards dinner as part of the increasingly
hostile sparks dispute. Ken Livingstone (speaker at the event) tells the
crowd that blacklisting firms should not be granted publicly funded
contracts. The very next day lead blacklisting firm Balfour Beatty withdraw
from BESNA. Electricians now target blacklisting firm NG Bailey at Morrison
supermarkets across the UK. A few days later the entire BESNA proposals
collapse - Victory to the sparks!!

March

The Observer newspaper runs front page lead article on police link to
blacklist. Steve Hedley (RMT Assistant General Secretary) is featured in
3-page spread.

Blacklisting appears across the press including Radio 2 Jeremy Vine
phone-in plus media coverage in the USA, Russia and Australia.

John McDonnell MP and Michael Meacher MP both raise the call for a public
inquiry with Home Secretary, Teresa May.

Tony Jones blacklisting Employment Tribunal takes place in Manchester
against *Carillion** *and their recruitment agency *SkyBlue**, *Crown
House, Emcor, *Phoenix** *and the employment agency *Beaver Management.
Steve Acheson blacklisting claim ET against Data Dimension takes place on
the same day in the courtroom next door. Both cases are supported by UNITE
the Union.*

Blacklist Support Group holds meetings in Manchester and Westminster
parliament.

Guney Clark & Ryan solicitors submit papers for High Court claim against
blacklisting firms.

David Cameron forced to respond to John McDonnell MP questioning about
blacklisting at Prime Minister’s Questions.

April

Glenis Willmott MEP (Labour leader in Europe) raises issue of blacklisting
in written question to European Commission.

Judge Brain written decision throws out Tony Jones ET case for being “out
of time” as the blacklisting incidents took place many years ago (even
though evidence only came to light once the blacklist files were released).

Carillion under fire from GMB at Swindon Hospital as Liz Keates, head of
Human Resources and part of the cover-up of bullying, racism and corruption
charges by 100 low-paid Goan NHS staff is outed as a blacklister of union
members.

May

Scottish Affairs Select Committee chaired by Ian Davidson MP launches
parliamentary investigation into blacklisting at Westminster – Maria Fyfe
MP is first witness with historical examples from the campaign against the
Economic League in the 1980s.

UCATT Conference passes motion on blacklisting calling for a public inquiry
and tougher laws. Roy Bentham, Steve Acheson and Tony O’Brien speak about
blacklisting at Construction Safety Campaign and Justice for Shrewsbury
Pickets fringe meetings.

600 construction workers walk out at Ratcliffe Power Station in Nottingham
in solidarity with Jason Poulter, victimised safety rep and leading UNITE
activist during the BESNA dispute. Jason Poulter is reinstated the next
day!!

June

GMB Conference launches a major report “*BLACKLISTING - illegal corporate
bullying endemic, systemic and deep-rooted in Carillion and other companies*"
and passes a motion on blacklisting calling for a public inquiry and
blacklisting firms to be stripped of publicly funded contracts. Swindon
strikers and Blacklist Support Group speak at official fringe meeting.

Steve Acheson moves successful motion at UNITE Conference calling for
industrial action, a public inquiry and Day of Action against blacklisting.
Steve Kelly, Steve Acheson and Dave Smith speak at fringe meetings.

National Shop Steward Network conference runs a workshop on blacklisting.

Steuart Merchant, Francie Graham and Dave Smith give evidence at Scottish
Affairs Select Committee. 10 Directors and senior managers who participated
in blacklisting named and shamed. Press coverage includes Private Eye, The
Mirror, The Guardian

Trade Union Coordinating Group of MPs Tollpuddle event in parliament
featured blacklisting with Bob Crow, John Hendy QC, Ian Murray MP and
Dennis Skinner.

July

Tommy Sheridan MSP announces that the Consulting Association spied on him
for 14 years when he was an elected politician in Scotland.

Official complaint made to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and
Development (CIPD) for an investigation into blacklisting by their members
in the construction industry in breach of the professional body’s new Code
of Conduct.

Tollpuddle Festival saw Blacklist Support Group banner marching alongside
the Swindon strikers and BSG speakers at fringe stage alongside barrister
David Renton.

European Commission announces that blacklisting of safety reps will be part
of a review of safety taking place in the European parliament.

Senior journalist and NEC member of NUJ announces that she has a blacklist
file compiled by the Consulting Association.

High Court claim against Sir Robert McAlpine is formally lodged. The
Observer newspaper run major article with a Comment piece by Nick Cohen.
Press speculate that the entire claim if all blacklisted workers were
involved could reach £600m.

Union News produce DVD with lessons of the Sparks dispute video
(blacklisting included).

August

Jim Sheridan MP calls for blacklisting firms to be barred from publicly
funded projects as he joins Colin Trousdale, Willie Black and other
blacklisted workers protesting outside Balfour Beatty Engineering Services
HQ in Glasgow against the victimisation of UNITE union activist Stewart
Hume.

Human Rights campaign group Liberty calls on the Information Commissioner’s
Office to re-open its inquiry into blacklisting.

Howard Shiplee of blacklisting firm Laing O'Rourke is appointed to the
Board of the Health & Safety Executive.

Spanish press pick up blacklisting story.

Drew Smith MSP (Labour) and Christina McKelvie MSP (SNP) raise blacklisting
in Scottish parliament.

September

Gail Cartmail (UNITE) and Justin Bowden & Harry Donaldson (GMB) give
evidence at Select Committee investigation and stick the boot into Balfour
Beatty and Carillion as examples of continuing blacklisting.

TUC Congress unanimously passes motion calling for a public inquiry and
national Day of Action on blacklisting. GMB, UNITE, TSSA, UCATT speak in
the debate. Blacklist Support Group speaks at TUC fringe meetings alongside
Frances O’Grady.

Workers at Grangemouth Oil Refinery in Scotland threaten strike action over
ongoing blacklisting and Stewart Hume is miraculously reinstated by Balfour
Beatty!!

Crossrail mass picket barricades site entrance after 28 UNITE members are
dismissed when their electrical firm has its contract cut short 3 years
early in a blatant attempt to blacklist union steward Frank Morris after
reps raised safety concerns. The BFK consortium building Crossrail (largest
construction project in Europe) includes BAM and Kier – both proven
blacklisters.

October

GMB organise blacklist protest at Carillion trade stall at Labour Party
Conference.

Blacklisting protesters close Tottenham Court Road and Moorgate during rush
hour as part of ongoing Crossrail dispute. Protesters occupy the Office of
Rail Regulator (public body responsible for rail safety) after HSE halt
production on site following major gantry collapse on Crossrail site where
safety reps have been blacklisted.

The Information Commissioner's Office gave evidence at the Select Committee
and admit that they had only seized 5-10% of the documents held by the
Consulting Association.

Financial Times run major story on blacklisting.

Steve Rotheram MP puts down an Early Day Motion 609 calling for a Leveson
style public inquiry into blacklisting

Richard Howson – Carillion Chief Executive - under pressure, issues a
carefully worded statement to the Select Committee denying any involvement
in blacklist except by a small subsidiary, Crown House which stopped in
2006. Blacklist Support Group and GMB refute the claims.

Steve Murphy (UCATT Gen Sec) & Jim Kennedy (UCATT) give evidence to the
Select Committee, exposing Sir Robert McAlpine and Skanska for blacklisting
on the Olympics stadium and media centre. McAlpine alone were being
invoiced for 65 name checks a day during the mass recruitment stage of the
project.

November

Christian Khan solicitors working on behalf of the Blacklist Support Group
submit a formal complaint to the IPCC about police collusion with
blacklisting.

Blacklisting meeting takes place at STUC in Glasgow.

The release of unredacted documents for the High Court claim identify a
number of union officials as the source of information on the blacklist
files. Blacklisted workers including Brian Higgins and Michael Anderson
demand an investigation.

Alan Wainwright – ex-Carillion director turned whistleblower gives evidence
to the Select Committee and names 12 Directors and senior managers in
Carillion Group personally involved in blacklisting. Sheila Knight
ex-Assistant Director of ACAS is named as blacklisting union members who
worked on the Jubilee Line Extension.

ICO admit returning the Consulting Association seized computer without even
turning it on.

Oxford Street closed by protesters in support of unite steward Frank Morris
blacklisted by Crossrail as part of the November 14 EU wide union day of
action.

Blacklist Support Group short-listed for Human Rights Campaign of the Year
at the Liberty Awards ceremony.

Paul Kenny (GMB Gen Sec) sends letter to every labour Councillor in the UK
asking them to support campaign to bar blacklisting firms from public
contracts. Local Authorities across the country vote to support the
campaign.

Ian Kerr – chief executive of the Consulting Association and convicted
blacklister gives 4 hours of unrepentant evidence at the Select Committee.
Names dozens of senior executives and admits that major blacklisting took
place on the Olympics and Crossrail project. Sir Robert McAlpine paid his
County Court fine! Agrees to supply a full written statement naming all
those senior managers that attended blacklisting meetings.

Ron Baron, head of industrial relations at Crossrail is sacked following
Ian Kerr evidence and Building Magazine article exposing him as a serial
blacklister having been named in previous Employment Tribunal judgements.
UNITE demand an investigation into blacklisting on Crossrail.

December

Seamus Milne writes major article in The Guardian calling for a Leveson
style public inquiry.

Shami Chakrabarti compares blacklisting to phone hacking on Andrew Marr TV
show.

Health & Safety Executive issue a statement against blacklisting of safety
reps following request by Paul Kenny.

Ian Kerr – chief executive of the Consulting Association dies.

Crossrail worker suffers 70% burns following explosion – site is closed for
safety reasons. Protesters close down Horseferry Road outside the
Department of Transport demanding action over safety and blacklisting on
Crossrail. Boris Johnson announces plan to investigate safety issues on
Crossrail.

Steve Acheson reaches 5th year protesting outside Fiddlers Ferry Power
Station near Warrington following his dismissal from site because of the
blacklist.

2013

The fight for justice continues

Unite election for General secretary: A letter from Jerry Hicks seeking nomination

To help with a nomination: Contact Jerry Hicks email jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk

Letter to all Unite Branches, Chapels, Workplaces, Reps & members:

From Jerry Hicks: Re: Election for Unite General Secretary.

Seeking Nomination:

Branch/Workplace nomination period 1^st January to 15th February returned by 22nd February.

Postal ballot of 1.5 million members from 18th March to 12th April 2013

Dear colleagues,

Who would have imagined that Unite would be holding a ‘snap election’ for General Secretary so soon after the last one? Who would have guessed Len McCluskey would be seeking to ‘renew a mandate’ after only 2 years in office and with 3 more years still to go?

So who did demand this “election”? Especially at a time when the union should be concentrating all its resources on fighting the cuts to services, pensions, jobs and attacks on members and their families’ livelihoods.

Was it the thousands of Branch Secretaries? No!

Was it the hundreds of Unite committee chairs? No!

Was it the tens of thousands of workplace reps? No!

hatever good Unite has done over the last 2 years has now been tainted, and what is happening is wrong. This election has been called on a flawed premise, it’s being fast tracked, it’s an election tailor made to suit one member above all others - 1.5 million others, and that far from ‘seeking to renew a mandate’ it is an affront to democracy.

The speed at which this election is being rushed through gives little time for anyone to organise other than the existing GS, Mr McCluskey.

Unless there is another candidate, Mr McCluskey will be “elected” unopposed, effectively extending his term of office without members actually voting until 2018 by which time he will be 67. Perhaps this is why the election was brought forward 3 years instead of 1 or 2 years. Unite supports the ‘68 is too late’ campaign. Do the maths. I support the campaign ‘68 is too late’ but so is 67. We should fight to reverse the raising of the retirement age.

I say to call it an ‘election’ is being more than generous, as it bears all the hallmarks of an organisation seeking to avoid a challenge and thereby holding no election at all.

Worse still by holding the election for GS in 2013 instead of 2015, the year of the UK General Election, Unite are throwing away a golden opportunity. We are told that a reason to bring forward Unite’s election is to avoid any clash with the UK General Election. But that is precisely when we would have maximum influence over the Labour Party.

In one misjudged moment we are throwing away the greatest bargaining chip imaginable and the best possible chance to reverse the ‘one way’ relationship with New Labour and instead to negotiate a proper ‘quid pro quo’ agreement.

McCluskey’s plan to reclaim the Labour Party has failed, proof being the recent Rotherham by-election, a Labour safe seat, the candidate chosen was not even a trade union activist let alone Unite’s choice, a Unite member and local workplace senior steward.

Mr McCluskey talks about a co-ordinated fight against the assault on members’ pensions, jobs & conditions and of building a united campaign of resistance, and on that I agree. Yet when presented with an opportunity to do just that, Unite’s leadership chose instead to undermine the PCS and the NUT by not supporting the proposed co-ordinated strike action last March. That was a huge mistake.

For there to be an ‘election’ there has to be more than one candidate.

I have decided to stand in order that members do at least have a chance to vote and to present a positive alternative. However just to get the 50 nominations required to be on the ballot paper will be a big achievement in this most uneven contest.

I have 6 million more reasons to stand. That is the number of £s of members’ money in the last 2 years alone that Unite has handed over to Labour with little or nothing in return.     It’s about time that stopped. For Labour to expect support from Unite at the next General Election, Labour must first support Unite’s policies.

Some of what I stand for:

 

:- Branch restructuring is chaotic but can be remedied: No member will be re-allocated to a Branch without their prior agreement.

:- The election of all officials, elected by members, not appointed by an individual or a panel.

:- Lead a fight to repeal the anti union laws UK & EU and when necessary to confront them.

 :- For a General Secretary to live the life of the members they represent, on an average member’s wage not a six figure salary.

:- A Public Works programme, with the first jobs offered to blacklisted construction workers.

 :- The creation of one million ‘Green’ jobs. One million potential members.

 

If you think what’s happening is wrong: 

If you, like me, are angry about:                                                                                                If you agree with some, most or the majority of what you have read:                         

Support my campaign by nominating me at your designated Branch/ Workplace meeting.

 

 

For my Nomination you will need the following details:

 

Name: Mr J R Hicks: Membership number 31247909:                               Branch: Bristol Area Community Branch SW/ 001500

 

  

I will be relying upon the generosity of individuals, please consider making a donation.  

               Cheques made payable to JerryHicks4GS & send to :                                           10 York Road, Montpelier, Bristol; BS6 5QE.                                                     

Donations will be receipted & a record of all transactions will be available for inspection.    If you wish to help or want to know more, contact me by mobile 07817827912                      or email jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk

follow me on Twitter: @JerryHicksUnite

Breaking News Jerry Hicks to stand in the election for Unite General Secretary

Press release: Press release: Press release: Immediate: 17/12/2012

When is an election for Unite General Secretary not an election?        

When there's only one candidate!                                                                                         But Unite leadership can think again as Jerry Hicks intends to stand.

Who would have imagined that Unite would be holding a ‘snap election’ for General Secretary [GS] so soon after the last one? Who would have guessed that Len McCluskey would be seeking ‘a mandate’ after only 2 years in office and with 3 more years still to go?

So who did demand this “election”? Was it the thousands of Branch Secretaries? No! Was it the hundreds of Unite committee chairs? No! So was it the tens of thousands of workplace representatives? No! As far as can be gathered, not one of these groups was calling for this “election”.

Actually to call it an election is being more than generous, as it bears all the hallmarks of an organisation seeking to avoid a challenge and thereby holding no election at all. Indeed many in Unite believe that if Jerry Hicks, the rank and file candidate in the last [2010] election for Unite’s GS and runner up with 52,527 votes, had not decided to stand there would be not be an election.

Rushing through the election gives little time for anyone to organise other than the existing GS, Mr McCluskey. Unless there is a challenger, Mr McCluskey will be “elected” unopposed and  is effectively extending his term of office until 2018 when he reaches 67, without members actually voting but allowing him and his supporters to claim it to be a mandate.

Jerry Hicks believes that whatever Unite has done for the good over the last 2 years has now been tainted and that the election should not be happening, that it’s been called on a flawed premise and it’s being fast tracked. It’s an election tailor made to suit one member above all others - 1.5 million others, and that far from ‘seeking a mandate’ it is an affront to democracy. It also means by holding the election in 2013 that 1.5 million members are being denied an election for GS in 2015 when we would have maximum influence over the Labour Party as it would be during a general election year.

Jerry Hicks said “I’ve decided to stand now the election process has begun in order that members do have a chance to vote and to present a positive alternative. However just to get the 50 nominations required to be on the ballot paper will be a big achievement in this most uneven contest.

So what’s going on? If things in Unite are as good as Mr McCluskey and his supporters say, then why not just carry on doing these good things? And are we to believe that if no one from Unite’s huge number of officials puts themselves forward for the position of GS, it’s because they all agree with things as they are?

One clue to an absence of challengers might be that, despite Mr McCluskey asserting that Unite is a ‘tolerant’ Union, there may be another story. Try asking those officials who left Unite in the weeks following the last Unite GS election, some felt obliged to leave the Union albeit with ‘pay offs’ possibly for nothing more than not backing the winner. For if any were guilty of wrong doing surely they should have been disciplined or dismissed, not paid off.

Jerry Hicks said “Mr McCluskey talks about a co-ordinated fight against the assault on members’ pensions, jobs & conditions and of building a united campaign of resistance, and on that I agree.

Yet when presented with an opportunity to do just that, Unite’s leadership chose instead to undermine the PCS and the NUT by not supporting the proposed co-ordinated strike action against the devastating attack on the pensions of Health workers, MOD & Government Departments and Local Authority workers last March.

That was a huge mistake. But it’s not too late to start a serious campaign of opposition to the government cuts and attacks but it will take more than hot air at demonstrations”.

Ends: Notes to editor: Contact Jerry Hicks Tel: 07817827912 
email: jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk

Unite election for General Secretary 'Faster than a speeding bullet'.

Press release: Press release: Press release: Press release: Immediate: 07/12/2012

 Faster than a speeding bullet! Is it a bird? It's a plane?

No it’s the timetable of the ‘Snap election’

 for Unite General Secretary.

 

The timetable for the ‘snap’ election is as follows......................

Nomination period for Branches & Workplaces - 1st January 2013 to 15th February 2013

Closing date for nominations - 22nd February 2013 

Ballot period - 18th March 2013 till 12th April 2013

Declaration - 15th April 2013  

Calling an early election is one thing and can be described [excused] in various ways, as indeed it is.

Calling the election 3 years early and in the shortest period possible, which then gives absolute advantage to only one candidate, is another thing and surely can only be described as plain wrong.

Commenting on this, Unite member Jerry hicks said “The super human efforts to hold an election for the General Secretary of the country’s biggest union in the fastest possible time is definitely not the act of superman”.

Unite will come under more pressure to explain how it’s relationship with the Labour party works, if the latest reports are true. It seems that the Labour Party intends to abstain in next Tuesday’s [11^th Dec] Public pensions Bill vote, reports the London Evening Standard.

This Bill will put into law the Con-Dem attack on public sector pensions,

A very Senior Unite official is being quoted as saying that it’s a “strategic abstention”?

Jerry Hicks said “I guess this all goes hand in hand/glove with Unites’ political ‘strategy’ of reclaiming Labour, or the ‘one way relationship’ as would be a better description.”

Unite in the last 2 years alone has handed over £6 million of it’s members money to Labour, as well as the £10m’s over the years.

According to Jerry Hicks it’s about time that stopped. He argues that a novel method of ‘payment by results’ would offer much better value for money for Unite members. He added that in his view Unite should only fund those MP’s that support Unites policies.

If Labour expects support from public sector workers at the next general election, it should be leading the parliamentary opposition and voting against the Bill.

Ends:

Notes to editor:

Jerry Hicks was runner up to Len McCluskey in the last election for Unite General Secretary in 2010 securing 52,527 votes.

Jerry Hicks can be contacted by mobile 07817827912 / email jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk 

By deciding to change the date for the General Secretary election Unite are throwing away a 'Golden opportunity'

Press release: Press release: Press release: Immediate: 05/12/2012

Unite are throwing away a ‘golden opportunity’ by deciding to hold the election for General Secretary in 2013 instead of 2015 the year of the UK General election.

The decision made by Unite’s National Executive Committee [NEC] 4^th December, by 49 votes to 19, to call an election for the General Secretary a full 3 years early, on a recommendation from the union’s leadership, is unprecedented and is something that may come back to haunt them.

Another twist in the aim to rush through the election at break neck speed, is the likelihood of there being very few candidates, perhaps as few as one? And perhaps that’s part of the plan?  

The ‘snap election’ could mean branch and workplace nominations as early as January and February with a postal ballot of over one million members in March 2013. This would give precious little time for anyone other than, shall we say, the existing General Secretary to organise a campaign. Indeed the dragging forward of the date may debar a senior official who would have been eligible by 2015 from standing because of the 10 year continuous membership requirement. Hence perhaps one of the unsaid reasons the election is 3 years early rather than say 1 or 2.

A consequence of the decision, be it by design or ill judgement, is to deny members a decent campaigning time for discussion and debate and therefore less democracy because of the very short election period. Also had it been held in 2015 members would have a more valid time frame upon which to make a judgement on McCluskey’s leadership.

Whatever the official reasons, one being stated is “to avoid any ‘clash’ with the UK general election” [full NEC statement on www.unitetheunion.org]. Jerry Hicks said “Remarkably it’s this ‘clash’ of dates that is being proffered by Unite’s leadership as something to ‘avoid’, but I say that in one misjudged moment we are throwing away the greatest bargaining chip imaginable”. The timing represented the best possible chance to reverse the ‘one way’ relationship with New Labour and instead to negotiate proper ‘quid pro quo’ agreement in exchange for our cash, time and resources. Members have seen £6 million of our money in the last 2 years thrown at the Labour party with little or no return”.

The Con-Dem Government Chancellor George Osborne’s policies of cuts and austerity has spectacularly failed and so has McCluskey’s plan to reclaim the Labour Party.
McCluskey pledged recently [Sept 30^th 2012] to “kick the New Labour cuckoos out of our nest”. Yet weeks after this ‘fine talk’, far from Cuckoos being kicked out, Unite’s ‘chickens had come home to roost’ when in the Rotherham byelection, a Labour safe seat, the candidate chosen was not a trade union activist, let alone the choice of Unite which was a very well known local Senior workplace rep who wasn’t even short listed. McCluskey and Osborne are 2 years into their cleverly worked out strategies - both plans lay in ruins but both proponents trumpet the mantra ‘more of the same’.

Jerry Hicks also argues: Whatever Unite have done for the good over the last 2 years has now been tainted by this pursuit of extension of office. It is without proper reason and will be costly. It comes at a time when the union should be concentrating all its resources on fighting the cuts to services, pensions, jobs and attacks on members and their families livelihoods.

Ends:

Notes to editor: Jerry Hicks was runner up to McCluskey in 2010 securing 52,527 votes he can be contacted by mobile 07817827912 or email jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk 

Unite make plans to call a snap election for General Secretary. But why?

Press release: Press release: Press release: Immediate: 02/12/2012

 Unite make plans to call snap election for General Secretary. But why?

The time table of this ‘snap’ election could begin as early as next week. It is expected that at Tuesday’s [4th December] National Executive meeting approval will be sought to begin the process of the election. The machinery can commence to issue notice to the membership, with the branch and workplace nomination period likely to be January and February.

The postal ballot of over one million members could begin as early as the middle of March 2013.

Len McCluskey became General Secretary of Unite as recently as November 2010 meaning that he has so far only served 2 years of his 5 years term of office.

During McCluskey’s election just 2 years ago it was generally regarded that he would be a one term [5 years] General Secretary, neither he nor his supporters did anything to dispel the illusion.

So why is this happening 3 years early? After all McCluskey could stand again in 2015 as a matter of course. However if he did and won a further 5 years in office that would take him to the age of 70 and advisors think that the union’s members would not be too happy to have a General Secretary working past normal retirement age.

So by dragging the election forward he could run, win, serve a new term of 5 years taking him to 67, thus avoiding that and a number of other issues. Namely the Government proposals of retirement age of 68.

Add all this to the biggest ‘plus’ for McCluskey and his followers, that by using all the union’s machinery to push through at ‘break neck speed’ an election 3 years early makes it almost impossible for anyone else to have anywhere near an equal chance as McCluskey, given the incredibly short time scale and the cost of simply mailing branches which runs to thousands of pounds. Thereby virtually ensuring him a smooth ride, maybe even unopposed.

McCluskey seeking another term makes a mockery of the merger rumours between Unite and the PCS with Mark Sewotka taking over from McCluskey, rumours spread by both hierarchies. 

It would also cheat the membership out of an election in 2015 when it’s also the year for the next Parliamentary General Election. Unites ‘one way’ relationship with New Labour is an increasing source of criticism of his leadership, so in a General Election year a debate about it might be a problem for McCluskey.

Jerry Hicks, runner up in the previous 2 elections for General Secretary said “Our Union has a long and discredited history of general secretaries trying to cling on to power beyond the age of 65. There was Ken Jackson, and then Derek Simpson, now Len McCluskey wants some more of it.”

Jerry Hicks went on to say “This is just not right, it’s completely unnecessary and verging on abuse of power. It sets the wrong example, shows the wrong leadership and sends the wrong message that raising the retirement age is OK. It’s not! We should be seeking to lower the retirement age for working people, to end the scourge of high unemployment especially amongst the under 25s. 

 

Ends:

Notes to editor: Jerry Hicks was runner up to McCluskey in 2010 securing 52,527 votes he can be contacted by mobile 07817827912 or email jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk 

Cancellation!

1) Grassroots Left London Regional Conference - CANCELLED!

Due to proximity to the National Conference on 17th November in Birmingham, a significant number of apologies from our activists as well as a couple of speakers dropping out, we thought it would be a better idea to cancel the proposed London Regional Conference this Sunday, and encourage everyone to try and make it along to Birmingham later in the month.

Apologies for the short notice! We hope to see you all at the:

2) Grassroots Left 3rd National Conference - GOING AHEAD!

Just to avoid any confusion, the National Conference is defnitely going ahead! Please make every effort to attend.

Grassroots Left 3rd National conference

In the Conference Room

At The Comfort Inn 

Station Street, B5 4DY.

Opposite New St Station, Birmingham City Centre

 

Saturday 17th of November 2012  

From 12 noon to 4pm.

 

This establishment is also a short walk from Snow Hill & Moor St stations.

 

This meeting is open to members of UNITE the union, their families & friends. Fellow trade unionists and others who are supporters of the Grassroots Left initiative are also most welcome to attend. Refreshments are available from the hotel bar on the ground floor.

JOIN THE GRASSROOTS LEFT TODAY
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