Union elections

Unite election: a more critical approach needed

For debate and discussion about the election, see here . For Unite's existing political strategy, referred to below, see here . Sharon Graham is a very well-paid unelected trade union bureaucrat standing as “The Workers’ Candidate” in the Unite the Union General Secretary election now underway. That doesn't rule out supporting her. Two of her competitors (Steve Turner and Howard Beckett) are also very well-paid unelected trade union bureaucrats, and the very right-wing Gerard Coyne isn't one only because he was sacked after standing against Len McCluskey in the 2017 General Secretary election...

Unite general secretary election: what's at stake? A response to "No good options"

For debate and discussion about the election, see here . For the article this replies to, see here . Our tradition in elections for union leaders is one of standing a well-supported AWL candidate when possible, but also of supporting the best of the candidates where this is not possible. In Unite and the Transport and General Workers Union we backed Tony Woodley, a leftish union bureaucrat but not supported by the ‘broad left’, and Len McCluskey, a leftish bureaucrat and then the sitting General Secretary, in two elections. In the last two Unite elections we backed McCluskey against lay member...

Debate and discussion on the Unite general secretary election

Since April Workers' Liberty members and supporters in Unite the Union have been debating the election for a new general secretary - including in the pages of our paper Solidarity . This page will be updated regularly with links to articles and contributions. As of 5 July we are advocating a vote for Sharon Graham, while continuing to explain our substantial disagreements with her approach. If you aren't an AWL supporter, but would like us to publish your views on the election, please feel free to email us: awl@workersliberty.org For wider coverage of struggles by Unite members, Unite...

Why we should support Sharon Graham for Unite general secretary

For debate and discussion about the election, see here . The election for the General Secretary of Unite presents an opportunity to elect a candidate with a genuinely radical vision of change — with shop stewards at the centre of it — and a track record of successfully confronting employers with bold tactics and detailed strategy. It is also an opportunity to elect a woman as leader of Unite for the first time. These are powerful reasons to back Sharon Graham . Shop stewards and the workplace Central to Graham’s pitch is the criticism that Unite has drifted too far from its core purpose as a...

NEU: a setback and advances

The National Education Union (NEU) Executive elections closed on 29 April. Disappointingly, Workers’ Liberty supporter and victimised rep Tracy McGuire lost the national support staff seat, after a vicious campaign by the misnamed “NEU Left”, who have been as determined to remove her from her Executive role as her employer was to sack her. This deprives the executive of a tenacious fighter for support staff. Tracy has fought to ensure the union fully represents support staff and develops into an industrial union. That is why the “NEU Left” fought so hard to remove her. However disgusting her...

Why is the Morning Star so quiet about the Unite election?

The race is on to replace Len McCluskey as general secretary of the Unite union. This is the second most powerful position within the British labour movement, after leader of the Labour Party, and the outcome will have massive repercussions not just for the Unite, but for the movement as a whole and the Labour Party. The four declared candidates, Steve Turner, Howard Beckett, Sharon Graham and Gerard Coyne, will be seeking sufficient branch nominations between now and 7 June. The election runs from 5 July to 23 August. You would expect the Morning Star — a publication largely aimed at, and...

Vote for "real change" in Unison

The ballot to elect the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the public services union Unison opens on 4 May 2021. The NEC is made up of representatives elected from Unison’s regions and service groups, plus seats for four Black members, two young members and two disabled members. After left candidate Paul Holmes (above) delivered a strong result in the general secretary election, the left in the union have the potential to make big gains in the NEC election. Unfortunately some of this may be squandered by the inability of much of the Unison left to cooperate. The previous electoral alliance...

DVLA strikes again 4-8 May (John Moloney's column)

Workers at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) complex in Swansea will strike again from 4-8 May. We’re continuing to fight there over the fact our members are being compelled to come into the workplace, in a way we believe is unsafe. The employer has made some concessions in negotiations, but these relate mainly to changes in the medium-term future, around greater provision for homeworking. We need action right now — centrally for all on-site working, except for emergency and absolutely essential work, to be suspended. We’re also demanding agreements that will give the union direct...

Unite election: no good options

For debate and discussion about the election, see here . Members of Unite, one of Britain’s largest trade unions, will elect a new general secretary. Len McCluskey, who has been in office since 2010, has announced his retirement. The branch nomination period will run from 6 May to 7 June, with members voting by postal ballot from 5 July to 23 August, and the result announced on 26 August. There are four declared candidates so far — Howard Beckett, Steve Turner, Sharon Graham, and Gerard Coyne. All four are current or former unelected officials of the union. Constitutional arrangements which...

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