Unisons Local
Government Conference has been taking place over the last 2 days without its
Head of Local Government Heather Wakefield. The National conference
starts on Tuesday this week.
These
conferences are ostensibly an opportunity
for Unison members (delegated by their union branches and self-organised
groups), to vote on policy and, if necessary, hold the national leadership to
account. This year, Local Government delegates have not had that opportunity.
After the Tory victory at the general election, and the suspension
of industrial action over pay in local government, this may be one of the most
important conferences for years.
It is therefore unfortunate that divisions right at the heart of
Unison's national leadership have not been communicated to members or
delegates. Delegates are being kept in the dark over the real reason for
Heather Wakefield's absence.
It seems that she is currently signed off with work-related stress until 29 June, preventing her from attending either the national delegate conference,
or the two day Local Government conference on Sunday 14 and Monday
15 June.
This allegedly comes after a few years of ill treatment by senior
officials in the union including Dave Prentis, and a disciplinary hearing that
will be held in July due to Heather allegedly bringing the union into disrepute
for following the wishes of the NJC committee.
It is reported that
this disciplinary is the culmination of a serious disagreement between Heather
Wakefield and Unison General Secretary Dave Prentis over who is at fault for
the unpopular climb down from last year's pay dispute, which led to planned
strike action being cancelled without any consultation with branches or
members, and to a Local Government Special Conference in March of this year
where the leadership of both the national union and the local government
section received a very public slap on the wrist from angry local government
activists. Furthermore, as someone who is seen as a potential challenger
against Prentis for the upcoming General Secretary election, and as someone who
attempted to run against him previously, Wakefield has a target on her back.
Many believe she was unfairly blamed for the climb down by Prentis and his
supporters in order to deflect criticism of the General Secretary and discredit
Wakefield. However, Wakefield was in fact excluded from a number of key
negotiations during the dispute. It was Prentis who first insisted on going
ahead with strike action, before cancelling them after one day of action,
pulling the rug out from under Unison reps, activists and members.
In a document detailing the history of the dispute submitted
to the Local Government Special Conference, the leadership essentially blamed
Wakefield for the climb down over pay.
There are also reports from concerned staff that Prentis has
over a period of years shouted at Wakefield in an open plan office that she is
“finished”, and criticised her for always going on about the “divisive” issue
of gender.
The exact details of what Wakefield
is being disciplined for are unclear, but it is reported to be about a press
release announcing strike action on 30 September without GMB and UNITE and
tweeting the same information. Wakefield was following the express wishes of
the NJC committee.
The disciplinary is said to be set to
coincide with the leadership election at Prentis’s behest.
Obviously, many of
the exact details of this affair are unclear, but given that it is clearly
intertwined with two of the most important issues facing Unison at the moment -
the public sector pay campaign, and the upcoming General Secretary election -
the membership surely deserves some honest clarification from the union
leadership and the General Secretary. We doubt many will be holding their
breath on that one.
This sums up Unison's attitude to negotiations: stitch it up and keep it away from members, now it seems they are treating their staff just as badly if they dare to follow lay member instructions.
This sums up Unison's attitude to negotiations: stitch it up and keep it away from members, now it seems they are treating their staff just as badly if they dare to follow lay member instructions.
Saw your tweet! Well what do you expect from someone who accepts a re appointment as governor of the Bank of England what with him and Paul Kenny accepting an honour they are a disgrace to the union movement.
ReplyDeleteAwful behaviour.
Not always Heather Wakefields biggest fan but it's been clear for a while she's being stitched up.
Disgraceful
It appears that Heather Wakefield herself is now subject to the same corrupt, bullying practices that have plagued that organisation's London Region certainly for as long as I can remember. The 'Jimmy Saville' scenario of the union movement - everyone knows what's going on but no one has the guts to do anything about it. Disillusioned members, often let down personally by this shower despite the honourable efforts of dedicated local activists, leave in droves. A clear case of what goes around comes around if ever there was.
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd signed my comment, I don't do 'unknown'
ReplyDeleteRob Sale
I thought I'd signed my comment, I don't do 'unknown'
ReplyDeleteRob Sale
Currently being a victim of something similar to what is described about Heather, she now has my vote.
ReplyDeleteIt is alleged by Deborah Orr that Prentis is either a Blairite or neo Blairite. If even partially true, then vote anyone other than Prentis.
ReplyDeleteDon't know much about internal UNISON politics but it's clear that Prentice has been in post too long and that under his leadership UNISON is in massive decline. Heather Wakefield looks like a much better prospect for General Sec.
ReplyDelete