tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28838979658793414202024-03-08T06:29:48.694-08:00Trouble in UnisonUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883897965879341420.post-61997352073585230692015-06-18T11:09:00.002-07:002015-06-18T11:09:35.566-07:00Unison Disunited Left<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday evening a meeting of Unison United Left was held
to decide which prospective candidate should stand if there is a General
Secretary election. If an election actually does take place (<a href="http://troubleinunison.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/what-democracy.html">there
is some doubt about that right now</a>), it is widely expected that there will
be division amongst various contenders from the trade union leadership, and
therefore a single left candidate (as opposed to on previous occasions) would
be a great step forward. Unfortunately, after the meeting last night this does
not look likely. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In January of this year a similar meeting was held in
Manchester. It was a Reclaim the Union meeting called by the NEC left caucus,
and was meant to be a discussion about forming a united slate for the NEC
elections. However, at the beginning of the meeting Socialist Workers Party
members argued that the decision as to who should be stood as a united left
General Secretary candidate. It was quite clear that, having ensured they had a
majority in the room, the SWP was hoping to push its own candidate, Karen
Reissmann, forward, and confer on her the legitimacy of that meeting. I won’t
go into the details of that meeting, although a good analysis of it can be
found <a href="http://jonrogers1963.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/one-step-forward-one-step-back.html">here</a>,
but suffice it to say that no joint candidate emerged from it. The Socialist
Party, whose preferred candidate is Roger Bannister, abstained and refused to
accept the legitimacy of the meeting. Similarly, Paul Holmes, a Labour Party member
and the other prospective candidate, refused to accept the decision.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The United Left therefore held another meeting last night,
in the hope of ensuring a joint candidate. Unfortunately the outcome was very
similar. There were about 120 Unison members in attendance, of whom 50-60 were
SWP members, 30 were Socialist Party, and another 30 were either members of the
Labour Party, non-aligned, or part of other, smaller groups. The SWP’s
behaviour in this meeting followed a depressingly familiar pattern. Having
ensured they had the largest vote in the room, they proceeded to push for a
vote on a joint candidate. The Socialist Party again abstained from the
process, and had already announced their intention to stand Bannister
irrespective of the outcome of the meeting. Paul Holmes, at least, agreed to
accept the outcome of the meeting. Therefore, Reissmann was nominated with 58
votes in her favour, Paul Holmes received 30 votes, and about 30 Socialist
Party members abstained. Therefore, Reissmann was endorsed by the United Left
meeting, but we are still likely to have two left wing General Secretary
candidates in the case on an election.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The problem with this process is that rather than fostering
unity, which was the stated intention, it just intensified division. The fault,
unfortunately, lies with the two largest left organisations in Unison, the SWP
and the Socialist Party, particularly the former. When the first meeting was
held in January, we were in Unison heading towards an important NEC election,
and to the Local Government Special Conference, where rank and file activists
won a significant symbolic victory over the current leadership. A healthy left
would have used the January meeting as an opportunity to build for a united
intervention in both, in the hope that a spirit of unity could be fostered from
which a joint candidate could emerge. However, it is quite clear that from the
outset that both the SWP and the Socialist Party were set upon standing their
own candidate. When it became clear that the SWP would dominate the selection
process, the Socialist Party simply abstained from it, declaring that they
would stand Bannister whatever the outcome. The SWP, on the other hand,
attempted to hijack the process and foist their own candidate on the rest of
the left. It must be said that, in a formal democratic sense, the SWP clearly
won the United Left nomination, however it only did so by ensuring it had large
numbers of its own members in the room. It might be argued that irrespective of
what organisation they are from, those Unison members had every right to vote
for their preferred candidate, but this misses the point. It is clear that the
majority, if not all, of those people in attendance at the meeting who were not
members of one of the two rival socialist parties voted for Paul Holmes. An
organisation like the Socialist Workers Party should know that while they may
have a certain weight in numbers compared to other left organisations, within
Unison as a whole they are still very marginal, and if they are to run a decent
General Secretary campaign then they will need to mobilise numbers way beyond
their own ranks. While they may be able to win a show of hands in a meeting of
socialist activists, this does not at all indicate their popularity within
Unison as a whole. This does not necessarily mean running someone other than an
SWP member, but if they are to run one of their own, they will need to win the
rest of the left, or at least a good number of them, to the idea of supporting
her and campaigning for her. Such tactics as packing meetings do not foster
such an attitude, and alienate more people than they convince. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is a more fundamental problem with the nomination of
Karen Reissmann as General Secretary candidate, which was expressed by someone
from the floor during the debate last night. The Socialist Workers Party a
couple of years ago was embroiled in a damaging internal battle which lost it
at least 50 percent of its members, when it attempted to cover up sexual
assaults perpetrated by one of its then leaders Martin Smith. A <a href="http://socialistunity.com/swp-conference-transcript-disputes-committee-report/">transcript</a>
of a session of its annual conference where the issue was discussed (this
session was a key part of the cover-up) was leaked online. Reissmann presided
over that session, and throughout the faction fight was a vocal and loyal
supporter of Martin Smith and the SWP Central Committee. The SWP are so keen to
secure the United Left endorsement as part of an attempt to rehabilitate themselves
in the movement, and also to prove to their own members that they haven’t been
damaged by the incident. That many good activists, disgusted by the SWP’s
behaviour, would simply walk away from any United Left campaign headed by
Reissmann and dominated by the SWP should be an important consideration. That
the SWP’s primary motivation is its own sectarian interest, rather than those
of the movement and the left of the union as a whole, should not be forgotten.
That is why they have behaved in this manner. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are some important reasons why a united left wing
candidate for a future General Secretary election is desirable. The bureaucracy
is divided as to who, if anyone, should take over from Prentis, and unlike in
previous years their support may be split. It is extremely unlikely that, even
if this is the case, a far left candidate will win. However, its chances of
getting a respectable vote are greatly diminished if it is similarly divided.
More importantly, the left should see General Secretary elections not only as
an opportunity to win a leadership contest, or propagate their own group, but
rather see them as an opportunity to build an argument for a fighting
anti-austerity union amongst the membership. On that score, standing more than
one candidate is a duplication of effort. Dividing and demoralising activists
ensures that many people who would be willing to dedicate themselves to such a
task are left passive, or even pushed into the camp of other candidates. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
If the left can’t get its own house in order why should
members trust it with their union? Why should they vote for them at all?</div>
Troublehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02200577220643638779noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883897965879341420.post-76645861597082201292015-06-18T00:45:00.001-07:002015-06-18T00:45:16.215-07:00Barons and Bankers<div class="MsoNormal">
In his speech to Unison conference yesterday, General
Secretary David Prentis included a little dig at recently knighted GMB General
Secretary Paul Kenny:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“On the 800<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the signing of the
Magna Carta, when, I’m told, power was taken from the King and given to the
barons, we’re now being told that we have to call Paul Kenny “sir”. Well what
else is new?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A good gag, and no principled trade unionist would have a
problem with criticising a trade union leader for taking an honour from the
enemy. However, there is more than a whiff of hypocrisy in Dave’s jibe. We have
been informed that his own position as Governor of the Bank of England is now
to be extended until 2017.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Keep up the good work Dave.</div>
Troublehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02200577220643638779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883897965879341420.post-13831182855390668092015-06-17T01:01:00.001-07:002015-06-17T01:01:19.804-07:00What Democracy?<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
It has come to our attention that current Unison General
Secretary Dave Prentis is planning to continue in his role. However, rather
than going through the tedious formality of holding an election, he plans to
ask Unison’s National Executive Council to simply extend his term of office.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unison’s rules clearly state that a General Secretary’s term
of office is five years, and Prentis was last elected in 2010. Many Unison
members were therefore naively expecting a fresh election this year. In fact, a
number of people have already indicated their wish to stand. However, Prentis
may be seeking to exploit a potential loophole in order to secure an extension.
While Unison’s own rules state that a General Secretary election must be held
every five years, the Tory anti-union legislation states that a trade union
general secretary must stand for re-election, or step down, after five years
unless he or she is within five years of retirement. Serendipitously, a
previous Unison president changed Prentis’s retirement age to 72 (he is
currently 68), and he therefore falls within that category. He may therefore
manage to get the NEC to “interpret” the rule book to allow him to continue as
General Secretary. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As mentioned above, a number of potential candidates have
indicated their wish to stand in the General Secretary election. Heather
Wakefield (Head of Local Government (<a href="http://troubleinunison.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/division-at-top.html">who
is currently being victimised by Prentis</a>) and Roger McKenzie (Assistant
General Secretary) have both indicated an interest in standing. There are
perhaps three lay-activists of the left who have also expressed an interest –
Karen Reissmann (Socialist Workers Party and NEC member), Roger Bannister
(Socialist Party and NEC member) and Paul Holmes (Labour Party and NEC member).
These last three still hope that a single hard left candidate can stand with
the support of the others.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Prentis has for a long time been considered to represent the
right wing Blairite core of the Unison apparatus. Unfortunately, there is no
consensus amongst the right as to who should be the designated heir. Karen
Jennings (Assistant General Secretary), Bronwyn McKenna (Assistant General
Secretary) and Liz Snape (Assistant General Secretary and Chair of the Unison
Slytherin Caucus); have all indicated an interest. It is probably this lack of
consensus which motivates Prentis’s drive to extend his term without election.
There is a concern amongst the apparatchiks that a divided right vote may allow
a left contender to win. Prentis is therefore presenting himself to the right
as a caretaker until it can get itself organised for a coronation. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Prentis and his supporters’ argument is likely to be that in
this current period – massive wave of austerity attacks, new Tory majority
government, etc. – Unison would be damaged by a divisive General Secretary
election with a large number of different candidates. Much better to keep the
General Secretary position in a safe pair of hands for now. This is a nonsense.
Firstly, as was outlined above, this is nothing but a cover for the right
wing’s real agenda which is to ensure any candidate other than one of their own
isn’t elected. Secondly, this reasoning flies in the face of basic democratic
principles. A genuinely contested General Secretary election, where different
candidates outline their plans for the future, their strategy for resisting
austerity, their assessment of past defeats; should not damage our union it
should <i>strengthen it</i>. It could bring
the debate on these issues to members, activists, branches and self-organised
groups throughout Unison, and allow all of us to have a say on the direction of
our organisation. Furthermore, five-yearly elections are our opportunity to
hold the General Secretary to account, to pass a verdict on their leadership to
date.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This may be what Prentis is really scared of. </div>
Troublehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02200577220643638779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883897965879341420.post-39442495124161697592015-06-15T12:27:00.000-07:002015-06-15T12:27:53.981-07:00A Question of Democracy<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>This post is a comment
following from a <a href="http://troubleinunison.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/division-at-top.html">previous
article</a> which discussed the ongoing disciplinary action against Heather
Wakefield, Head of Local Government, in Unison.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One might ask why Unison activists should care about an
obscure falling out amongst the leadership. It could be argued that the union
leadership is in fact <i>collectively </i>responsible
for the sell out of the 2014 pay campaign, and the squabbles about who said
what when are ultimately irrelevant, and certainly tedious. Furthermore, is it
not the case that, while Heather Wakefield may be being stitched up on this
particular occasion, she shares responsibility for similar sell outs in the
past, such as the pensions campaign in 2011 for example?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is an element of truth in all that, however there are
some fundamental issues of <i>democracy</i>,
which make this matter of great importance to all Unison members:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>1) Accountability<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the Special Local Government conference in March
activists in Unison Local Government unequivocally expressed their displeasure,
by democratic vote, at the handling of the 2014 pay dispute. They therefore
have every right to know who was ultimately responsible for the decisions made,
in order to decide whether to take further action against them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2) Transparency <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A key part of the accountability of an elected leadership is
transparency. In order to make decisions as a union collectively on policy, and
also on who we believe should lead our union, we require <i>all the facts</i>. If there is a fall out between our leaders over who
is responsible for decisions made during one of our principle campaigns, we
have a right to know. We need to know what decisions were made by who, in order
to decide whether to hold them to account, and whether to vote for them in the future.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>3) Collective Debate<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It may be argued that until the issue is resolved through
Unison’s disciplinary procedures it is out of order to comment on this or to
demand comment from the leadership on it. This may seem reasonable at first
glance, but is in fact nothing more than another example of bureaucratic
sidestepping to avoid democratic discussion. The fact remains that if there is
any question about the conduct of our leadership, particularly over an
important industrial dispute, the forum for the discussion is not behind closed
doors in a confidential disciplinary hearing, but amongst the <i>membership itself. </i>It should be debated
at Local Government and National Delegate conferences, in branches, and at the
NEC. Arguments and counterarguments should be circulated and debated,
resolutions should be submitted and voted on. The debate about what went wrong
with our pay campaign could, if handled properly, be transformed from being a
squalid and undignified episode of backroom manoeuvres, whispering campaigns
and character assassinations in the top echelons of the union into an open
debate about what went wrong and why, and how best to move forward, which could
include the entire membership.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead, we are kept in the dark, and forced to rely on
rumour and supposition, while the Unison General Secretary attempts to
scapegoat one individual in order to avoid accountability for his own actions, and
sideline a potential leadership contender in the process. You do not have to be
a Heather Wakefield fan or supporter (this writer is certainly neither) in
order to be angry and disappointed with this.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
If Unison is ever to be transformed into a democratic, fighting
union this sorry state of affairs, and many others like it, must be challenged.</div>
Troublehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02200577220643638779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883897965879341420.post-17995936938919721702015-06-14T12:16:00.003-07:002015-06-14T12:29:36.073-07:00Division at the Top?<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">These
conferences are <span style="background: white;">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.</span></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> 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.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">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.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It seems that she is currently signed off with work-related stress until</span><span style="color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> 29 June<span style="background: white;">, preventing her from attending either the national delegate conference,
or the two day Local Government conference on</span> Sunday 14 and Monday
15 June<span style="background: white;">.</span></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">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.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">At the
TUC General council it has been reported that both UNITE and GMB claimed Wakefield
had broken unity and brought the campaign and unison into disrepute by
announcing without them. <span style="font-size: 11pt;">Prentis then
allegedly intervened to first postpone that strike then do a deal with GMB and
UNITE to call the whole thing off. Leaving our members worse off than the
initial pay offer.</span></span><!--EndFragment--><br />
<span style="background: rgb(246, 247, 248); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span>
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<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The disciplinary is said to be set to
coincide with the leadership election at Prentis’s behest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #141823; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">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.</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #141823; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><br />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. <br /><span style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.3599996566772px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></span><br />
<br />
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<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7