UNISON UNITED LEFT

UNISON NEC Candidates 2011: For a fighting, Democratic UNISON

2011-01-28T07:35:00.000-08:00

This is the updated list of candidates on the left that are seeking branch nominations for UNISON's NEC elections, 2011. The following are all supported by the UNITED LEFT, and alongside comrades in the Socialist Party, we are standing under the umbrella slogan: 'For a Fighting, Democratic union.'

Nominations are open now until 5pm, 18th of February.

Go to UNISON's website here for nominations forms : http://www.unison.org.uk/elections/pages_view.asp?did=12231

Click on the names below to read their nomination requests. If you have the backing of UNISON United Left, and your name is on this list below but your letter calling for nominations is not yet online, then please email us : unisonunitedleft@gmail.com

For a fighting democratic union.

NEC CANDIDATES 2011

NATIONAL Black Members

Female seats April Ashley and Bola George
Male seat Hugo Pierre

National young members

Kieran Grogan

REGIONAL SEATS

Eastern region
Male seat Martin Booth

East Midlands region
Female seat Jean Thorpe Sharon Vasselin

Male seat Richard Buckwell

Reserved seat Ann MacMillan-Wood

Greater London region
Female seats Marshajane Thompson and Helen Davies

Male seat Jon Rogers

Reserved seat Emilse Ocampo Medina

Northern region
Female seat Hannah Walter

Male seat Dave Walkden

North West region
General seat Tony Wilson

Female seats Bernie Gallagher and Karen Reissmann

Male seat Roger Bannister

Reserved seat Sophie Smith Rudge

Scotland region
General seat Jim Mcfarlan

Male seat Duncan Smith

South East region
Female seats Diana Leach
Emma Macbeth

Male seat Mike Tucker

South West region

Male seat Nigel Behan

Cymru/Wales region
Male seat Jamie Davies

West Midlands region
General Seat Clive Shakespeare
Female Seat. Vez Kirkpatric

Yorkshire & Humberside region
General Mike Forster
Female seats Angie Wallor Helen Jenner

Male seat Jim Broad
Reserved seat Victoria Perrin

SERVICE GROUP SEATS

Health Care service group
Female seats Kate Ahrens and Shona Greig

Male seat Len Hockey

General seat John Malcolm

Higher Education service group

Female seat Carole Hanson

General seat Max Watson

Local Government service group

Female seats Kathy Smith and Phoebe Watkins

Male seat Paul Couchman

General seat Paul Holmes

Water Enviroment Transport
General Seat John Jones

Community

General seat
Alec McFadden

Jamie Davis UNISON NEC Elections 2011, Wales Region

2011-01-27T10:35:00.000-08:00

Candidate Name: Jamie Davis

Membership Number: 5767061

Dear Colleague

RE: UNISON NEC Elections 2011, Wales Region

I am seeking the nomination of your branch for the Wales Male Regional seat in the forthcoming NEC elections. My name is Jamie Davis, I am currently Treasurer of the Vale of Glamorgan LG Branch. I have been active in this Branch for the last two years. The eight years prior to this I was active in the Police Sector of UNISON.

I am standing around the platform of "Reclaim UNISON", a rank and file pressure group set up three years ago to galvanise and transform our union into an organising, fighting one.

The election of the "ConDem" Government last year has presented us with by far the greatest challenge that the trade union movement has faced for decades. Their ideological agenda to destroy the public sector and the welfare state within the next five years has to be met by the full might of our trade union, in conjunction with all other trade unions and wider community groups. This must involve the calling of coordinated and generalised industrial action in defence of jobs and services. I believe the leadership of the union have a responsibility to organise and plan such action, and not to leave branches to fight alone to stave off the worst of the cuts.

As I write this letter, almost one quarter of all councils in the UK have issued their staff with compulsory redundancy notices, and the Government is proceeding in England to sell off our prized asset, the NHS, to privately led consortiums. And in Wales the Assembly government is proposing to significantly cut health spending. In South Wales the public services are the largest employment sector, and spending cuts will devastate entire communities unless they are stopped. Unless we stand up and say "NO".

I welcome the call by the newly elected General Secretary of the UNITE union, Len McCluskey, for joint coordinated action by all trade unions against this onslaught, which must be the clarion call for us all. We must also hammer home the clear message that there IS an alternative to the cuts agenda:

* Cancel the national debt owed to huge banking interests
* Tax multinational offshore companies - corporate fraud and tax avoidance costs the treasury £80billion per year
* Cancel the Trident replacement programme
* NO to bankers' bonuses
* The answer to the fixing the economy is to create jobs, not to cut them - Ireland has shown how public spending cuts can cause massive damage to a national economy.

The protests by young people to prevent the rise in tuition fees and the cancellation of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) have shown the trade union movement how we need to organise. In Wales the protests and occupation of Cardiff University played a part in the Welsh Assembly's concessions over fees and EMA. We should be linking up with these young people, user and community groups, and other interested parties to forge local "anti-cuts" campaigns. In our region this work has already started, with the formation of the "Cardiff Against The Cuts" group, initially called together by Cardiff Trades Council, and responsible for a sizeable "all-Wales" anti-cuts demonstration in Cardiff last October.

Our message should be clear and simple:

* We are opposed to ALL cuts in jobs and services
* We are opposed to "backdoor" privatisation and outsourcing
* We are opposed to ALL cuts in pay and conditions of service

It is the responsibility of the NEC to unite our union around this set of demands.

As well as opposing the ConDem Government, I believe we should not flinch from criticising those Labour MPs and Councils who choose to attack public services rather than stand up to the Government's diktat, including the Welsh Assembly Government. WAG may try and "soften the blow" by saving the cuts until after the Assembly elections next year, but we all know what happens to promises after the ballot boxes have closed! It should be up to the membership of the union to decide whether or not we continue to fund New Labour, where it is apparent they cannot or will not support the defence of public services.

I will also work to stop the unnecessary and divisive "Witch-hunt" of left-wing activists within our union. Too many good representatives have been suspended or expelled from our union at a time when we need to stand strong, united, and with all our resources to defend public jobs and services.

I wish to see our union genuinely "member-led", which is why I also advocate that all elected officials in UNISON should be on the average wage of the members that they represent. I practice what I preach.

Thank you for your time, and I hope that you will support my nomination.

Jamie Davis

Kieran Grogan - request for nomination for UNISON NEC

2011-01-27T10:05:00.000-08:00

Kieran Grogan - request for nomination for UNISON NEC

Young Members NEC Seat

Dear Friends,

I am writing to you to ask for your nomination for the Young Members seat on our National Executive Council.

I am standing for the Young Members seat because I believe I can effectively campaign on the issues affecting our young members most:

Against pay structures which discriminate against young workers

For a living wage for all workers, including young apprentices

Against the rise in tuition fees and the scrapping of the EMA college students' grant

For free and fully funded education

For young members to be as involved as possible in our union

Questioning why we continue to give money to New Labour, which even in opposition cannot bring itself to stand up for our members and the issues which matter to them

These are just some of the issues that are important to me and the young members in our union. I hope you will decide to nominate me. Should you have any questions, I would be happy to speak at your meeting/committee.

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Kieran Grogan (9395795)

Bolton UNISON (6540)

Young Members Officer

Mob: 07776031406

Kieran81@msn.com

Kieran.grogan@msn.co.uk

Shona Greig, NEC 2011, Health Service Female seat

2011-01-27T09:59:00.000-08:00

16th January 2011.

Dear Unison Branch Secretary,

This is a request for your branch’s nomination for one of the Health Service Female seats in the Unison National Executive Council (NEC) elections.

Currently I am on full time release as Staff Side Secretary in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.

My substantive post is Psychiatric Support Worker in an acute setting. I have been a Unison member for approximately 14 years, an activist for just a long and a Steward and Health and Safety Representative for slightly less.

I believe our members’ voices are loud and clear, they are fed up with doing more with less. They are extremely fed up facing transformations, streamlining or re-aligning of services - all of which lead to re-written job descriptions (as opposed to changed jobs) which subsequently, mostly downgrade AfC bandings. These changes are demoralising, considerably reduce opportunities of promotion and potentially lead to increased hardship in the long term.

The view expressed by many members is that the plans to further decimate our health services are going to mean the toughest fight that many of us will have seen. Members are asking where is the ballot that was promised by Unison’s General Secretary if they come for members’ pensions. We are a large body of people across many public services, members are asking how are we fighting back to protect our living standards. They do not believe "we are all in it together" - members believe they are being scapegoated by the government through the media as being a drain on society. They are asking why are bankers are being paid huge bonuses, when ordinary people are seeing even their smallest nest eggs shrink and being asked to contribute more to have what for many will be a meagre pension. Members are asking why is our country still spending untold amounts of money on a "war against terror" - when they feel the war is here at home, is about having to work harder for longer, being kept in fear, living often under tremendous stress, worrying about increasing bills or whether they will still have a job this time next month never mind next year. They wonder why are governments not doing more to stabilise prices, they fear rent increases, interest rate increases, the VAT increase alongside the current pay freezes.

Yes members must organise themselves, but they should also be heard at all levels of Unison – and they need elected representatives who will be active in leading a fightback, not just making paper promises. The proposal to freeze incremental pay rises in exchange for a "guarantee" of no redundancies in bands 1-6, was met with disbelief by members here. They feel insulted, undervalued and members’ response was a resounding NO to the proposal - it is viewed as not workable and divisive - setting workers against workers. Many are asking what now? They viewed the proposals as an attack, not only on basic standards of living but an attack on their pensions. Members are actively looking at ways to fight any further attacks on their pay and pensions. They are fed up bearing the brunt of the Tory led coalition, or any government that seeks to put money for health from the public purse into the pockets of the marketeers. Members’ views are that health care is an ever evolving science and our health service will always be adapting and changing as knowledge increases and practices change based on sound evidence.

I am no academic, but I do read - I recently dipped into a review called ‘Fair Society Healthy Lives’. This is a very short excerpt:
"People with higher socioeconomic position in society have a greater array of life chances and more opportunities to lead a flourishing life. They also have better health. The two are linked: the more favoured people are, socially and economically, the better their health. This link between social conditions and health is not a footnote to the ‘real’ concerns with health – health care and unhealthy behaviours – it should become the main focus. Consider one measure of social position: education. People with university degrees have better health and longer lives than those without. For people aged 30 and above, if everyone without a degree had their death rate reduced to that of people with degrees, there would be 202,000 fewer premature deaths each year. Surely this is a goal worth striving for."

Well ,I couldn't agree more, but how can this go hand in hand with pay freezes and price increases - how can this go along with reducing contracted hours for more work, to maintain profits, how can this go along with the increased devolution of the National Health Service, how can this go along with the cuts to funding future generations’ education? Members are saying we need to begin using our combined weight as Unison members and workers to defend ourselves against the few that would slash and burn, that are targeting our most vulnerable and against the few who are not in this together with the rest of us.

I am active locally in the Cambridgeshire against the Cuts campaign, attending lobbies and demonstrations and distribute petitions to increase knowledge and awareness about what is happening to our health services and workers and attend many other national and regional events that support members’ views. I would like to be elected to the NEC and the Health Service Group Executive so that I can be active nationally on behalf of members as well as locally.

The nomination period runs from January 11th to February 18th. I'd like to call on your branch to nominate myself, Kate Ahrens, John Malcolm and Len Hockey to the Health seats in the National Executive elections.

I am happy to answer any question anyone may have about why I am standing for the NEC elections.

In solidarity

Shona

Shona Greig
Membership Number:- 4010400
Branch:- Cambridge Health Branch - 01270
tele: 07972 803358
emails: Capskirk3@hotmail.com or Shonagreig@gmail.com

Duncan Smith, Unison NEC Elections 2011, Scottish Region Male Seat

2011-01-27T09:56:00.000-08:00

18 January 2011

Dear Colleague

Unison NEC Elections 2011, Scottish Region Male Seat
Request for Nomination

I am writing to inform you that I intend to stand for election to the National Executive Council of Unison this year.

At present I am Chairperson of the City of Edinburgh local government branch.

I would like to request that your Branch consider nominating me for the Scottish region male seat and I have attached a draft of my candidate’s statement which explains why I am standing.

Please note that nominations must be submitted to the Member Liaison Unit by the 18th February. Branch Nomination forms are to be found in Appendix F of the NEC election procedures. This can be downloaded from the website at www.unison.org.uk/elections. To complete the form my Unison RMS number is 1427439.

If you wish to contact me please e-mail dr_smith52@hotmail.com or phone me on 07890 422 048.

Regards

Duncan Smith

--

Unison
NEC Elections 2011
Scottish Region Male Seat
Duncan Smith

The attacks on working people by the Conservative- Lib Dem government require determined leadership from the NEC as never before. The measures announced in the budget and the Comprehensive Spending Review last year represent a wholesale attack on the public sector and the services we work in, use and depend on everyday.

A business as usual approach just won’t do anymore, the leadership of our union needs to change. I am standing for the NEC because I believe I have experience of trade union organisation, campaigning and the political understanding for this demanding role.

With over a million members what Unison does matters, if we act together with other unions we have the collective power to halt the government in its tracks. Anyone on the STUC demonstration in Edinburgh in October knows how empowering marching with 20,000 others was.

We have seen protests by students really shake the Coalition. Imagine what we could all achieve together!

I believe in a strong member-led union with an accountable national executive capable of organising the fight back we need.

My experience is as follows:

• 1980’s Senior steward in NUPE South Hospitals Branch and then convenor of the joint union group in Edinburgh City Hospital. Faced with attempts to privatise the ancillary services I helped fight this through organising strike action.
• 1990’s I moved to the Council in Edinburgh where I became Housing Convenor in NALGO then Unison.
• I played a leading role in the Edinburgh Against Stock Transfer campaign and spoke for Unison at numerous neighbourhood meetings across the city. Despite a massive propaganda campaign from the pro-privatisation camp the tenants voted to keep their homes public.
• 2007 I was elected Chairperson of the City of Edinburgh local government branch
• Subsequently I became a delegate to Unison’s Scottish Local Government Conference.
• Last year our employer announced that £90m cuts and privatisation of services were necessary to “balance the books”. I believe Branch Officers should lead from the front and I have been petitioning on the streets of Edinburgh for Unison’s ‘Our City’s Not For Sale’ campaign.

Linking with other unions and community groups at a local level is vital if we are to defend our public services and I am working hard with others to build the Edinburgh Anti Cuts Alliance.

But unity at a national level is essential also. While we have formally agreed to work with unions like the PCS we need to turn these words into action. So for example Unison should be putting every effort into building the TUC national demonstration in London on March 26th.

If elected I will work to:

• Build national alliances with other unions to co-ordinate action to challenge these cuts

• Support a national strategy , including industrial action, that does not leave branches to fight alone

• Oppose ‘social contracts’ with employers that trade pay or service conditions for dubious guarantees of no compulsory redundancies.

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Emilse Ocampo Medina - request for nomination to unison NEC London reserved seat

2011-01-21T08:58:00.003-08:00

Emilse Ocampo Medina - request for nomination to unison NEC London reserved seat

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UNISON National Executive Council (NEC) Elections 2011

Nominate Emilse Ocampo Medina for Greater London Region Reserved Seat

UNISON membership number: 9290781

All Greater London Region branches can nominate for the reserved seats and all Greater London Region members can vote in the election for this seat.

My name is Emilse Ocampo Medina and I writing to ask that your branch consider nominating me for the Greater London Region Reserved Seat on the UNISON National Executive Committee.

I am of Latin American origin and was born in Colombia.

For the past 10 years I have been working as a cleaner at Birkbeck College, University of London, I am currently employed by the private contractor Ocean.

I have been an active UNISON member for several years fighting to ensure that my colleagues - predominantly low paid, outsourced, migrant workers - are treated like human beings with the dignity and respect that they deserve.

I supported my branch in the successful campaign to win the London Living Wage for all outsourced workers in the College and have participated in the Bloomsbury Living Wage Campaign that has resulted in a number of notable victories, most recently at University College London.

At a time when the public sector is facing unprecedented attacks we should be campaigning in defence of the services we deliver and the workers who deliver them. I believe that a trade union such as UNISON must stand up for the most vulnerable in our society.

I want to see our union involve low paid workers, particularly migrants, in a campaign to defend our rights and to defeat all kinds of discrimination we face in our jobs.

Low paid workers and migrants are certainly not "all in this together" with millionaires like Cameron, Osborne and Clegg.

I believe I have the commitment and ability to represent low paid workers and migrants who I believe are looking for someone who can voice their concerns and issues at the heart of our trade union.

I would like also like to encourage more low paid workers and migrant workers to join UNISON, and I think that seeing a migrant worker elected to the NEC would help in this aim.

I believe UNISON should be leading in the struggles that low paid and migrant workers face.

I hope that your branch will consider giving me your nomination.

Emilse Ocampo Medina

To be valid, nominations need to be made at a quorate meeting of your branch or branch committee during the nomination period. The nomination period will open on 11 January 2011 and close at 5pm on Friday 18 February 2011. Copies of the nomination forms will be available on UNISON's website at http://www.unison.org.uk/elections/pages_view.asp?did=12231

Helen Davies - Request for nomination to UNISON NEC

2011-01-21T08:58:00.001-08:00

Helen Davies - Request for nomination to UNISON NEC

Dear Colleague,

Request for Nomination of Helen Davies to UNISON NEC as a London representative in the female seat.

I am a social worker for London Borough of Barnet, nicknamed "easyCouncil" and I am the Chair of the local Barnet UNISON branch as well as the local Trades Council. Barnet is a flagship Tory controlled local authority. It is looking to privatise all of its services on top of the cuts to vital services. It is actively encouraging all schools to take on Academy status. It has produced a budget which will see the end of the youth services and most Children's centres closed. There will also be redundancies of social workers in the Mental Health Service this year with more to follow in the next 3 years across Adult Services. We can expect massive cuts to care and support for the most vulnerable in our communities. Libraries will also be closed. We will be facing a total of some 800-900 job losses. No protection for frontline services then.

These plans of devastation are being visited in one form or another across the UK throughout the public sector.

In Barnet I have played one of the leading roles with people in my branch and other unions to organise some highly successful lobbies of the local Council and in alliance with other trade unions and community activists we have begun a campaign to resist these cuts. With other activists I have been on stalls every weekend talking to residents about the Council's plans and trying to mobilise them for the lobbies. I have also been holding numerous meetings with colleagues in day services explaining why they need to oppose plans to turn them into a Local Authority Trading Company. I will be working hard to have a good turnout on our local demonstration 30.1.11 and to be sending a good contingent to the TUC demonstration 26.3.11 but also to be encouraging our members to take industrial action. Needless to say as Chair of the Branch and of the Trades Council I have worked hard to try to make sure all parties feel comfortable working together in the Alliance.

If we are not successful our branch will not exist in the next 2 years as most of us will be working for the private sector.

I am seeking nomination to the NEC from all of those who think like me. The welfare state is something to be proud of as even in its imperfect state it takes some of the fear out of the economic consequences of becoming ill long-term, of becoming unemployed, falling on hard times. These were things which haunted previous generations. The welfare state is our inheritance and it is something I think we are rightly committed to as union. The economic crisis – something not created by public sector workers – is the fraudulent reason being given for a massive redistribution of wealth from the poor to the rich and a reorganisation of our society, which sees no place for a welfare state.

Local responses to the cuts are necessary and will hopefully be successful but I believe it is the job of the NEC and all of our national bodies to make sure the fights are linked up where possible and also to offer some national fightback. The Government, although weak, is well organised and coordinated in its attacks. The recent student demonstrations drawing on the support of other trade unions, including ours, show the Government can quickly be unnerved. As Brendan Barber (TUC General Secretary) expressed recently, the student demonstrations are probably just a prelude of things to come. I believe we need to make sure those demonstrations are a prelude and not the end of a fightback. This requires coordination and a national response to organise the fightback.

I believe I have the necessary experience to take this job on. In this country and in Germany I have always been a member of a Trade Union. In Germany I was one of the initiators organising residential workers, where I worked, into the Trade Union and part of a group from this which organised the first ever demonstration against our voluntary sector employer. Returning to London I first joined UNISON whilst being a temp in Lambeth and recruited other temps to the union. In Hackney I became a steward just as the Council went bankrupt and led in my section (Adults Services) over the cuts. I organised a successful boycott of interviews over a restructuring in our department. In Barnet I became a steward and then went on to become Branch Chair 2005. I have played an active role in all of our campaigns. I would want to put some of this grassroots organising experience into the NEC. On the NEC I would be part of, I hope, a majority on the left who want to give everything to ensuring our Welfare State remains part of our heritage and something we pass on to the next generation in an even better state.

I would also urge you to also nominate Marshajane Thompson who is standing with me in the other female London seat; and Jon Rogers, excellent current incumbent standing in the male seat.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Davies

Membership Number: 1224335

Email: ayupchuck@googlemail.com

Richard Buckwell - Request for nomination to UNISONS NEC

2011-01-21T08:52:00.000-08:00

Richard Buckwell - Request for nomination to UNISONS NEC

Dear Branch Secretary

National Executive Council Elections

East Midlands Regional Male Seat

Request to nominate RICHARD BUCKWELL

Membership Number 1070781, Ashfield Branch

I am writing to your branch to ask it to nominate me for the above seat in the forthcoming National Executive Council (NEC) Elections. Please could you raise my request to be nominated at one of your branch or executive meetings between Tuesday 11^th January and Friday 18^th February.

A new leadership of UNISON is needed

I first started work in local government almost 38 years ago. We have never faced such draconian attacks on public services as this government is now attempting – not even under Margaret Thatcher!

We require a response from UNISON, and the other trade unions, together with other local and national campaigners for public services, the like of which none of us have seen in our lifetimes. Being the largest union representing public sector workers it is incumbent upon our union leadership to lead the fight against service cuts and attacks on national terms and conditions, and to give confidence to members that we can beat back this assault.

If we believe the public sector was not the cause of the present financial crisis, and it was the fault of private sector banks, then why should public services and our jobs be the ones that pay for it!

I believe the present leadership of our union has become too complacent after years of expecting deals with New Labour. It has lost a belief in knowing how to inspire members, and to give them confidence that they can win these fights, rather than settle for the least worst options.

I believe that I, and other supporters on the left, can and do offer a more inspiring way forward

- one where UNISON members can punch with their weight of 1½ million members;

- one inspired by the likes of students, in their demonstrations and occupations;

- one which looks to workers elsewhere in Europe that have responded with general strikes and massive demonstrations from Greece to Ireland,

- one where we will just not accept 'there is no alternative';

- one where we keep on fighting until we win.

I remember the anti Poll Tax campaign. This became a law passed by Parliament, but continued opposition meant the Poll Tax had to be abandoned. I believe we can, and must, lead the same sort of campaign to beat back the attacks on public sector services. We should not have to pay the price of the bankers' recklessness!

The challenges for UNISON

Fighting the cuts

We need to campaign for sustained strike action if we are to defeat the level of cuts being proposed. This needs to be in conjunction with other trade unions and co-ordinated across services. The TUC demonstration on the 26^th March needs to be massive.

It needs to be built for in every branch across every service, and be part of the agenda for linking local fights against cuts. It will help rebuild the confidence members need to develop a own self belief that collectively we can win.

The emphasis should be on our members taking action, and not reliance on local elections in May to elect Labour Councils. They will still likely be implementing the government's cuts, albeit at a slightly slower pace.

Local elections in May will not address the problems in the health service, or other services we organise in. Campaigning in marginal Parliamentary constituencies will not show real dividends until after this 4 year programme of cuts has been implemented. We can, and must stop, these cuts.

The example of the protest of 800 teaching assistants in Nottingham City and the (Labour) Council deferring cuts shows that employers can be forced to back track. Just before Christmas Kirklees branch voted to strike against the cuts. There should now be a massive national campaign to support them.

Defending our Pensions

In the face of the attack on public sector pensions we should be united across the public sector, whatever the differences in individual service pension schemes. In particular the local government pension scheme must not be separated from other schemes as happened in the last attack on public sector pensions.

As a member of the Local Government Service Group Executive I believe that the union must initiate forthwith a high profile campaign to defend the Local Government Pension Scheme and other schemes and begin preparations for potential industrial action ballots. The campaign should include UNISON initiating discussions via the TUC to establish a joint campaign timetable and seek to co-ordinate combined industrial action.

Our Pay

It is a disgrace that the union has not stood firmer on the cuts in our pay achieved by below inflation settlements for a number of years now. Foregoing pay rises does not save jobs. Only 18 months ago public services workers in Ireland took pay cuts, but by not standing firm it was only seen as a sign of weakness by their government coming back for more swinging cuts as last autumn.

If the union accepts we are not the cause of the crisis why should we pay for it. Indeed more spending power for public sector workers should help local economies. Where I work in Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, 30% of the population works in the public sector. We need more money going into the local economy not less.

My record in UNISON and the trade union movement

I have the experience to be part of a new leadership. I have been Ashfield Branch Secretary, where we have had a high union membership for many years. I have been a Regional Council delegate since the formation of UNISON; on the Regional committee for the last 9 years, previously Chair of the Region's International committee, and a regional delegate to the Trades Union Congress. Last year I was elected as the Region's general seat representative on the national Local Governments Service Group Executive.

I am secretary of a vibrant Notts. TUC which last year both helped initiate the call for the Midlands TUC successful conference against the cuts in October, and also 'Notts. Save Our Services' as a broad campaign in response to the public sector cuts. Notts. SOS involves both trade unions and local campaigns against cuts and has called a number of public protests, including a 1,200 -1,500 strong demonstration in November. I am a member of the Midlands Regional TUC Executive Committee.

A campaigning record

In the role of Branch Secretary I have wide experience of leading local campaigns, in particular over housing issues (I have been a housing officer for over 30 years). I am a founding member of the Defend Council Housing campaign nationally, to which UNISON nationally is affiliated. There could never be a time like now when we need a mass Council housing building programme, to house those thrown out of repossessed homes; to employ thousands of laid off building workers & use the stock piles of bricks and other building materials. This shows there is an alternative which would be a great move to restart the economy.

· I led 2 successful campaigns in my branch against privatisation of our housing services. As part of this I and my branch successfully fought my suspension by my employer. Despite my Authority having established an Housing Arms Length Company (ALMO) some years ago we now are campaigning for the housing services to be brought back in house following a recent review of the ALMO.

· Job Evaluation and Single Status. I am the lead negotiator on this and though not concluded, have led local negotiations to achieve one of the very best equal pay settlements in the country. Properly funded Single Status agreements can't be achieved without the union having a nationally co-ordinated campaign to support local branches, and I will continue to campaign for such an approach.

· Fighting service cuts, job cuts & privatisation. This is the key fight for any branch at present. In Ashfield we have yet to see large scale service cuts being proposed by our employers. However In numerous recent restructures, including shared service proposals, I have involved members collectively to achieve best outcomes. As a result so far we have largely beaten off enforced redundancies and continue to fight for a job for every member displaced. Members need to be won to a collective response and industrial action if needed.

· Fighting Racism and Fascism. Despair and a lack of fight back can only lead to a rise in racism and fascism. The priority must be to instil a belief that members do have the power to win, but also to warn of the dangers if they don't. I have been an active campaigner against racism and fascism all my life. I firmly believe that any public presence by groups like the BNP or English Defence League (EDL) must be openly and publicly opposed whenever they set foot in an area. They should never be allowed to demonstrate unopposed.

Why your branch should nominate me

I stand for:

· A co-ordinated national campaign with other unions for strike action against the cuts

· A co-ordinated national campaign with other unions in the public sector to defend our pensions

· Co-ordinated pay campaigns with other unions, in practice & not just in name, across the public sector

· A campaign for a programme of public works, to include a mass council house building programme, to counter homelessness & provide employment

· Working only with the Labour Party where it supports UNISON policies and commits to fighting the cuts, but not working with them when they are in power and implementing cuts.

Support for other candidates

As a supporter of UNISON's United Left grouping I also urge your branch to support the following candidates standing for a change to the left

IN THE EAST MIDLANDS

Female seats: Jean Thorpe from Nottingham City &

Sharon Vasselin, Nottingham University Hospitals

Reserved seat: Ann MacMillan-Wood from Derbyshire County Council.

FOR NATIONAL SEATS:

Black Members

Female seats: Bola George &

April Ashley

Male seat: Hugo Pierre

Young Members

Estelle Cooch

National Service Group seats

Local Government:
Female seats: Phoebe Watkins

Cathy Smith

Male seat: Paul Couchman

General seat; Paul Holmes

Health Care:
Female seat Kate Ahrens
Male seat: Len Hockey
General seat: Martin Booth

Higher Education

Female seat: Carole Hanson

General: Max Watson

Water, Transport & Environment

General seat: John Jones

Community

General seat: Alec McFadden

Many thanks for taking the trouble to read & discuss my nomination, and in anticipation of your support

Richard Buckwell

Martin Booth request for nomination UNISON NEC Eastern Region

2011-01-21T08:51:00.001-08:00

Martin Booth request for nomination UNISON NEC Eastern Region

Dear branch secretary.

I am writing to ask if your branch would consider nominating me for the Eastern Region Male seat on the National Executive Committee. Nominations have to be made at a meeting held between 11/1/11 and 18/2/11.

I am standing because I feel we are facing the most serious attack on public services and living standards in our lifetime. The Tory-led coalition government is using the 'deficit' to justify the wholesale dismantling and privatization of our essential services. As most people realize, there is not a scrap of truth in the coalition's claim that 'we are all in it together'; in reality It is working class people who are bearing the brunt of the ConDem attacks.

We do not have to stand by and allow our jobs, services and living standards to be decimated so as to 'repay the deficit'. According to the Tax Justice Campaign, something like £120 billion could be wiped off the deficit just by collecting the money the rich avoid paying in taxes. Add to that the money that could be saved by scrapping Trident, withdrawing UK forces from the ruinous Afghan war and cancelling the scandalous amounts being repaid to PFI contractors, and a huge chunk of the deficit will have been wiped out, opening the way for real investment and expansion of our public services.

UNISON has excellent policies on all this, but it is not enough to just have good policies. The student fees protest movement shows that there is a new generation of young people who are ready to fight with a determination we haven't seen for a generation, and we in the trade union movement should be inspired by them. The national demo called by the TUC in March is a great step forward, and all branches must and I am sure will organise lots of their members to attend. But we must lead the way in organizing a huge fightback long before that.

In Cambridgeshire I have played a leading role in the formation of Cambridgeshire Against the Cuts (I am currently its secretary), which has already organized several demonstrations, lobbies, petitions and other campaigns against cuts in local services. Similar movements have started off in other parts of the region. If we can organize a united movement like this locally, we must be able to do so nationally! It is exactly that kind of movement I will campaign for if I am elected to the NEC.

These are the most challenging times UNISON, and the whole working class movement, has faced for generations; the union and above all its leadership must rise to that challenge. That is why I am seeking your nomination.

If you require any further information or would like me to attend your meeting then you can contact me on martin.booth3@ntlworld.com or 07754095046.

My Membership No is 30808589, and my Branch is Cambridge Health Branch number 01270

HUGO Pierre - request for nomination to UNISON NEC Black members male seat

2011-01-21T08:50:00.001-08:00

HUGO Pierre - request for nomination to UNISON NEC Black members male seat

NISON National Executive Council (NEC) Elections 2011

Nominate Hugo Pierre for National Black Members (Male) Seat

UNISON membership number: 1140926

I am writing to seek the nomination of your branch for the NEC. I want to stand because our members will have to plan and prepare to fight the attacks on public sector workers.

I am the Convener for school staff in Camden UNISON. I have represented members in Education and schools for over 25 years during which time I have organised successful campaigns to raise members out of poverty pay; organising industrial action amongst nursery nurses and teaching assistants to increase their pay and fight for better conditions of service. I have also organised to stop cuts and closures recently preventing the Authority from closing a deaf school.

In my experience UNISON members have enormous enthusiasm for campaigns against the attacks of their employers when they have a leadership they know will fight to the end alongside them. Members and activists I meet regularly ask the question 'why isn't the national union fighting for my pay or pension or job?'

I want our national leadership to change our union into a fighting democratic union.
Service & Job Cuts

A Coalition of losers is preparing to slash 1 in 4 public service jobs and the services provided. By Christmas Eve 2010 over 87,000 Local Government workers in 107 councils have their jobs under the axe. Many Councils still haven't issued their full plans for job cuts. Those that have are now claiming youth workers, nursery workers, social workers and many other UNISON members delivering services face the sack. This situation is mirrored in Health, Higher Education, the Public Utilities and the energy sectors.

What they can't cut they'll try to privatise. I believe UNISON must co-ordinate a national fightback against these national attacks. The TUC demonstration in March should make a clear call for united national action of the 5 million unionised public sector workers to defend our jobs.

I will fight to untie the hands of members who want action to defend their jobs but are prevented by bureaucratic obstacles. But branch by branch will leave members in weaker branches in trouble – we must fight together.
Pensions

The government are using the media to claim we have 'gold-plated' pensions that cost the tax-payer. We need a national campaign now to protect our pensions but also a leadership that will stand up to the government and organise action to defeat their plans. We should be planning action with other public sector unions to save our pensions.
Pay

The hard-nosed Local Government Employers have introduced the pay freeze one year early. We need a hard-nosed union leadership to fight to keep our members from taking a pay cut year on year. Successful national pay campaigns build confidence and organisation vital for the fight against cuts.
Schools

Schools Workforce Remodelling has failed to deliver our members out of poverty pay or provide them with a career structure. It has delivered more exploitation by Headteachers who want teachers on the cheap!

School staff need national agreements binding on schools but nationally UNISON must organise members to fight for the best pay, terms and conditions.

No to Racism

We must fight to defend a unity amongst our membership. The Government and our employers could increasingly turn to sacking, privatising or slashing the pay of minority ethnic workers first. Our unity in fighting all cuts is our strength. We must oppose any who attempt to sow racial division in our union.
Economic Crisis

This recession will mean ruin for many working families, including UNISON members, as an estimated 1.3 million face unemployment and housing repossessions unfold. Public Sector workers will be asked to pay for a crisis they did not create.

Our union's strategy must put our members' interests first!

I want to be part of a leadership that:

· fights to defend every public sector job,

· ends privatisation plans such as PFI in our schools and hospitals,

· supports those in the private sector fighting to defend their jobs, pay and conditions.

Stop Funding New Labour!

The Con-Dem attacks are coming thick and fast. But Labour prepared the ground. Across the country how many Labour Councillors will genuinely stand on our side to oppose the cuts? Which Labour Councils will refuse to pass on the cuts and fight for the budgets needed for our services?

Incredibly UNISON is still handing over our funds to New Labour when most members see little difference between them, the Tories and the Lib Dems. Members look at our struggles over pay, pensions and privatisation and draw the conclusions that our link with New Labour has stopped us from fighting these battles successfully.

I would campaign for us to change our rules so that UNISON members could decide to fund candidates in elections who were prepared to support UNISON policy – not sponsor New Labour candidates who pass on cuts and privatisation.

As a socialist, I believe its time the trade unions got together to form a new party that would fight for working people.

Comradely,

Hugo Pierre

Bola George - Request for nomination to UNISON NEC

2011-01-21T08:49:00.000-08:00

UNISON National Executive Council (NEC) Elections 2011

Nominate Bola George for National Black Members Seat (female)

UNISON membership number: 3514280

All branches can nominate for the black members seats and all members can vote in the election for this seat.

I am writing to seek the nomination of your branch for the National Black member's (female) seat.

I am Unison activist and currently the Chair of Brent Unison and have remained chair for the past 5 years. I have also been a delegate to Regional Council for a couple of years now and have enjoyed my experience in understanding the role of the Union and its functioning. Through my experiences, I have come to realise the need for true democracy imbibed with strong leadership that drives and aims to deliver social justice.

We need a Union that is inclusive and upholds equality. One that puts its members first and challenges discrimination, harassment and genuinely supports minority members in getting their voices heard. We need a union that believes in self organised groups and actively. We need a leadership that will stand up for our members against the Con-Dem cuts.

Each branch is facing its most difficult year and our region needs to focus exclusively on leading and supporting activists and branches.

I will be committed to making our Union accessible to all ensuring that our diverse union is well represented and not segregated but campaigns for equality.

I am a committed member of all the committees that I am involved in and I assure you that I will represent the interest of our members diligently and effectively at all times. I promise on my part to deliver and stand up to represent all our members fairly and equally.

I would appreciate it if you could put this request to your branch committee to nominate me for a NEC Black Members Female Seat.

I urge you to nominate me along with April Ashley for a Black Members Female Seat and Hugo Pierre who is standing for the Black Members Male seat.

I also urge you to nominate all the candidates standing for a fighting and democratic union.

Bola George

Nominate April Ashley for National Black Members Seat (female)

2011-01-21T08:47:00.000-08:00

UNISON National Executive Council (NEC) Elections 2011

Nominate April Ashley for National Black Members Seat (female)

UNISON membership number: 3167703

All branches can nominate for the black members seats and all members can vote in the election for this seat.

I am writing to seek the nomination of your branch for the National Black member's (female) seat.

I am currently the National Black Members (female) representative on the NEC and I have worked hard over the past year campaigning for racial equality in the workplace. This year is vital for UNISON as we need to organise national action to defend our members against the 'Con-Dem' Government cuts.

I continue to work as the Assistant Branch Secretary of Southwark Local Government Branch. As a union activist for over 15 years I have organised and led numerous campaigns to defend members from the attacks of employers of constant reorganisations, job cuts and downgrading of jobs, as well as the normal day to day work of grievances and disciplinaries. I have experience in organising branch action around national campaigns on pay and pensions.

Through my experiences I have seen that whilst members are quite determined to fight against these relentless attacks our leadership fails to match the determination of ordinary members. We need the leadership to change in order to become a fighting and democratic union.

Public Sector Cuts

The 'Con-Dem' public sector cuts threaten the jobs of hundreds of thousands of UNISON members. What they can't cut they'll try to privatise leading to worse conditions and service. However, it is clear that black workers will be hit hardest by the cuts. I believe UNISON must co-ordinate a national fight back against these attacks. Branch by branch will leave members in weaker branches in trouble – we must fight together. We also must use the Equality duties of the Equality Act 2010, even with its limitations, to ensure that black workers and black community groups are not unfairly targeted in the cuts.

Pay

Unfortunately the local government employers have introduced a pay freeze. They have even refused to pay the Government agreed £250 for workers earning under £21,000. And of course as black workers are the lowest paid workers with many employed in privatised care homes as domestic assistants, cooks and cleaners, this decision disproportionally affects black workers. But unfortunately our members have not been asked their opinion, not been asked what action they wish to take or asked how can we defeat a pay freeze?

Pensions

The government are using the media to claim we have 'gold-plated' pensions that costs the tax-payer. However members know the average public sector pension is only £4,000 so we need to protect our pension to ensure it is not reduced to a pittance. The interim pension report published by Lord Hutton is a ruthless attack on our modest pensions. We need a national campaign now linking with other public sector unions, such as the teachers and civil servants, to save our pensions.

Health

Workers in the NHS are facing an unprecedented attack. The 'big bang' of privatisation where all GP services are set to be privatised under the name of 'local accountability' is the proposal of the Government health White Paper. We all know privatisation leads to the 'race to the bottom' for public sector workers in terms of wages, terms and conditions. Who are at the bottom of the pile?- black workers! We need to campaign against this wholesale privatisation of the NHS.

Schools

The Con-Dem government has abolished the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSNB) which was seeking to negotiate national terms and conditions for all staff school. However any national negotiations will only be successful if terms and conditions are legally binding on all schools so each school is not left to fight on its own. The current Schools Workforce Remodelling has already failed to deliver our members out of poverty pay or provide them with a career structure. It has actually delivered more exploitation by Head teachers who want teachers on the cheap! Although the SSSNB has come to the end we still need to organise members to fight for the best pay, terms and conditions.

Economic Crisis

This recession will devastate many working families, including UNISON members, as an estimated 1.3 million face unemployment, and many could lose their homes. Public Sector workers will be asked to pay for a crisis they did not create.

Our union's strategy must put our members' interests first! We need a leadership that will fight to defend every public sector job and ends privatisation so that we do not have to pay for this neo-liberal capitalist crisis.

Stop Funding New Labour!

The Con-Dem attacks are coming thick and fast. But Labour prepared the ground. Across the country how many Labour Councillors will genuinely stand on our side to oppose the cuts? Which Labour Councils will refuse to pass on the cuts and fight for the budgets needed for our services?

Incredibly UNISON is still handing over our funds to New Labour when most members see little difference between them, the Tories and the Lib Dems. Members look at our struggles over pay, pensions and privatisation and draw the conclusions that our link with New Labour has stopped us from fighting these battles successfully.

I would campaign for us to change our rules so that UNISON members could decide to fund candidates in elections who were prepared to support UNISON policy – not sponsor New Labour candidates who pass on cuts and privatisation.

I urge you to nominate me along with and Hugo Pierre who is standing for the Black Members Male seat.

I also urge you to nominate all the 'Reclaim the Union' candidates.

Fraternally,

April Ashley

April Ashley - Request for nomination to UNISON NEC

2011-01-21T08:45:00.000-08:00

UNISON NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL - ALEC MCFADDEN

07831627531

alec_stuc@hotmail.com

Dear Branch Secretary

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL - COMMUNITY GENERAL SEAT

I write to seek your Branches nomination for the Community General Seat on the National Executive Council. I work for the Salford TUC Unemployed Community Resource Centre, part of the TUC network of Unemployed Centres. I am also a Unison Activist as well as an anti- fascist campaigner, socialist and campaigner against climate change.

This will be the first time that community members will be directly electing our own representative on the National Executive Council. At a time when Unison members in the community section and indeed all Unison members and public workers face threats from the ConDem government. This rotten coalition is determined to force massive ruthless cuts in the public expenditure which will put vital public services and community jobs of thousands of Unison members jobs at risk. I firmly believe that the current policy of fighting cuts on a branch by branch basis is totally inadequate and that a national strategy is required.

The TUC national demonstrations against cuts on 26 March is a very positive action which all active trade unions should support and take part in.

It is very clear that Unison needs a strong fighting leadership to defend our members, the community and vital public services, so I hope you will nominate me to represent the community sector and all Unison members.

(documentation for this election can be downloaded from UNISON'S website)

Yours in the struggle

Alec Mcfadden

SALFORD UNISON

RMS 3574396

alec_stuc@hotmail.com

Paul Holmes request for nomination to UNISON NEC Local Government General seat

2011-01-21T08:44:00.000-08:00

Paul Holmes request for nomination to UNISON NEC Local Government General seat

National Executive Council Elections

Nomination for the Local Government Service Group - General Seat

Name: Paul Holmes

Branch Code: 13325

RMS Number: 1787781

I am seeking nomination from your branch for the NEC for the Local Government Service Group (General Seat). I am currently the NEC member for this seat which I first won in 2007 and won again in 2009 (with a 450% increase in my majority). As an NEC member I have a proud record of continuously campaigning for the policies on which I was elected.

My Experience

I have been a member of the union for 37 years, a steward for 36 years and Branch Secretary of Kirklees UNISON for 21 years (I am also a former member of the NALGO NEC). I am currently a member of the NJC for Local Government and the Local Government Service Group Executive. I am proud to be a socialist and a trade unionist.

Activity

I regularly contact local government branches in dispute to see if I can be of assistance. I have visited over 40 branches this year. One of the proudest moments of my life was to be involved in the Leeds Refuse Workers' Strike. The members' problems are the same wherever I go. So are the solutions - leadership, organisation, solidarity, resources, hard work and planning. Local Government branches felt isolated about Single Status and they feel the same about cuts. The main purpose of an NEC member is to give leadership. That is what I try to do. An NEC member should also listen.

The Future

No-one doubted the Coalition Governments' desire to cut, but no-one should doubt that it is a weak government. Our future is in our hands. The debate over student fees has shown that young people are not apathetic - they have been lied to as we all have. Together the unions, sympathetic councils, community groups and service users can come together and win.

There is no doubt that further attacks will come. Bankers are greedily looking at the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). We will need the full force of the union to defend the LPGS. All the forthcoming battles can be won - but to win them we have to return to our roots. Union organisation, recruitment and planning are vital. We have to re-introduce basic trade union principles to our movement.

Nomination

I ask your branch to support my nomination for the NEC Local Government Service Group General Seat. If your branch do nominate me you should complete the nomination form and return it to UNISON HQ. I hope that your branch does support my nomination. I have kept my campaign promises. I have spoken at many UNISON branches across Britain since becoming an NEC member and have always had a good reception among the members. I will continue to help to fight to build this union. We have to build - we have no choice. The enemies of the labour movement did not go away and they have returned with a vengeance. United we can beat them.

Yours Faithfully,

Paul Holmes

Paul Couchman request for unison NEC Local Government seat

2011-01-21T08:43:00.000-08:00

Paul Couchman request for unison NEC Local Government seat

Appeal for nomination to the

National Local Government Male Seat on the UNISON NEC

Dear comrades

I am writing to ask your branch to nominate me as a candidate for the above NEC position.

I am currently Branch Secretary for Surrey County. I am also the South East Region Representative on the National Social Care Forum.

I have been an active socialist and trade unionist for all of my adult life. I joined the National Union of Railwaymen (now the RMT) when I left school and started on the railways. I spent two years working in Glasgow for the Anti-Poll Tax Federation and have been active in Surrey County UNISON for over ten years now.

I am proud to be part of a strong, democratic and growing branch which is never afraid to lead our members in struggle. Over the last few years we have seen strikes over pay and conditions (we are on a local pay agreement) and I led a high-profile and successful strike of mental health social workers for overtime payments. We are currently fighting a barrage of cuts and our Unison branch took the initiative in launching a County-wide anti-cuts group called Save Our Services in Surrey which has gone from strength to strength.

I have also led campaigns to increase mileage allowances, increase the Surrey minimum wage and against introducing car park charging for staff. All these campaigns involved mass meetings, campaigning activity, hard negotiating and industrial action ballots. All these campaigns were successful.

I am also active in local community politics and last year I was active in two major local battles in my constituency of Spelthorne – the fight to save a local infant school and the local FE college from complete closure – both were huge local campaigns involving hundreds of parents, students and trade unionists. Both the school and the college were saved. I believe strongly in building the widest solidarity and campaigning networks possible to defend not only our members but the services we both provide and need.

am standing for the NEC as part of the national 'Reclaim our Union' group of candidates. I believe we need a more democratic, fighting union and I will do everything I can if elected to make this happen. I would also ask you to consider supporting other candidates who are part of the 'Reclaim the Union' group.

We are facing the most important time ever for our union. Our members are looking for a lead – to defend their jobs, pay and conditions. I do not believe we are currently doing enough at a national level. We should be coordinating with other trade unions and planning national action now! UNISON in Scotland are building for this – so should the rest of us be. I moved motions at both our Regional Council and Local Government Regional Conference calling for the NEC to work with other unions and call a date for a national demonstration earlier than the TUC demo at the end of March – both events carried the motion but we are still waiting.

I am also opposed to UNISON maintaining our affiliation to the Labour Party. Under 13 years of New Labour we saw a massive increase in privatisation and outsourcing and the launch of the academies programme. The Labour Party would have made cuts if they had won the election. Labour councils are making cuts. UNISON should only support politicians who stand firm against ALL cuts.

* Build for the TUC demo on 26th march (our branch has already booked and paid for 4 coaches)
* Build UNISON
* Build the Anti-Cuts movement
* For national coordinated public sector strike action now!
* Oppose ALL cuts – in jobs, services, pay, conditions and pensions
* Challenge the politicians – fight the cuts or get out of the way!

Please consider nominating me as a candidate for the UNISON NEC

Yours in solidarity

Paul Couchman

UNISON Membership No: 6022529

Surrey County Branch (Local Government)

Kathy Smith request for nomination to UNISON NEC - Local Goverment seat

2011-01-21T08:41:00.000-08:00

Kathy Smith request for nomination to UNISON NEC - Local Goverment seat

UNISON National Executive Council

Elections 2011

Nominate Kathy Smith for Local Government (women's) Seat

UNISON membership number: 0880027

Dear Branch representatives

I am writing to seek the nomination of your branch for the NEC in the forth coming elections.

Who I am

I am currently the branch Chair of the Bromley Local government branch and have been active in UNISON and NUPE before it since 1975. As a cleaner then caretaker and now Library Assistant I have seen the constant attacks on our jobs and services and the employers drive to force us to constantly take on more work in order to get services on the cheap.

Bromley Branch

I am proud of the role and reputation our branch has had over many years of not being frightened to speak out when we see the union leaders and union bureaucracy fail to act in the interests of our members.

The right to speak out should be a basic democratic right in our union and not a crime, that is why I will continue to fight against the unjust ban on our branch Secretary Glenn Kelly and the union's undemocratic actions in taking control of our branch out of the hands of the elected local representatives.

Threats we face

The election of the Con Dem Government last year is by far the greatest challenge facing the trade union movement for decades. Their ideological agenda to destroy the welfare state within the next 5 years has to be met with the full might of our trade union, in conjunction with all other trade unions and wider community groups. This must involve the calling of coordinated and generalised strike action in defence of jobs and services. We believe the NEC has a responsibility to organise and plan such action, and not to leave branches to fight alone to stave off the worst of the cuts. I believe that the union should immediately call a special local government conference to plan our national fight against the cuts.

As I write this letter, almost one quarter of councils have served compulsory redundancy notices on its staff and the government is proceeding to sell off our prized assets like the NHS, to privately led consortiums.

Attack on Pensions

On top of this the government are using the media to claim we have 'gold-plated' pensions that cost the tax-payer in preparation for an all out attack on our pensions. We need a national campaign now to protect our pensions but also a leadership that will stand up to the government and organise national strike action to defeat their plans. We should be planning action with the other 5m public sector workers and unions to save our pensions.

We welcome the call by the newly elected General Secretary of Unite, Len McCluskey, for joint coordinated action by all trade unions which has to be the clarion call for us all. We must also hammer home the clear message that there IS an alternative to the cuts agenda which involves cancelling the national debt owed to huge banking interests, taxing multinational offshore companies, and cancelling Trident.

The protests by young people to prevent the rise in tuition fees and the cancellation of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) has shown our movement how we need to organise. We should be linking up with these young people, user and community groups and other interested parties to forge local anti cuts groups.

Our message should be clear and simple, we are opposed

to all cuts in jobs and services
to backdoor privatisation and outsourcing
to cuts in pay and conditions of service
to any attack on our pensions

New Labour Cuts

Whilst we should give our full backing to those councillors who campaign against and vote to oppose the cuts, We must not flinch from criticising those Labour councils and MP's who choose to attack public services rather than stand up to the government's dictate. Unison should not give a penny to New Labour where they cannot or will not support the defence of public services.

End the Witch hunt

Finally I will if elected work to stop the unnecessary and divisive witch-hunt of activists in our union. Too many good representatives have been suspended or expelled from our union when we need all our strength and resources united behind our central objective, to defend public services. I want to see our union genuinely member lead which is why we also advocate that all elected representatives of our union should be on the average wage of the members they represent.

For a fighting Democratic union - Reclaim UNISON for the members

Kathy Smith

Phoebe Watkins - request for nomination to UNISON NEC

2011-01-21T08:39:00.000-08:00

Phoebe Watkins

Camden Branch

Membership number: 1140421

Dear Branch Secretary,

Request for nomination for the Female Local Government NEC Seat

I am writing to you to ask you to nominate me for the NEC this year. I am a longstanding union member – having worked in Housing for 30 years – and am Convenor of Adult Social Care and the joint Branch Chair for Camden local government branch. I have been involved in local services in different capacities – as a Governor of the Nursery school my children attended in the past, and now as a Trustee of our local community centre which offers services to the local community across the generations from infancy to old age.

We are in unprecedented times. Even before the May 2010 election local government workers were faced with real cuts in pay. The Hutton review of public sectors pensions offers the prospect of working longer, contributing more money and receiving less at retirement.

And now we are seeing job losses at a rate we have never seen in local government; alongside the wholesale closure of some services and with this a particularly high toll on the young and the elderly. While the financial crisis resulted from the greed and downright corruption of those in charge of banks and financial services we are expected to pay for their mistakes. The Con-Dem government see the financial crisis as a good excuse to pursue ideological hatred of publicly provided services,. They would have cut in much the same way whether there was a financial crisis or not!

The scale of the cuts is effectively a dismantling of the Welfare State as we know it. For example, cuts to the national adult social care budget are a swingeing £17billion and with the ageing of the general population, the need for these services will only get greater. The lies of the Con-Dem government about protecting health and education are truly appalling. Thousands of support staff in schools and LEAs are set to lose their jobs, and the localising of commissioning to GPs also means that the responsibility for many health services will be pushed onto local Councils with no additional money.

Though the TUC decision to hold a demonstration in the spring is very welcome, it is also long overdue. It will take place after thousands have lost their jobs and services are already closed down. We need a trade union leadership that is prepared to take the fight to the streets as an immediate response rather than wait months.

The students have shown that where a call is made, tens of thousands are prepared to protest. Despite the freezing weather, thousands of young people – many on their first ever protest – sent a seismic shock through society as a whole, not least the trade union movement. UCU members – who have been organising against the fee hike and cuts to EMA - were joined by UNISON members on these demos and by many family members (like myself) whose children will be affected by these cuts. But, with the resources of UNISON and the size of our memberships in further and higher education, I would have expected our profile and numbers to be far greater. It is our members in schools, FE colleges and in universities who will be the first to go and we need to rise to the challenge to force this Con-Dem government reverse these cuts.

I am not in the Labour Party, but I believe that we should work with all politicians who stand for and promote the policies of this union. That will include many Labour Councillors, MPs and constituent party members. However, I believe we should also be able to criticise and oppose them, not least through strike action, where we are being attacked and bearing the brunt of the cuts implemented by Labour councils. Locally in Camden, we have built a coalition across unions, parties, and local community organisations (such as tenants' associations) to fight the cuts. It started through the Trades Council and has flourished into an organisation that built a 3,000strong demonstration to Whitehall on October 20th; built a 500 strong lobby of the Cabinet meeting in December, and is organising further protests in the New Year. Plans to close all play schemes in Camden met with immediate protest and hundreds of parents, kids and play workers attended the lobby with home made placards and loads of energy to fight these cuts.

I believe our union needs a new kind of leadership. One that will be prepared to take a lead, and echo what the new UNITE general secretary said – to build a coalition of protest including coordinated strike action to bring this government down. The Con-Dem government is weak – we need to exploit that weakness and make ourselves seen, heard and to persuade our members that these cuts can be effectively opposed.

For our union to survive intact, we need to build our strength. To not lead a fight means other forces can exploit the breaking up of our services, and could lead to organisations such as the EDL or the BNP building on people's misery.

I am standing alongside other members who want to see our union standing up against these attacks and I would ask you to also consider nominating Paul Holmes (Kirklees) Kathy Smith (Bromley) and Paul Couchman (Surrey County).

Please consider nominating me to stand for the Local Government Female NEC. I am more than happy to come along to speak in your branch if invited, and answer any questions you may have for me.

Yours in solidarity,

Phoebe Watkins

Phoebe.Watkins@btopenworld.com
07808795479

John Malcolm request for nomination Health Seat UNISON NEC

2011-01-21T08:38:00.000-08:00

John Malcolm request for nomination Health Seat UNISON NEC

JOHN MALCOLM membership no 3222

Unison Tees Esk & Wear Valleys Health 20112

FOR NEC Election 2011 Health Seat General

I am writing to request your Branch nomination for the NEC election 2011 Health Seat General. I am currently the Branch Secretary for the Tees Esk & Wear Valleys Health Care Branch, and have been a steward for almost 25 years. I am also deputy chair of the Staff side Organisation in a Mental Health Trust of over 5000 staff. I have been involved in successful campaigns defending members and services in the NHS Trust where I am employed including against privatisation and defending staff terms and conditions. I am currently involved in campaigning to stop over 100 HCA's who are being downgraded.

NHS

The Con-Dem government is effectively proposing the wholesale privatization of the National Health Service. In doing so David Cameron and Nick Clegg aim to finish what Margaret Thatcher started in the 1980s and continued by New Labour. Andrew Lansley, the new Tory health minister has set out his government's plans to reduce the NHS to dust. Far from the stated aim of cutting bureaucracy and saving money, these plans are predicted to cost £1.7 billion to implement. The NHS under the Con-Dem coalition will be transformed from a public service employing millions of health workers to commissioning services from a range of private companies with a minimal workforce in a fully fledged health care market.

Pensions:

With the Hutton Review partially completed it is clear that we can expect to see attacks on pensions for all our members regardless of Service Group. Our pensions are our deferred wages and our leadership must be prepared to fight attacks. The best chance of success will only be given by a strategy both to inform our members and prepare them for Industrial action which should be coordinated with other public sector trade unions wherever possible.

A FIGHTING CAMPAIGNING UNION

Unison Health SGE has quite rightly rejected a two year pay freeze and the proposal for a no redundancy pledge in return for a freeze on pay increments.

Unfortunately senior officials appear to be holding out for further negotiations and offers from the government rather than mobilising the membership for decent pay and defending terms and conditions. It is clear that the employers and the government plan to drive down the living standards of health workers alongside the destruction of the NHS. This is why we need to build on the positive SGE decision and develop a national strategy to defeat the coalition government.

John Malcolm membership number 3222 (Unison Tees Esk & Wear Valleys Health)

Len Hockey nomination request to UNISON NEC Health Seat

2011-01-21T08:37:00.000-08:00

Len Hockey nomination request to UNISON NEC Health Seat

Leonardhockey789@hotmail.co.uk

Branch number 03378-Waltham Forest Health Branch

Dear UNISON Branch Secretary

UNISON National Executive Council Elections (NEC) 2011

Nominate Len Hockey for the Health Service Group Male Seat

UNISON membership number: 0748487

I am writing to seek the nomination of your branch for the health service group male seat on the NEC.

I have 22 years trade union activity in UNISON and NUPE becoming Branch Secretary for Waltham Forest Health Branch in 1990. I have served on the Health Service Group Executive up to 2010 and represent the Greater London Region on the National Ancillary Sector Committee. I am currently a member of the Greater London Regional Committee and have been an active socialist and trade unionist since 1980.

FOR A FIGHTING DEMOCRATIC UNION

The threat posed by the election of the ConDem government to all of the social advances working people have made in the last 80 years demands a radical programme of united action across our union and all service sectors. I believe firmly in the militant and campaigning traditions of the labour movement. This requires strategies that build from the bottom up, fighting public sector trade union alliances, including coordinated industrial action which is the agreed policy of the TUC. This together with our involvement in the mobilisation of the growing anti cuts union organisations in the communities will be crucial if we are to defeat every threatened job cut and every threatened service cut.

DEFEND THE NHS

Our National Health Service under the mis named Government White Paper "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" is to be further privatised and seriously downsized with workers now facing attacks on pay, conditions and national and collective agreements. Working class communities will be confronted with the nightmare of a reduction in services that the NHS will no longer undertake. Hinchingbrooke hospital in Cambridgeshire is the first NHS hospital to be transferred completely to a profiteering private company.

NO TO PAY RESTRAINT

The attempts by those who would have us accept pay restraint, in reality pay cuts, has to be resisted. Pay freezes and the forgoing of incremental pay uplifts for spurious, localised "agreements" to avoid compulsory redundancies is a dangerous trap and must be opposed! In reality this ends up with the worst of both worlds. The employers are already on the offensive and pushing down bandings all over the place while trusts have no money for redundancies anyway!

MAKE THE BOSSES AND BANKERS PAY

But these threatened brutal attacks are neither necessary nor inevitable and UNISON at National level needs to be saying that loudly and clearly to its membership, the employers and the predatory profiteers now circling above.

This crisis that originated with the bankers is being used ideologically to try and grab back the past won gains of our movement. The UKs debt is nothing to do with us and everything to do with the employers and the unmitigated chaos of their unplanned capitalist system.

LEARNING FROM THE YOUTH

The inspirational movement of young students against the attacks on the right to education holds valuable lessons for the labour movement. Many of these students have generalised their experience into opposition to all cuts including participating in RMT picket lines on strike days. To thrive and survive UNISON must attract radicalising young people if we are to reinvigorate our organisation.

UNITY IS STRENGTH-FOR NATIONAL ACTION FOR JOBS PAY AND SERVICES

If elected to the NEC I will vigorously campaign for the ideas outlined above. The attack on the welfare state is at the same time the opportunity to break out of the old ways of doing things; to take the campaigning initiative on a nationwide basis in defence of our hard won democratic rights and to champion the politics of social need over private greed.

The nomination period opens on 11th January and closes on 18th February 2011. I hope that your branch will nominate me. Also please nominate Kate Ahrens, John Malcolm and Shona Greig in the other health seats.

Please get in touch with me if you have any questions about my candidature or my views on any issue within the union.

Fraternally

Len Hockey

Kate Ahrens - request for nomination to UNISON NEC

2011-01-21T08:36:00.000-08:00

Kate Ahrens - request for nomination to UNISON NEC

Dear UNISON Branch Secretary,

I am writing to ask for your branch's nomination in the UNISON National Executive Council elections for one of the national health service group female seats.

I am a nurse, working in Intensive Care in Leicester. I have been a member of Unison and a steward for 13 years and during that time we have seen huge changes across the health service. Now, I believe we are facing possibly the biggest changes of all – fundamentally altering the framework of the health service. At the same time we are having to deal with massive cuts and sustained attacks on our pay and working conditions.

Staff in the health service, (myself included) are dealing with a lot of emotions: we are depressed by the increasing workload with not enough people to do too much work, we are frightened about possible job cuts or service reorganisations, we are angry about the heavy-handed "efficiency savings" cutting essential job roles without consideration as to how it will impact upon service delivery; we are worried about the patients in our care; we are scared about how we are going to pay the bills next month and the month after that.

So we are looking to our union to understand these feelings and be prepared to help us to stand up and fight for our interests and for the future of the health service. We need a union that can show us that there are alternatives to accepting the Tory/Lib-Dem model of health care provision. That can bolster our nerve and give us the confidence to defend the services that we provide.

Right now, UNISON is not providing the kind of support and leadership that we need. As I write this letter, a proposal is on the table from the health service management of a framework agreement whereby NHS Trusts sign up to a "no compulsory redundancy" agreement for bands 1-6, in return for all staff agreeing to forego their incremental pay rises. UNISON has yet to comment on this proposal other than to say we are "consulting". But we need our leadership to actually lead. UNISON should have said – as even the RCN have managed to say – that this proposal is a bad one. It requires a huge sacrifice on the part of every NHS worker and offers virtually nothing in return. As it is a framework agreement, it divides us into our constituent Trusts rather than maintaining the collective strength we have when we negotiate together, leaving weaker branches vulnerable. Compulsory redundancies are just one small part of the ways in which Trusts seek to cut costs and make their workforce smaller – and as they are expensive, Trusts look for other methods first in any case. This deal won't stop any vacancy freezes, redeployments, downgradings, voluntary redundancies, forced retirements or the changes to service provision that drive some people out of their jobs because they can't bear to work under so much pressure.

In fact, this deal won't even stop compulsory redundancies. Ordinary nurses know that: the Nursing Times poll found that 80% of nurses who responded believed that Trust managements would renege on this deal if it was implemented. If nurses, far from being the most militant of the health service workforce have worked out that this deal should be rejected, then why is it taking so long for the leadership of our union to say so?

Maybe it is because the current leadership can't see a strategy for challenging the cuts. Maybe they still cling on to the always foolish idea that back-room negotiations with Government ministers can win us more than open confrontation. That notion was wrong and muddleheaded when Labour was in power. Now, with the Tories and Lib-Dems breaking every election promise either of them made, it is dangerously misguided.

UNISON has the potential to be so much greater than the sum of its parts. We are not just a health union, not just a local government union, not just a union for power, water and utilities workers. If we linked up our disparate service groups to act as a unified union we could be so much stronger in support of our members and the public services we all work in. Instead we are punching well below our weight. Even on issues such as public sector cuts, or our members' pensions, where our members' pay, jobs and livelihoods are directly threatened, our union is failing to use the industrial strength that comes from being one of the biggest trade unions in this country's history. I believe this failure is the responsibility of the National Executive Council and I want to put it right.

I want to be part of a new leadership of this union; one that will fight on the issues that matter most to us – saving the health service from the government's attacks, defending our members terms and conditions at work, fighting against privatisation in all its forms.

If elected to the NEC, I will make it a principle to report back to those that had elected me the decisions made in all the committee on which I sit and the role that I play in making those decisions. In a democratic organisation it is vital that the members can assess what their representatives are doing so that they can hold them to account, otherwise informed decision making is not possible. I will regularly report, through e-mail reports sent to each health branch secretary (and to anyone else who wants them), on all the work that I do on your behalf if I am re-elected to the NEC. That way, you, the members can honestly assess my worth to you as your representative.

The nomination period opens on January 11th and closes on February 18th. I hope that your branch will decide to nominate me, and also to nominate Shona Greig, Len Hockey and John Malcolm in the other health seats.

Please get in touch with me if you have any questions about my candidature or my views on any issue within the union.

Yours in solidarity

Kate Ahrens

Vez Kirkpatrick Request for nomination to UNISON NEC - West Mids Female seat

2011-01-21T08:35:00.001-08:00

Vez Kirkpatrick Request for nomination to UNISON NEC - West Mids Female seat

Dear all,

I am asking you to consider nominating me for the West Midlands Women's seat on the National Executive Committee. Currently I am the chair of the West Midlands Young Members Forum, and sit on the National Young Members Forum, so have experience in organising members and making regional voices heard at a national level. At this point I am keen to be more involved with the democratic structure of the union. I feel I have the time and energy to represent the members of the West Midlands at a national level and get the issues that matter to you heard by the NEC.

I have been a UNISON member for over two years, and have worked as a Health Care Assistant for three years, and in April I will be starting my Nursing training. The NHS is my biggest passion, and at this time it is under severe attack from the coalition government. As a public services union, UNISON needs to fight with every ounce of its strength to protect the integrity and quality of our national health service, to the bitter end. I am not prepared to see patients wait longer for treatment, nurses' stress levels rise as staffing levels are cut, and the tabloids have a feast on the "appalling" conditions in NHS hospitals. But the cuts threaten every sector of our society, and the coalition government would love to see the public sector crumble away, to be replaced my greedy private sector giants.

In the coming year, I believe that UNISON needs to fight harder to protect our services, and encourage members to actively (and loudly) campaign against unnecessary and regressive cuts. As members of a trade union, we should be supported in whatever action is deemed necessary and effective to make our voices heard, including industrial action. The recent student demonstrations against the increase in tuition fees demonstrate that Britain's young people have not fallen into apathy – we need to take a leaf out of their book and show the same passion and resilience against the attacks on our services.

UNISON needs to encourage wider participation amongst existing membership (as far too many members are disillusioned or disinterested) and fully support and fight for all those members whose jobs, pay and conditions are threatened by management greed and government cuts. With your support I will do my best to reclaim the union for the members. I will be an honest and communicative representative who will do everything in my power to make sure the NEC is truly acting on behalf of the membership at large.

I would also ask you to consider nominating Clive Shakespeare for the West Midlands General seat.

In solidarity,

Vez Kirkpatrick

Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust Branch / West Midlands Young Members Forum

Emma Macbeth - nomination request unison nec South East region

2011-01-21T08:34:00.001-08:00

Emma Macbeth - nomination request unison nec South East region

Dear Colleague

Nomination for UNISON National Executive Council:

South East Region - Female Seat.

I am sending this letter to seek the nomination of your branch for one of the South East Region female seats on UNISON's NEC.

I was Branch Secretary of Oxford City from 2003 to 2007, Branch Chair 2007 to 2009 and on the Regional Committee from 2003 to 2009. I was a Local Government representative on the NEC from 2007 to 2009 but did not stand last time as I took a step back from high-level union activities to focus on my daughter, who was born during my term of office. She is now three and I also have a one-year-old son but, due to the outrageous attacks on our public services which we are all facing, I felt I could no longer take a back seat.

I am currently my branch's Communications Officer and Regional Council delegate. I have just co-ordinated a branch-wide consultation on Oxford City Council's draft budget, which has seen not only unprecedented membership involvement, but also an increase in our membership. I have set up and now run our branch website: www.oxfordcityunison.blogspot.com.

My recent experience will be extremely relevant, if I am elected, but my previous experience even more so. In particular, as the chair of the South East Regional Publicity and Campaigning Committee, I oversaw the region's pension campaign, including the organisation of the well-attended regional pension forums. All service groups were involved and many new activists came forward as a result of the campaign.

It is essential that we fight now to defend our public services - this is not something that can wait. UNISON members are being made redundant NOW. UNISON members are seeing their terms and conditions cut NOW. The services our members and their families use are being cut NOW.

We must fight back NOW.

If elected to the NEC, I will campaign for:

A strong leadership, fighting to defend our jobs and services, and working with all our branches.
A strong union, showing other unions the way rather than following behind.
An accountable leadership.
A political fund, accountable to those who pay into it and acting in line with the ideals of UNISON as a whole. (I am my branch's Labour Link officer).

I hope that your branch will support my election. A completed nomination form is to follow.

If you need more information, please contact me. I am happy to answer any questions you may have and will make every effort to attend your Branch Committee, if that would help your branch make your decision.

Best Wishes

Emma Macbeth

Sophie Smith Rudge - Nomination request for NWest Reserved seat UNISON NEC

2011-01-21T08:32:00.000-08:00

Sophie Smith Rudge - Nomination request for NWest Reserved seat UNISON NEC

Dear Branch Secretary

I am writing to ask if your branch would consider nominating me for the North West Reserved seat on the National Executive Committee. Nominations have to be made at a meeting held between 11/1/11 and 18/2/11.

I am standing because our current Coalition Government has embarked on the biggest attack on the working class and our public services in a generation. They are seeking to privatise the entire University system, rip up the safety net of benefits and make ordinary people pay for a Recession created in the banks.

I am standing because I believe we should oppose these cuts. Trade Unions are our democratic organisations – they allow us, collectively, to have a say in how our workplaces, services and country is run. They have to take a lead in organising mass resistance to the cuts.

UNISON has backed the TUC's national demonstration on 26 March and has backed the student protests: this is a fantastic starting point. A huge turnout on 26 March could break the ConDem Coalition - which the students have already cracked – and bring an end to the cuts.

But I believe we must do more. We cannot simply rely on the students or on national demonstrations, important as they are, to oppose the cuts. We must organise strikes and action in our own workplaces. These campaigns need to go beyond just protecting jobs – a voluntary redundancy is just as much a cut in services as a compulsory redundancy – and we cannot continue to sell our pay and conditions for ineffectual guarantees of No Compulsory redundancies. Instead, we should defend our jobs, our services and our communities from the biggest threat they have faced in a generation.

I am standing for the NEC because I believe that our fights and campaigns must be united. We cannot allow any of our members to face these cuts alone. The ConDems are attacking all our services and we should fight back together. We have over a million members in our union and we need to bring all of that strength to bear on resisting the cuts. This means co-ordinated action across UNISON and our sisters unions in both public and private sector. Together we can stop the cuts.

I am also asking you to consider nominating Roger Bannister for the male seat, Tony Wilson for the general seat in the North West, Bernadette Gallagher and Karen Reissmann for the female seats, as well as myself for the Reserved Seat.

If you require any further information or would like me to attend your meeting then you can contact me on sophiesmith-rudge@hotmail.co.uk or 07916725396

Sophie Smith-Rudge

Roger Bannister - request for nomination to UNISON NEC North West Region

2011-01-21T08:31:00.002-08:00

UNISON NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

ROGER BANNISTER

r.bannister@blueyonder.co.uk

4 January 2011

Dear Colleagues

National Executive Council – North West Male Seat

I am writing in order to seek your Branch nomination for the above Seat on the National Executive Council, that I have held since the inception of UNISON.

UNISON members have never faced such threats as they do now from the ConDem government, whose determination to force through ruthless cuts in public expenditure is putting badly needed services and hundreds of thousands of UNISON members' jobs at risk. I believe that the current policy of fighting cuts on a Branch by Branch basis is wholly inadequate, and that a national strategy is required, initially on a Service Group basis.

Members facing cuts and redundancy from Labour councils will want to know if we are using our Political Fund to best effect by giving it to people and parties that attack our members.

It is clear that UNISON needs a strong, fighting leadership to defend our members and vital public services. Although often in a minority, my record is one of speaking out for ordinary members, the rights of Branches and for the strongest possible opposition to any attack, from whatever government, on UNISON members.

I hope that you will nominate me in this election, so that I can continue to fight on your behalf, (documentation for this election can be downloaded from UNISON's website).

Yours sincerely

Roger Bannister

RMS Number 1318436

Karen Reissmann request for nomination to UNISON NEC North west seat

2011-01-21T08:31:00.001-08:00

Dear branch secretary.

I am writing to ask if your branch would consider nominating me for the North West women's seat on the National Executive Committee. Nominations have to be made at a meeting held between 11/1/11 and 18/2/11.

I am standing because I feel we are facing the most serious attack on public services and living standards in our lifetime. The ConDem alliance is using the economic crisis to attack things like the NHS and social services which they never agreed with in the first place. We are not "all in it together". It is working class people who are bearing the brunt of the ConDem attacks.

In Ireland, trade unions accepted that cuts were needed to solve the economic crisis. They took 15-20% cuts and then the banks and government came back for more. We need to make sure unions in Britain do not do the same. Some may say we just need to wait to re-elect a Labour government next time. What will be left if we do? Why did Labour not win the last election? Because their cuts and privatisations opened the door to the Tories.

Despite the severity of the attack, UNISON has been slow at a national level to respond. The NEC has to organise a bigger and more effective campaign that the one it is currently planning. The national demo called by the TUC is a great step forward. All branches must and I am sure will organise lots of their members to attend. But why have we had to wait 9 months for a national demo.

Councils, education, NHS, civil servants, police, prisons, utilities etc are all facing the same attacks on jobs, services, and hard -on terms and conditions. Each sector and each workplace is being left to fight on their own. This has to stop. We are a union of 1.4 million members. We need to start acting like one.

In recent weeks tens of thousands of students have taken to the streets to oppose huge rises in tuition fees and the scrapping of the Education Maintenance Allowance. Student protests have rocked the ConDems, splitting the coalition down the middle.

There's a lesson here for all of us: fight back together and we can stop the attacks.
That also means industrial action against the cuts. We need to be more serious about coordinating action across UNISON sectors and across unions.

I have personal record of fighting back that I am proud of. I was sacked for standing up and defending mental health services in Manchester. Downgradings and closures proposed there 4 years ago have still not taken place. I am proud of all the support we received in Manchester from all of you.

But the NEC is not just about personal record. It is about being prepared to take on the ConDems and organise the sort of campaign we need to stop them now. Please nominate people who are fully committed to doing this. We have no more time to waste.

I am also asking you to consider nominating Roger Bannister for the male seat, Tony Wilson for the general seat in the North West, Bernadette Gallagher and myself for the female seats.

If you require any further information or would like me to attend your meeting then you can contact me on karen@reissmann.fsnet.co.uk or 07972 120 451.

Karen Reissmann.

Bernadette Gallagher request for nomination to UNISON NEC - North West female seat

2011-01-21T08:30:00.001-08:00

Bernadette Gallagher request for nomination to UNISON NEC - North West female seat

Dear Branch Secretary

National Executive Council Elections 2011

I am writing to seek your branch nomination for the North West Region Women
's Seat. Nominations open on 11th January and close 5pm,.18th February 2011. Nominations must be made at a quorate meeting held between these dates.

I have been privileged to represent the North West Region on the NEC since 2007. I firmly believe in the accountability of elected representatives and throughout my period on the NEC I have regularly reported back to my constituent branches.

I have always been outspoken and prepared to criticise the union leadership when necessary and appropriate. However I do not believe it is productive to be oppositionist for the sake of it and now more than ever I believe it is vital that we all work together in the huge battle to defend public services, terms and conditions and pensions.

We need to ensure that the tough rhetoric of the public sector union leadership is turned into direct action. Our members are facing unprecedented attacks, the trade union movement should respond with a united resistance co-ordinated at the highest level. UNISON should use its influential position on the General Council of the TUC to ensure that resistance to public sector cuts involves the whole of the trade union movement. For too long individual branches and individual unions have been left to fight battles on their own.

I believe that I have the necessary experience to represent members on the NEC; I am the branch secretary of one of the largest local government branches in the North West, with a proven track record of defending terms and conditions.

Resistance to attacks by the employer on either a branch or national level can only be achieved by good union organisation. I pride myself on setting high standards within my own branch and lead by example in relation to commitment, dedication and hard work.

I would very much like to serve on the NEC for a further term of office and would welcome your branch nomination.

Yours Sincerely

Bernadette Gallagher

Tony Wilson request for nomination to UNISON NEC

2011-01-21T08:28:00.000-08:00

To all UNISON Branches in the North West Region:

Dear Colleague,

UNISON National Executive Council (NEC) Elections

I am writing to ask your branch to consider nominating me for election to represent members in the North West Region on UNISON's National Executive Council (NEC) for the General seat.

I am standing as a current NEC member for re-election as I believe we need a leadership for UNISON that is prepared to fight to defend our members, defend our pensions and defend our jobs. The Condem coalition is using the economic crisis to attack Public services like the NHS which they were always ideologically opposed to – Thatcher's unfinished business. It is vital in the coming period with worse attacks on members living standards planned than those of the Thatcher era that all our Service Groups are co-ordinated and linked up to defend our pension schemes such as the Local Government Pension scheme and NHS scheme through industrial action if necessary. We must also link up with other public sector workers for joint action to defend our living standards.

Since first being elected onto the NEC in 2009 it has been an honour and privilege to represent members on the union's highest lay committee but from my experience on the NEC I believe that we are currently punching below our weight and that we need to organise a bigger and more effective campaign. These elections give UNISON members the opportunity to elect NEC members prepared to speak up and act in a way our members deserve and expect and to stand firm against the attacks of the employers and Condem coalition. Too often in the past we have failed to use our collective strength for the benefit of our members. As the magnificent student protests against the huge tuition fees rise and Education cuts show there is a new mood of resistance. The Condem coalition has been rocked. UNISON must firmly place itself as part of this resistance.

The response of our movement to the unprecedented Condem assault will now be critical. The TUC's demonstration on 26 March will be key to giving trade union members the confidence to take action in defence of jobs and services.

Experience

I am Branch Secretary of GMPTE (06393) Branch and have been active in UNISON (and before that NALGO) as a steward, Branch Officer and Regional Council delegate for a period spanning over 20 years. I am currently a member of the North West Regional Committee. I have been a member of my Service Group Executive for the last 5 years. On the NEC I am a member of the Industrial Action Committee. I have a track record of defending members' jobs and pensions against privatisation – see articles on the UNISON website. I have supported many members through regrading appeals, disciplinaries and grievances. Throughout the 'Best Value' regime no member of our branch got outsourced/privatised and we succeeded in keeping services in-house. There are renewed challenges with the Condem coalition cuts and pressures from employers for 'efficiency' but my branch has already mobilised for a strategy to oppose redundancies including if necessary to take industrial action to defend any member faced with a compulsory redundancy situation. My UNISON Branch has an 80% union membership density.

Local Government

All local government branches are faced by threats of compulsory redundancies, cuts in redundancy payments, stopping of increments, cuts in holiday and cuts in premium pay rates. The Employers are launching these attacks in a united way. They talk to each other. Our branches should be encouraged to share experiences and co-ordinate action. No branch should be left to fight alone.

National Health Service

This coalition plans to dismantle the health service as we know it. Our fight should be political and industrial. A free 'at the point of use' National Health Service is a vote winner!

A strong voice for the North West Region in UNISON

I believe it is important UNISON continues its support for the campaign against the BNP's politics of hate. The BNP should not be allowed to occupy seats of power they would use to push policies of racism and fascism in direct opposition to our core union values. Over the years I have been active in the campaigns against racism and the BNP. I am opposed to all forms of discrimination. All our members have the right to be treated equally and with dignity at work.

In our Region I believe that Karen Reissmann alongside our current representatives Roger Bannister and Bernie Gallagher would be the best candidates who would put our members first and would be committed to the sort of campaign we need to stop the Condems and I would ask you to consider nominating them. Nominations have to be made at a meeting held between 11^th January 2011 and 18^th February 2011.

Please find a link to the UNISON NEC election procedures: http://www.unison.org.uk/elections/pages_view.asp?did=12231

Accountability

Those on the NEC should never forget that it was ordinary members who elected them to that position. Whilst on the NEC I have made it a principle to report back to those that elected me. In a democratic organisation it is vital that members can assess what their representatives are doing and their role in decision making so that they can hold them to account.

I hope that your branch would consider giving me your nomination. My membership number is 1313351 and I can be contacted on 07592 011021. I am more than happy to address branches.

Yours in solidarity,

Tony Wilson

e-mail: tonwilson@ntlworld.com

Hannah Walter - request for nomination to UNISON NEC

2011-01-21T08:27:00.000-08:00

Hannah Walter - request for nomination to UNISON NEC

NEC Elections: Northern Region, Female Seat

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to request your nomination in the upcoming National Executive Council elections for the Northern Region Women's Seat.

In the 2 years that I have held a seat on the NEC I have worked and argued for leadership which is prepared to stand up with and fight for our members; not pay lip service to them. The need for this is now greater than ever. I have been the only Northern Region NEC member to regularly send reports of NEC and NEC Sub-Committee meetings to Branches – something I believe is essential if members and Branches are to be able to hold their NEC members to account.

At 25 years old I'm a young member of Unison and am enthusiastic about defending and fighting for our members. I work at a secondary school in Stockton and am an active Steward and Branch Officer in my Branch. As such I understand the difficulties and battles that our activists are involved in from the ground up.

As a result of the current economic crisis billions of pounds of cuts are proposed for our public services. I believe that the future of our jobs, pay, pensions and services will be dependent on having a leadership which is not only prepared to fight employers or government but does so with a thought-out strategy which engages our members and builds our union. I believe that I have the energy, time and commitment to give our members the support they deserve and the tenacity to speak out if a decision doesn't represent the best interests of our members.

Pensions:

With the Hutton Review partially completed it is clear that we can expect to see attacks on pensions for all our members regardless of Service Group. Our pensions are our deferred wages and our leadership must be prepared to fight attacks. The best chance of success will only be given by a strategy both to inform our members and prepare them for Industrial action which should be coordinated with other public sector trade unions wherever possible.

Jobs:

Over the next 4 years we face approximately 700,000 public sector job losses and 600,000 private sector job losses as a direct result – some of which will be our members in outsourced services. The redundancies that are proposed are the result of National policies and as such must be responded to with a national campaign and national action. If local councils, Trusts and other employers are to be forced to permanently back-track on proposals for redundancies they will need additional funding from the Tory-Liberal Government, this will not be achieved through leaving Branches to battle on an individual basis.

Pay:

Over the last few years Unison members have not seen a single 'real' pay rise (i.e. above the rate of inflation). It's understandable that with attacks on jobs and pensions, pay has not been at the forefront of our members minds. However with the rate of inflation increasing alongside tax rises and cuts in benefits the issue of pay will undoubtedly return as a cause for complaint for our members. UNISON should be preparing to campaign on pay as part of a drive to defend public services and public sector workers at all levels.

Privatisation:

All sectors are now facing threats of mass privatisation. The White Paper on Health and the emergence of "easy-jet" councils is a taster for what this government has in mind for our members and the people we support. The reality of privatisation is pay cuts, attacks on jobs and conditions. The money that is often promised for investment into these services is frequently side-tracked into the pockets of shareholders leaving our members and service users with the short-straw. A high profile campaign explaining the consequences of privatisation to both our members and members of the public is needed urgently to stop these proposals in their tracks.

Union Democracy:

Many branches, when faced with cuts and privatisation, have built large and potentially successful campaigns to oppose them. Too often, support for industrial action has been delayed, refused or hampered by full time officials and national leaderships. In the current period this could spell disaster for our members. That is why I support the election of all full time officials on the average wage of the workers they represent. Branches should also be given the freedom to campaign on local and national issues.

Labour Link:

Despite only a minority of members being signed up to the Labour Link, Unison sets aside millions of pounds of our members subs each year for it. Under the last Labour Government our members saw pay freezes, privatisation and reductions in their pension entitlements. Now in Local Government many are faced with Labour-led councils wielding the axe on behalf of the Tory-Liberal government. If Labour MP's and Councilors want our member's money then they should have to represent our members interests and our unions policies – including voting for them in parliament and council meetings! To achieve this means giving Branches the final say over whether funds are given to their local Labour representatives, and giving Branches the freedom to support non-Labour Anti-Cuts candidates where Labour are the ones wielding the axe.

Yours Faithfully,

Hannah Walter (Stockton Local Government Branch)

Membership Number: 9002634

The other candidates I also ask that you support are:

Northern Region Male Seat: Dave Walkden

Black Members Female Seat: April Ashley

Black Members Male Seat: Hugo Pierre

We won't pay for their crisis: Reclaim our Union meeting

2010-10-25T04:13:00.000-07:00

United Left candidates in NEC by-Elections

2010-09-29T01:54:00.000-07:00

The UNISON United Left is supporting the following candidates in the current NEC by-elections:

Local government - Hugo Pierre
Young members - Chris 'Kit' Leary
Northern region - John Malcolm
Higher Education - Max Watson

Paul Holmes: GENERAL SECRETARY ELECTION

2010-06-24T02:52:00.000-07:00

Statement from Paul Holmes on the General Secretary Election

We live in interesting times. Can I begin by thanking all those who campaigned for me in the election? It was both an honour and a privilege to have the support of such fine people.

I won't name individuals because I don't think that would be egalitarian or in the spirit of a collective campaign. But those who did campaign for me were people I am proud to be associated with.

I also thank those who voted for me. The turnout was 14%. That was the problem. To win we had to increase the turnout. It was too near the general election. Things will change enormously over the forthcoming period and the union will need to be transformed to face the challenge.

It will be interesting to see how many ''leaders'' leave the movement over the next 12 months and how they are replaced by those who want to fight.

We have no choice but to fight and re-learn the lessons of old.

The Tories haven't changed and neither has the struggle. Some comfortable Labour MP's and trade union officials may think that the class struggle is over but those reared on the playing fields of Eton are returning to try and put us in our place.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the election campaign. It was uplifting to meet so many committed activists, who are a credit to the union. I have been invigorated by visiting branches who are doing such good work.

My faith and confidence in socialist ideas has been strengthened during the campaign. Our members are the 'lifeblood' of this union. Our aim should be to represent members not control them. The gratitude and warmth of someone you represent is worth ten times as much as material gain or political intrigues.

The increased votes for left candidates in this election signals the need for a change of approach from our Union, we must unite and fight to defend public services and defend our members from the coming attacks.

Once again thanks for your support. To quote the immortal Shelley;

'Rise like Lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number -
Shake your chains to earth like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you -
Ye are many - they are few.'

Or to quote the Man from North Gawber;

'I learnt my socialism on the end of a shovel'.

Results:

Dave Prentis 145,351 (67.2%)
Roger Bannister 42,651 (19.7%)
Paul Holmes 28,114 (13%)

UNISON UNITED LEFT broadsheet summer 2010

2010-06-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

UNISON UNITED LEFT broadsheet paper, sold at conference is now available as a pdf download. If you want hard copies to distribute, please get in touch.

Paul Holmes speaks at UNISON United Left AGM

2010-06-06T15:11:00.000-07:00

Paul Holmes speaks at UNISON United Left Annual General Meeting on 15th May 2010, on the new Con-Dem government, tactical voting, class politics and the Labour Party. Part 1 of 3:

Paul Holmes speaks at UUL Annual General Meeting, 15th May 2010, on the election for UNISON General Secretary. Part 2 of 3:

Paul Holmes speaks at UUL Annual General Meeting, 15th May 2010, on the election for UNISON General Secretary. Part 3 of 3:

Go to Paul Holmes' website here: http://www.paulholmeskirklees.blogspot.com/

UNISON United Left website launched in time for fight back

2010-06-06T14:06:00.000-07:00

At our AGM in May 2010 we agreed on the need to launch a new website – and already it’s here http://unisonunitedleft.blogspot.com/

The General Secretary election has given us on the left a chance to build our base among rank and file activists and the widespread support for Paul Holmes – who was backed by the UUL – shows the broad support for an alternative, more militant leadership of our union.

And the current Tory government’s programme of savage, swift cuts to our jobs and services highlights the need for a fighting union as never before.

So we’re launching our website with a simple message: if you agree with the need to build a rank and file, fighting, democratic, union that promotes international solidarity, and builds solidarity between other fighting union branches, then join us.

On our website you’ll find links to our activists work and to various campaigns. You’ll find Youtube clips and links to our discussion forum. Get involved… and feel free to leave a comment on the posts (and yes – wreckers, spammers and ‘trolls’ will be banned from coming back).

One of our key demands – for democracy and accountability in UNISON – is mirrored by our own mode of organisation. We are open and accountable, transparent and honest. Our AGM is open to all members to come and to contribute, and to elect the officers who moderate this website.

And our website is just one small window into our activity. Look out for our broadsheet paper at conference and come to our fringe meetings to find out more and get in touch.

Websites are a fundamental organisational tool nowadays and UUL is proud to have an easy to use, accessible and concise electronic platform. So get browsing, watch our Youtube clips, follow links to supported campaigns and active UNISON branches and get in touch with your ideas and comments to improve this site.

UNISON UNITED LEFT support Paul Holmes for General Secretary

2010-06-01T16:02:00.001-07:00

UNISON UNITED LEFT voted to support Paul Holmes in the election for General Secretary for UNISON. Watch part of the launch of his campaign rally, speaking on the post-election situation, the unions, class society and the Labour Party:

Watch Paul Holmes speak on the unions and the rank and file here:

You can see the breadth of support for Paul Holmes by seeing how many branches nominated him, read his request for nomination letter, and download his election leaflet from the campaign website. Get in touch with the Paul Holmes campaign to find out how you can help. The balloting period ends 11 June, 5pm, see here for more details. Watch more Youtube clips, read more reasons to vote for Paul, and how you can help all on the Paul Holmes website.

Paul Homes, Kirklees UNISON Branch: A Fighting General Secretary on a Worker's Wage

What we stand for

2010-06-01T15:49:00.000-07:00

Solidarity with UNISON members and other workers in struggle. The Union has to be there to support members – and other trade unionists – who are forced to take action;
A democratic trade union controlled by its members, which tolerates and encourages open debate;
A union which puts the interests of its members ahead of its relationship with the Government – with democratic political funds which enable us to represent our members interests;
A union that fights for equality and against racism, sexism, homophobia and all forms of unjust discrimination;
An internationalist union that opposes unjust wars and defends rights and freedoms throughout the world;
The maximum unity of trade unions and the working class to pursue our common objectives.

For some more background, go here. Agree with us? Then join UUL!

UNISON UNITED LEFT

2008-05-19T14:42:00.000-07:00

UNISON United Left (UUL) is a grouping of several hundred UNISON members which was created by a wide range of UNISON activists to try to provide a unified voice for rank and file activists in what was then the biggest trade union in the UK.

Activists who had previously organised in the Campaign for a Fighting and Democratic UNISON (CFDU) joined with others who had not been part of the CFDU in order to provide a strong voice for rank and file members within the Union.

The United Left is a rank and file network for existing UNISON activists and is committed to building and strengthening UNISON.

We aim to organise solidarity for UNISON members and other trade unionists taking action (UUL members have been in the forefront of organising support for the Fremantle strikers, and for victimised activists Karen Reissmann and Michael Gavan for example).

We aim to organise to promote socialist policies in the interests of UNISON members at branch, Regional and National level - in particular at National Delegate Conference. UUL will be organising a series of fringe meetings at this year's Conference, as well as organising on the floor of Conference itself.

We aim to influence UNISON policy in a positive direction, for example by helping to coordinate campaigns to reject unacceptable pay offers or for support for strike action.

We aim to support candidates in UNISON elections who want to develop UNISON in a positive direction. We will seek to work with other leftwingers in the Union to maximise the strength of the left on our National Executive Council after the next elections.

We aim to promote democracy and lay member control of our trade union and to defend UNISON activists who face unjustified and politically motivated disciplinary action.

UUL is not an official part of UNISON and we do not use any UNISON resources in our activity. We are, however, completely committed to building and strengthening UNISON. UUL members are all active members of UNISON at branch, Regional or National level.

Where possible we seek to build and strengthen the Union through the official structures of the Union itself. Where this is not possible we use our unofficial organisation as UUL to build and strengthen the Union as a fighting and democratic trade union for our members.