Unite and the Labour Party Leadership – Jerry Hicks

The UNITE Executive Council meets today to decide who to back in the Labour Party leadership election. In June the UNITE Policy Conference overturned the EC and supported an Emergency Motion seeking to get all the candidates onto the ballot paper. Despite this, MPs failed to nominate John McDonnell, the candidate most supportive of UNITE…

Liam

July 26, 2010

1–2 minutes

The UNITE Executive Council meets today to decide who to back in the Labour Party leadership election.

In June the UNITE Policy Conference overturned the EC and supported an Emergency Motion seeking to get all the candidates onto the ballot paper. Despite this, MPs failed to nominate John McDonnell, the candidate most supportive of UNITE policies, such as the repeal of the anti-union laws.

Today the EC is faced with a choice between four former New Labour ministers and Diane Abbott. Diane Abbott has the backing of John McDonnell and the Labour Representation Committee, and opposes the cuts, privatisation, Trident and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Jerry Hicks a candidate for the election of General Secretary of Unite says “At the UNITE Policy Conference, Tony Woodley said that he personally could only back a candidate who supported the repeal of the anti-union laws. It would be a travesty if the UNITE EC backed a candidate who was part of the New Labour government that blocked that repeal for 13 years”.

Jerry Hicks will be the only candidate that is not a national official of the union and many believe he could become the first elected General Secretary of super-union ‘Unite’. Union insiders report increasing concern from senior officials of Unite that, following the result of the General Election, workers may reject officials seen as too close to the previous Labour Government. Given the size and make up of Unite, it makes the election for the union’s General Secretary the most significant union election for decades.

5 responses to “Unite and the Labour Party Leadership – Jerry Hicks”

Liam

July 26, 2010 at 9:49 am

An unanswered question in all this is the position that Gail Cartmail will take. She’s positioning herself as the candidate “who is not reliant on any faction or grouping”.

Will show be equally agnostic on the Labour leadership?

http://www.votegailcartmail.org.uk/

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daveinstokenewington

July 27, 2010 at 9:18 am

many believe he could become the first elected General Secretary of super-union ‘Unite’.

Equally, many do not.

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shug

July 29, 2010 at 3:58 am

I would assume that many of the Unite members,would see Hicks,as a return to the old union stand of, one out,all out,and a threat to the present regime of, negotiation with least possible disruption to productivity,strike free mentality.A mentality that has seen some progress to the betterment of their members,understanding the oppresive anti union laws.

Yet the benefits that all unions have gained, have always come from workers suffering, that is the nature of employer worker relationships,no matter of good will and faith bargaining,a negotiating system that for better or worse has led to a soft working membership who opt for timid negotiation with the least effect on their pay packet.

As Jerry, says, he is going to shake the tree,and for many of the members of Unite,that will be a uncomfortable alternative to the present regime.

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charliethechulo

August 8, 2010 at 11:46 pm

Serious leftists will be voting for McCluskey. Retired members should have a place, but *not* “equal rights” within a trade union.

Hicks dismisses the risk of letting in Bayliss, b ut it’s a *real* risk and his lightmindedness about it tells us volumes about Jerry’s egotism and opportunism. Vote McCluskey!

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birminghamresist

August 9, 2010 at 7:08 am

That should surely read *some* serious leftists will be voting for McCluskey. Well, we can’t help that but many serious leftists will be voting for Jerry.

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