Unison general secretary election - Prentis vote falls despite Con-Dem attacks

Written by A Unison member Tuesday, 06 July 2010 23:02

As reported in last week's Socialist, Unison general secretary Dave Prentis was re-elected to his position in the recent ballot, but with fewer votes than when he last stood in 2005.

The drop in votes for Dave Prentis was in the region of 21%, disproportionate to the fall in the turn-out in the election, from 16% to 14.6%, and is despite the fact that the election took place after the general election, when the threat of the Con-Dem attacks on public sector workers might have been expected to rally Unison members behind the union and its leadership.

Don't let Unison democracy go up in smoke

Written by Unison members Monday, 15 March 2010 00:00

Video from the Defend the Four Campaign's protest outside Unison HQ, London

Dawn raids on Unison branch offices

Written by A Greenwich Unison steward Friday, 12 March 2010 13:57

Fight the cuts, not union members

Onay Kasab (Kaz), Greenwich Unison branch secretary, was told to "disappear sharpish" by Unison bureaucrat Dan Pappiett. That is just part of the shameful scene I witnessed last Friday at 7.50am as I shook with anger. This was without doubt an attack on every one of the 3,500 members in Greenwich.

Nominate Roger Bannister

Written by Roger Bannister Tuesday, 23 February 2010 16:03

Council workers need a fighting union

Roger Bannister is a member of the Unison union's national executive, and campaigning to stand for election as Unison general secretary. Roger says the union must fight the cuts in Birmingham, which are being repeated by councils, health authorities and the education sector nationwide:

"THE PROPOSED culling of jobs, conditions, pay and public services has begun. Dave Prentis, Unison's present general secretary, attacks the Tories who run Birmingham council but Labour councils will make similar cuts. Will he attack them? Why can't the Labour government bail out our public services as they did with the banks?

Trotskyism on Trial

Written by Lynn Walsh, Socialist Party (CWI in England & Wales) Tuesday, 16 February 2010 19:17

Unison union witch-hunt – employment tribunal

Trade union activists expect class bias in the courts and employment tribunals. But rarely has a tribunal delivered such a blatantly biased judgment based on class interest. The employment tribunal judge declared open season for the persecution of Trotskyists, whom he considers "unworthy of protection" in a democratic society.

Action needed to stop the health cuts

Written by Pat Lawlor Wednesday, 26 August 2009 00:43

Tne news that maternity services in Lagan Valley Hospital (LVH) will close in 18 months will be no surprise to workers in the health service as their terms and conditions have been under attack for some time now. The South Eastern Health Trust responsible for LVH acknowledges all acute services are now under review. Chief Executive John Compton states the closure of the maternity unit would save approximately £1 million a year.