Or at least to try not to give your union a bad name.
Amicus (section of Unite) Gen Sec election
- Thread starter belboid
- Start date
Or at least to try not to give your union a bad name.
Not to play at being lame ducks when dealing with the management. It's not as if the underground is a small organisation. These things get noticed.
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
mmm, they'd be noticed more if it were a small organisation, wouldn't they?
And what makes you think I, or most on here (not including the actual scabs, of course) don't try and argue against such deals? Thats part of what being an active unionist is all about, not just shouting 'scab' at something you disagree with. Leave the term to describe real scabbing.
And what makes you think I, or most on here (not including the actual scabs, of course) don't try and argue against such deals? Thats part of what being an active unionist is all about, not just shouting 'scab' at something you disagree with. Leave the term to describe real scabbing.
glenquagmire
Rightwing NuLab apologist
They have quite a few sectors in now, not just the Engineers, but I know a couple of retired reps from the construction sector who were excellent workplace activists. They have also done some recent good work in recruiting and organising IT workers.
They also have some good people in elected positions higher up, such as Gill George.
Screaming 'scab' at people for joining the majority or only union in their workplace is not only juvenile, it's counter-productive as well, especially in an era less than a third of workers are in any union.
None of which detracts even slightly from the abysmal behaviour of the Tube managers, the treachery of Derek Simpson or any other rightwing activity which goes on in some sectors of the union.
To be fair, Maggie fucked up the unionisation in construction by offering the carrot of (initially) higher wages through self employment that the silly workers duly went for.
I just don't think the AEEU did enough to counter any of that happening at the time though.
So it's one step forwards and three steps back.
glenquagmire
Rightwing NuLab apologist
What has any of that got to do with writing off the whole of Amicus as scabs?
It was another experience of me being a member of the AEEU - that eventually morphed into Amicus.
The Scab thing is my knowledge/experience of them on LUL.
Soz and all that etc.
glenquagmire
Rightwing NuLab apologist
I've no doubt you've got plenty of bad experiences of Amicus. I know many many people have bad experiences with my union, GMB, and let's not even mention the bureaucracy of UNISON. But you can't just write them all off as 'scab unions'.
Hyperbole like that undermines genuine grievances which people like you have with those unions.
Hyperbole like that undermines genuine grievances which people like you have with those unions.
I must disagree with you about GMB. I had reason to call on them for advice and I was well chuffed not only by the speed with which they got back to me but the quality of the advice. This is what many people want from a union. Support when its needed but they keep out of your hair when its not.
I agree. I've had a pisspoor experience with both PCS and NUJ but I know others who have had positive experiences with these unions. I just wanted to re balance things as there seemed to be negative comments about GMB going on.
If I think Ghost the movie is shit, I'm not going to say that actually I'm wrong and it's great because lots of soppy fuckers got off on crying over it.
I can only speak from what I've experienced. I'm sure they're great, really though, and I must be a one-off.
there is a rather large difference between being a shit union (which we might well agree the amicus section of unite is, unlike the t&g section) and it being a scab union (which the old eetpu undoubtedly was)
But, but but but but but, I've only ever experienced ONE action that Amicus/EETPU have been involved with in my entire working career and they scabbed imo. Of course I don't mean the other elements that have merged with the engineering ones. That gets them off the hook I suppose, the fact they've merged with more militant unions.
Aye, best to keep the left-wingers in power, so we can have shitty deals with a radical gloss.
Nigel
For A Degenerates' Workers State
I know this may have nothing to do with this subject, however with the closing down of Tribune(which was/is? part of the CLGA(centre left grass roots alliance), which from what i've heard has something to do with a decision of UNITE pulling out funding, and both AMICUS and T&G sending out its own papers for members, this could have something to do with the re-structuring of UNITE.
Opportunities for grass root members might be in the making.
Hicks definitely looks the best candidate.
Opportunities for grass root members might be in the making.
Hicks definitely looks the best candidate.
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
christ, the stupidity of anarchists.
yeah, lets keep the right in power so they can shit over everything before it even starts, and sell out every deal there is.
you keep your nice revolutionary purity, and keep living off the backs of people who actually fight.
nightbreed
Im Bored
He might be the best candidate with good left wing credentials but what does he actually represent ? He doesnt work for Rolls Royce anymore, where he was a superb convenor. What does he actually do in the union and in the workplace.
Also I agree that he seems to have very little to do with the AUG, the left grouping in Amicus. As its been already said he will need to build support in that grouping to ensure any kind of campaign.
Left wing ideas have to be fought for within the union not imposed from outside.
sevenstars
citizen army
Just heard this morning rumours that Kevin Coyne, current North West Regional Secretary and Gill George herself are also standing.
Derek Simpson may be on the way out, and people are talking about Lawrence Fairclough as the favourite, as he will most likely be the gazette candidate. Meanwhile T&G are talking of the merger itself as being threatened.
Im not sure what I make of all this, and what difference it will make all the same.
Derek Simpson may be on the way out, and people are talking about Lawrence Fairclough as the favourite, as he will most likely be the gazette candidate. Meanwhile T&G are talking of the merger itself as being threatened.
Im not sure what I make of all this, and what difference it will make all the same.
And this is different to the union left how?
Voting in union elections is not "fighting" for anything.
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
Compare it to the RMT and the PCS, to name but two. If you think the leadership has no influence on those unions combativity, then you know sweet fa (eg the evil sell out bastard of the RMT turning up to represent Andy Littlechild earlier this week – you think someone like Simpson would have done the same?).
you're so tediously predictable. No it aint, but the organisation required to fight a campaign for the GS will be made up of those who actually organise, promote, and recruit to the union, and can make a vital difference to the support people actually get.Meanwhile you'll be....putting the world to rights in your vegan cafe and trying to think of what to write for your next badly photocopied leaflet to be handed out when someone else has organised a strike
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Maybe Jerry is just on a credibility building exercise this time around? It wouldn't do any harm on his political CV.
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
Has KC just become the NW Sec? I thought he was still the Health bod. Him and George standing would probably be a good thing for Simpson, splitting the opposition nicely.
Fedayn
Well-Known Member
And neither is sitting on the sidelines, in your anarchist purity, sneering at thousands of working men and women who vote in their union elections.
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
he might well be too old to stand again in Unite (unless he wants to look a bit hypocritical for going on past 65 as well! Or is he younger than he looks?). It would help him a little with standing for Respect again somewhere tho I supposel
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
That's what i meant, it might help him build his base in Lockleaze for next year.
sevenstars
citizen army
KC has been back here for about a year, he replaced LF. Apparently they are waiting to see which of them gets the most nominations and the other one will withdraw. LF is the favourite though, and Simpson is apparently very worried.
Jerry Hicks support will depend on the credibility he used to have in his own sector, despite his individual politics whatever vote he gets won't help us build a rank and file movement, as he isnt part of one.
I'd guess Gill Georges aim, if she has one, will be to get the gazette nomination. She wont get it but could build a bigger profile for rank and file activism, she is the leading lay activist in our sector and I would vote for her myself, despite her being an SWP member.
She may still stand without gazette backing if the SWP tell her too, not sure what I'd make of that though.
And yet somehow, I'm the predictable one. Got any more cliches for me?
I mean, never mind the fact that I have been active in my own union, or the fact that I actually lost my fucking job a copule of years ago partly because I was trying to recruit people to T&G. I'm just sitting on the fucking sidelines, hey ho.
Have you ever heard the phrase "arse about face"?
Similar threads
