Found this: the independent candidates are more polite about direct election
PRESS RELEASE FROM TGWU BRANCH 1/888
« H E » Rachael Webb :: email
posted Monday, 3 March 2008
"Rebel" Unite Candidates bid for union national General Executive Council (GEC)*
Three rebel union candidates may win places on the executive of Unite, the new union which combines the Transport and General Workers' Union and Amicus in protest at the "New Labour-type" leadership of the union.
The candidates, all life-long union activists, who describe themselves as "independent", are within striking distance of national success following big regional election wins. If elected, they are likely to be sharp critics of the two Joint-General Secretaries Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley's drift away from "lay-member democracy" in the new Unite union. The influential TGWU Truck Drivers' Branch (Branch 1/888) is supporting the 3 Candidates: Rachael Webb, Ian Lidbetter and Andy Erlam.
While each of the candidates is "fiercely independently-minded", they are all furious about what they see as the closing down of democracy and transparency in the union and last year's crucial executives' decision to back Gordon Brown for Labour Leader rather than the Left firebrand John McDonnell.
Union leaders are also secretly drawing up a new Rule Book which many fear will end members' democracy. Apparently, the new rules will not include an effective grievance procedure for members with a complaint about the union. The candidates are also challenging the informal "machines" called The Broad Left and the Amicus Unity Gazette" (AUG) which fix the elections, undermining genuine union democracy. The candidates are also backing members of the Swissport Branch*, 1,000 baggage handlers from Heathrow, who have been "badly let down by the union" in a scandal which has rumbled on from 7 years.
International lorry driver Rachael Webb, the women's candidate for London, the South East and Eastern England said:
"Most women members, apart from those with union careers, are still sidelined in the union. I want to see good socialist women running about half the union at every level in every region based on merit not on being patronized. I'm a woman working in a man's world - the road transport industry - so my decades of experience will be very useful, if elected. Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson, (once heroes of the Left), have both been huge disappointments in office."
Andy Erlam, Chair of the large Central London Branch said:
"The Unite union leaders increasingly make the important decisions, such as supporting Gordon Brown, behind closed doors. Debate is stifled and "slates" of candidates produced by self-styled informal leaders of the Left are like rabbits out of a hat. There is no discussion. The semi-clandestine Broad Left in the TGWU and the AUG in Amicus are as about democratic as the freemasons and about as progressive as Opus Dei. It's now time for political change."
Andy is London's candidate for the GEC.
Ian Lidbetter, another truck driver said:
"The average union member doesn't know how the union works or how to influence it. That suits the powers that be. Those members aren't stupid, they just haven't been encouraged to really own the union. There is a wealth of experience and power to utilize - that's my mission. Disabled members, including so many injured at work like myself, must be a real priority for the union. No-one else is taking up the challenge."
The three also said:
"
The TGWU is a great union doing some great work, such as defending migrant workers. Unite will only be a great union if the members rise up and demand to be involved in all major decisions. This is our mission."
Further information:
Rachael Webb 07989 851602 rachael dot webb at bbnet dot ie
Ian Lidbetter: 07838 381998 iglidbetter at yahoo dot co dot uk
Andy Erlam 07518 743 007 or 07795 547033 or hm 01273 841827 andyerlam at yahoo dot co dot uk
Eugene Finlay (Swissport) 07985 800019 eugene dot finlay at yahoo dot co dot uk
Note to Editors.
- The General Executive Council (GEC) is the top national ruling body of the TGWU Section of Unite with 40 seats.
- 26 of the 40 seats are not being challenged with just one candidate.
- The Amicus Section has an additional 40 seats. (Controversy surrounds Amicus candidates being disqualified).
- The combined 80 seat Unite executive soon to be elected will probably run the union for the next 3 or more years.
- Webb and Erlam are candidates for Region 1: London, the South East and Eastern England.
- Lidbetter is a national candidate for truck drivers (Road Transport Commercial Trade Group).
- Unite represents over 2½ millions workers. The national postal ballot for the GEC begins now (on Monday 3rd March and runs to 28th March). Ballot papers will be dropping on members' doorsteps at home this coming Monday.
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