Contempt for lay democracy and participation

It's now April.  How are the UNITE regions doing at helping activists get involved?  Not very well if the UNITE web site is anything to go by.

• East Midlands doesn't list any RISCs or Area Activist Meetings yet
• Ireland doesn't list any RISCs or Area Activist Meetings yet
• London and Eastern doesn't list any RISCs or Area Activist Meetings yet
• North East, Yorkshire and Humberside has a funky calendar that does appear to include a few RISC and AAC meetings alongside some branch meetings
• North West has a cryptically named page showing dates for three RISCs and no Area Activist Meetings
• Scotland doesn't list any RISCs or Area Activist Meetings yet
• South East doesn't list any RISCs or Area Activist Meetings yet
• South West doesn't list any RISCs or Area Activist Meetings yet
• Wales doesn't list any RISCs or Area Activist Meetings yet
• West Midlands doesn't list any RISCs or Area Activist Meetings yet

Many sectors and areas struggle to get good attendance at their meetings.  No wonder.  Doubtless this will be used as an excuse to try to reduce the size of committees, frequency of meetings, or to merge sectors or find other ways to reduce the opportunities for members to get involved in the union.

Before we do that, how about a radical experiment where the officers responsible:
1) Call the meetings
2) Advertise the meetings
3) Try to make them work

We need a union that works for the members, not for the convenience of the administration.

A great note went out a month ago to all Regional Secretaries, following a discussion at the March EC meeting, with suggestions for making the Area Activists Committees work properly.

At last week's Executive Council meeting concern was expressed regarding the level of activity of many of our Area Activists Committees, and at reports that some AACs were failing to play the part envisaged for them in Unite's structure.  Accordingly, I am writing to ask you to give this matter direct and immediate attention in your own region.

First, I would like you to review the composition of the AACs in your region, and to investigate means of filling vacant places on the committees, not filled at the start of the new electoral term.

Second, it would be helpful if an outline model agenda were drawn up for AACs, in order to help focus them on the role they should be playing.  In addition to obligatory constitutional and administrative items, such an agenda could include:

        a) supporting Unite industrial disputes in the area.

        b) local campaigns against the cuts/austerity

        c) building community membership and branches

        d) the work of the local Trades Council(s)

        e) work with local branches of international solidarity campaigns to which Unite is affiliated, eg, CSC, VSC, JFC, PSC

The above items are indicative only - they can of course be added to or varied.  AACs should also consider inviting external speakers on some of these topics to address the committee and help stimulate interest/attendance.

Third, could you please forward to Bro Weir a list of the officers charged with servicing the AACs in your region, since we may wish to correspond directly with them on these matters in future.

The view of the EC is that AACs are vital because they are the main place where Unite activists from different sectors can meet and interact, and are therefore important to strengthening a Unite identity; and because they are our connection with the wider community.

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