Unite Executive Council Elections

The union is gearing up for elections to its Executive Council (EC), which is effectively the ruling body of the union between policy and rules conferences.

The Unite web site has a page about the forthcoming elections. This includes a helpful new booklet Your Union is Run By You. The main points from the timeline are:

• Members seeking nomination must submit campaign statements by Friday 25 November
• Nominations from branches and workplaces must be made 16 January - 17 February
• Voting will be 27 March - 19 April, with the result declared on 28 April
• New EC takes office 1 May 2017 for a three-year term

The numbers of seats have been revised ready for the election, to reflect the paying membership. The numbers in brackets indicate designated seats to ensure that representation is at least proportionate to the membership. The first number in brackets is the minimum number of women, the second number in brackets is the minimum number of Black, Asian & Ethnic Minority (BAME) members.

Total 71 (19) (7) broken down as:

Regions 24 (10) (2):

• East Midlands 2 (1)
• Ireland 2 (1)
• London & Eastern 4 (1) (1)
• North East, Yorkshire & Humber 2 (1)
• North West 3 (1)
• Scotland 2 (1)
• South East 2 (1)
• Wales 2 (1)
• West Midlands 3 (1) (1)

National Equality Seats 5 (1) (1)

• Women 1 (1)
• BAEM 1 (-) (1)
• LGBT (1)
• Disabled (1)
• Youth (1) 

 Industrial Sector Seats 42 (7) (3)

• Aerospace & Shipbuilding 2
• Automotive Industries 3 (-) (1)
• Civil Air Transport 3 (1) (1)
• Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Process & Textiles 1
• Community, Youth Workers and Not for Profit 1
• Construction (Unite) *
• Construction (UCATT) *
• Docks, Rail, Ferries and Waterways 1
• Education 1
• Energy and Utilities 1
• Food, Drink and Agriculture 3 (1) (1)
• Finance and Legal 3 (2)
• General Engineering, Manufacturing and Servicing 2
• Government, Defence, Prisons and Contractors 1
• Graphical, Paper, Media and Information Technology 1
• Health 3 (2)
• Local Authorities 2 (1)
• Metals (including Foundry) 1
• Passenger Transport 2 (-) (1)
• Road Transport Commercial, Logistics and Retail Distribution 2
• Service Industries 1

* The construction seats are dependent on the transfer of engagements from UCATT to Unite going ahead and discussions. The 4 UCATT seats would be taken by members of their existing executive.

Observers 2

• Retired Members 1
• Gibraltar 1

Strikes called at Fujitsu Manchester

Unite has now issued the call for industrial action - action short of strike and the first three strike days, as part of our dispute over pay, pensions and job security. The first action starts on Monday, with the first strike on Tuesday 1st November.

More details are here. You can also follow and support our campaign via Facebook and Twitter.

Unite ballots Fujitsu Manchester over Pay, Pensions and Job Security

Unite's industrial action ballot of members in my own workplace has now opened.

There's an appeal for support leaflet, and you can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter.