Early indications of UNITE General Secretary election result

The count is still continuing, but Jerry Hicks has given an interview outside the count where he reports that he hasn't won the election, but has got around a third of the vote.  You can watch the interview:


If the official result is anything like this, it is very good indeed.  It shows that a large section of the active membership is further to the left than Len McCluskey - more keen to see a real fight against the cuts, more critical of Labour, and more keen to see rank and file union members having a bigger say in their union.  It is particularly impressive given that unlike in previous elections, Jerry faced a union apparatus which had only one candidate, rather than being openly divided.

Less encouraging is the turnout.  Union News is reporting that Len got around 150,000 votes and a roughly 2-1 margin, which would mean a total of around 225,000 members voting - around 1 in 6.  Such a low turnout shows how much more we all need to do to involve members and make sure they feel they are the union and are responsible for its future.

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Protest to defend Labour Councillor Kevin Bennett from disciplinary action for opposing cuts

I posted yesterday about the threat Kevin Bennett was facing of disciplinary action by Labour for voting against the cuts.  Today was his hearing - and the protest outside it at Warrington town hall.

I was very pleased to see a highly visible presence on the protest from UNITE, including officers and organisers, Executive Council members and members of the Regional Political Committee.  UNITE has long standing policy of supporting councillors who vote against cuts, but this is the first public sign I've seen of beginning to implement it.

 Kevin was among a number of speakers who addressed the crowd:

If we're serious about opposing the cuts to services and jobs, I think UNITE needs to move from a relatively passive policy of supporting councillors whether they vote for or against cuts, to actively asking councillors to vote against them, which would help increase the numbers and make it harder for them to be picked off.  UNITE should also make clear that we will continue to support councillors expelled from Labour for opposing cuts - including if they stand for re-election.

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Defend Warrington Councillor Kevin Bennett - facing disciplinary action for opposing cuts

Another councillor faces disciplinary action by the Labour Party this week - for opposing the cuts.

Kevin Bennett is a councillor in Fairfield and Howley in Warrington, and is a former member of UNITE's Executive Council.  He defied the Labour whip and voted against the cuts at a meeting in early March.

Kevin has explained his views clearly:

"We need to send a strong message of defiance to this idealistic, uncaring Tory led coalition government and show the people of Warrington that we have got the guts to stand up to them.

"I expressed my views on what I believe to be the views of many people, on having to implement cuts which are not of our making.  It is wrong that we should be in the firing line when all of this is a result of vicious funding cuts by this Tory led coalition government.

"This council could safeguard jobs and services for the next 12 months by using reserves and borrowing.  This would buy time to build a fight-back against this Tory led coalition government.  The Labour council's Executive Members and Portfolio holders are refusing to even consider this option.

"There is a definite correlation between the worst cuts and deprivation and I see it in my ward.  There must be NO compulsory redundancies within the council workforce, and we must fight to keep our services 'in house'.  Once they're gone they're gone and probably won't save us money."

Kevin is part of a small but growing band of councillors standing up against the cuts and who deserve our support.

There's a protest in support of Kevin at Warrington town hall 6-6:30pm, Thursday 4th April.  The town hall is on Sankey Street (WA1 1SR), a few minutes from Warrington Bank Quay station.  Go along and let the Labour group know that disciplinary action against Kevin would be intolerable.

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