UNISON SERVICE GROUP

EXECUTIVE ELECTION 2014

VOTE FOR A FIGHTING LEADERSHIPBREAK THE PAY FREEZE

Public sector workers face the biggest threat to jobs wages and conditions ever. It is clear that the Con-Dem

government is out to destroy public services and what they can’t destroy they want to cut or privatise.This poses a test for our union leaders as to whether they lead a fi ght back using the full weight of the union or continue with the failed strategy of leaving branches to be picked off one by one.We need a leadership that is prepared to organise and plan a campaign of national coordinated strike action, linking up with the other unions, and putting the TUC’s call for a 24-hour general strike into practice.

Local Government

The fi ght for decent payWe fully support the union’s campaign for a pay rise of £1 an hour on all pay points. Under this government our pay has been reduced by 20%. Enough is enough! However the Local Government Association has declared it will wait for the proposed rise in the National Minimum wage before responding to the union’s pay claim.It is clear the employers intend to use talks as a delaying tactic. Unison must signal it’s seriousness to the employers by beginning a campaign for industrial action across local government.

East Midlands Female seatJean Thorpe

North West Male General seatSteven North

Scotland General seatJim McFarlane

Yorkshire & Humberside Female seatAngela Waller

Yorkshire & Humberside General seatMike Forster

South East General seatTim Cutter

Wales General seatMark Evans

South East Female seatJane Armitage

Alternative to cuts

So far over 400,000 council workers jobs have been cut already and with no end in sight of cuts this side of 2018,

mainly due to government cuts to council funding.

However, councillors can resist. There is £17 billion in council reserves as well as £500 billion worth of assets. They could use those resources to prevent cuts to jobs and services between now and a general election and then organise a massive campaign to demand the stolen money is returned or the government is kicked out.

The Labour party receives £3 million a year of our union money. And while crying crocodile tears Labour councils behave like the Tories and vote through massive cuts.

Our union must give its full backing to those rebel councillors in Southampton, Hull and Warrington, who have voted against the cuts. We condemn the Labour party for expelling and suspending those councillors. Unison must give its full backing for them.

Labour

If Labour is no longer willing to speak up for ordinary working people then it is time we used our political funds to speak for ourselves, standing and backing candidates who will fi ght for us.

Unison should not give a penny to Labour where they will not support the defence of public services and our members’ jobs.

www.socialistparty.org.uk@Socialist_party

Text JOIN with your name & postcode to 07761 818206E-mail join@socialistparty.org.uk; phone 020 8988 8777; write to Socialist Party, PO Box 24697, London, E11 1YD

Health

The Con-Dem government is determined to destroy the NHS and the welfare state. This must be resisted by the full strength of Unison, other unions and local communities. We need an SGE leadership that is determined to win. The SGE has a responsibility to organise and plan a coordinated fi ght-back instead of leaving branches to fi ght alone. The fi ght for a decent pay rise will be crucial for the union this year. In order to force real concessions from the employers a serious plan of action is needed from the union.

We believe the union should:

Swiftly move to hold industrial action ballots of their full membership in the NHS (not just a ‘branch consultation’ where a tiny minority of members will participate)

Explain what is at stake and give a clear recommendation in the ballot to reject this attack on pay and support industrial action

Co-ordinate action with other unions around the local/European elections on 22nd May or as soon as possible thereafter

Immediately commence a major publicity campaign, actively involving branches to gear up the membership, and linking up with campaigns such as Keep Our NHS Public to win the argument among the public and service-users

Among members, connecting the assault on pay with the legion of other pay cuts, job losses, bullying, etc. With campaigns and in the media, connecting it with the wholesale closures and privatisation of our NHS.

South West General seatRoger Davey

East Midlands General seatGary Freeman

North West Reserved seatDianne Cawood

South East General seatSteve Bell

Yorkshire & Humberside General seatAdrian O’Malley

Higher Education

For coordinated action to win a decent pay settlement for next year and the last one. Let’s strike with the teachers and have a proper strategy!

South East General SeatIvan Bonsell