Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/564/6823
From The Socialist newspaper, 28 January 2009
Unison right wing exposed
As four Socialist Party members defend themselves against the ridiculous and malicious allegation that they "gave racist offence to members" by disstributing a leaflet at Unison conference bearing the Three Wise Monkeys symbol, disturbing evidence has emerged that the right wing leadership of the union has relied on a racist to pursue their witch-hunt in one case.
A Unison member
Recently expelled Yunus Bakhsh has noticed that the internet Facebook site of one of the right wingers who gave evidence against him, both at his Unison disciplinary hearing, and in order to get him sacked by his employer, clearly shows links with far-right, racist organisations.
Her Facebook Friends include a member of the British National Party, and the site indicates that she also joined other right-wing Facebook groups.
Yunus Bakhsh sent a complaint to Unison in 2006, alleging this witness was racist. Unison is hypocritically selective about who they investigate under their disciplinary procedures, and this complaint of racism was disgracefully ignored, presumably because it was made by a left winger against a right winger.
These latest allegations are now too disturbing, and public, even for Unison's right wingers to attempt to brush under the carpet, and are said to be under investigation. It remains to be seen whether the harsh treatment meted out to lefts in the union is dealt in equal measure to the bureaucracy's right wing allies.
Unison's record is not good, with right wingers whose behaviour becomes too embarrassing to the bureaucracy usually being allowed to slope off without disciplinary action being taken.
A few years ago a leading right winger in the Greater London region was accused by two women members of indecently exposing himself to them at a social event. Despite the serious nature of these allegations, including criminal activity, no action was taken against him, and a few months later he took voluntary redundancy and disappeared from Unison!
The rumour is that the right-winger involved in the latest case has resigned from the union on the eve of an investigation being launched.
The fact that Unison's right wing leaders have to rely on such unsavoury individuals is itself an indication of their political bankruptcy, and their declining support in the union.
The national executive council elections take place in spring, and Socialist Party members in Unison have been instrumental in launching the Democracy Campaign in order to allow members to elect a leadership untainted with racism and other sordid behaviour.
Unison members need leaders prepared to fight for their pay, jobs and conditions of service, rather than putting up little more than token opposition to the attacks of the Labour government.
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In The Socialist 28 January 2009:
Era of illusions in capitalism ending
The crisis in manufacturing: Fighting for jobs and living standards
No pay discrimination against young people
Slaughter in Gaza
Coventry protest over Gaza onslaught
Israel: Thousands march in Jaffa against Gaza massacre
Anti-racism
Stop the deportation of Yahya Al-Faifi
Socialist Party campaigns
Socialist councillor opposes Tory plans for education privatisation
Labour's abandoning of the working class
Croydon: Striking against academies
Scotland: Step up opposition to cuts
Socialist Party workplace news
Say 'no' to the Metro privateers
Amicus Unity Gazette left with egg on its face
Victory for left in Glasgow Unison
Solid support for Glasgow strike
Building a fighting Unison leadership
Education
Build a mass movement for free education
Marxist analysis: history
Germany 1919 The Spartacist uprising
International socialist news and analysis
Russia: Bosses sack auto-factory union leader
Courageous socialist activist, campaigning journalist and human rights activist
Socialist Party news
Socialist Party reviews
A People's History of Sports in the United States
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