Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/564/6824
From The Socialist newspaper, 28 January 2009
Building a fighting Unison leadership
Elections for the branch leadership of Manchester local government Unison have started. One of the left candidates is Socialist Party member Jim Cessford, who told The Socialist: "Last year the branch leadership said permanent pay protection under 'single status' is impossible. They attacked me for opposing pay cuts. Yet several local government branches, through action, have won deals which mean no pay cuts.
"The branch and national leaderships are firm supporters of Unison maintaining its link with New Labour. We say it's time to break the link, no more money for New Labour, put Unison members first!
"During Unison's national pay campaign last year, the Manchester Advice shop stewards group proposed public-sector unity at local, regional and national levels to beat Gordon Brown's pay freeze. What happened in the end? Thanks to this pro-Labour leadership, we lost two days' pay for little or nothing.
"This year, members can change the branch leadership."
Standing with Jim are: John Clegg, early years shop steward and David Kemp and Neil McAlister, both adult social care shop stewards.
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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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