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From The Socialist newspaper, 22 April 2009

Unison: a fighting and democratic union needed

Important elections are taking place for the national executive of Unison, elections that could have a decisive effect on the future of the public sector union.

The existing leadership is trying to strengthen its grip on the union through witch-hunts and other bureaucratic means. But the Reclaim the Union campaign, initiated by the Socialist Party, is putting forward a list of left candidates for the national executive. The ballot is now underway and runs until 15 May.

Unison members need a fight for a decent pay increase that reflects the real cost of living and a campaign to stop the cuts and privatisation in the health service and local government.

The Reclaim the Union campaign is standing candidates who have a record of listening to and fighting for their fellow workers, including on pay, pensions, terms and conditions. This includes Glenn Kelly, one of the four Socialist Party members now being witch-hunted by the union's leadership.

The current leadership's record also includes refusal to consult on whether the union's funding of New Labour should continue. Instead, Unison is seen more and more as a union that follows the dictates of New Labour, doing little to challenge the government's anti-working class policies.

Unison: a fighting and democratic union needed

The Socialist Party members standing are:

National black member seats: female seat, April Ashley; male seat, Hugo Pierre

Health care service group: male seat, Roger Davey

Local government service group: male seat, Glenn Kelly

East Midlands region: female seat, Jean Thorpe

Northern region: female seat, Hannah Walter

North West region: male seat, Roger Bannister

Yorkshire and Humberside region: female seat, Vicky Perrin

National Black members seats

Female seats April Ashley Lorraine Mngadi

Male seat Hugo Pierre

National young members seat

Chris Leary

Health Care service group

Female seats Kate Ahrens Karen Reissmann ;

Male seat Roger Davey

General seat Stephen lintott

Local Government service group

Female seats Phoebe Watkins Marshajane Thompson

Male seat Glen Kelly

General seat Paul Holmes

Higher Education Service Group

Barry Blinko

Police staff service group

Female seat Rachel Hemingway

Water & Environment service group

General seat John Jones

Eastern region

Male seat Martin Booth

East Midlands region

Female seat Jean Thorpe ; Sharon Vasselin

Male seat Richard Buckwell

Reserved seat Ann Macmillan-Wood

Greater London region

Female seats Mandy Berger ; Sonya Howard;

Male seat Jon Rogers

Northern region

Female seat Hannah Walter

Male seat Alan Docherty ;

North West region

General seat Alex Mcfadden

Female seats Bernadette Gallagher Fran Kelly

Male seat Roger Bannister ;

Scotland

Male seat Gordon McKay

South East region

Female seats Diana Leach ; Jessie Russel

Male seat Mike Tucker

South West region

Male seat Nigel Behan

Reserved Seat Kath Budd

West Midlands region

Female seats Sue Gallagher

Male seat Clive Shakespeare

Reserved seat Claudia Campbell

Yorkshire & Humberside region

General Seat Brian Steele

Female seats Helen Jenner Vicky Perrin

Male seat John McDermott