The Socialist 21 January 2009

No more bailouts for bosses!

Fast news: My Lords, Ladies and cash dispenser

Gaza war paves way for further conflict

Protesting against Gaza attacks

Egypt: Gaza conflict fuels anti-Mubarak opposition

Readers' comment: media reporting on Gaza

Hands off Royal Mail

Wirral anti-cuts campaign

Save jobs - nationalise JCB

Fighting the cuts in Greenwich

Shop workers need a fighting trade union leadership

Campaigning in Exeter

Hoover workers march in protest at job losses

Amicus election

Glasgow Unison

Obama takes power: What change will the Democrats bring?

Refugees and repression in war ravaged Sri Lanka

Exiled Zimbabweans demand Brown acts

Capitalism kills, concludes study of privatisation era

Lawyer assassinated

Opposing the expansion of Heathrow

Waltham Forest anti-incinerator campaign: Residents get results

Campaigners fight attacks on education and the environment

Students fight academy status

What's going on? The meanderings of a comic mind in confusion, by Mark Steel

Previous issues, etc

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Amicus election

The nomination period for the election of the Amicus general secretary has now closed. Incumbent Derek Simpson, forced to put himself up for election following a challenge to the trade union certification officer, received most valid nominations, 161 branches and 116 workplace reps. (To get on the ballot paper a candidate needed 25 branches and 25 workplace reps from 15 different workplaces.) Kevin Coyne, the main right-wing contender came next with 94 branches and 104 workplace reps.

Most encouraging though was the response to the campaign of Jerry Hicks, the grassroots left-wing candidate, who had nominations from 59 branches and 36 workplace reps. This was well ahead of Laurence Faircloth, a right winger and regional secretary for the South West region of Unite, who gained the support of the 'official left' Gazette group. He received 44 branch nominations and 32 workplace reps, with Paul Reuter, the other right candidate, getting on the ballot paper with the fewest nominations.

This is a good result for the left and a rebuttal to those who advocated supporting the Gazette group no matter what the record of its candidate. Rank-and-file activists in Amicus have clearly identified Jerry as the candidate with the best programme to mobilise around for the ballot, which takes place in February and March.