Rejecting the partnership approach to Starmer’s Labour, in December Unison members voted for a left general secretary for the first time in the union’s history. But the right still have a majority on the National Executive Council (NEC) and are trying to assert their control.
Jim McFarlane, Unison NEC member, personal capacity
The National Executive Council (NEC) of public sector union Unison met in early April, in the main to prepare for the National Delegate Conference to be held in June this year.
Thanks were given to April Ashley, Socialist Party member and long-standing Black members’ NEC rep, who is retiring. April played a great role over many years in supporting socialist ideas and the need for a union that builds struggles in the workplace in her role on the NEC.
Newly elected left general secretary Andrea Egan produced a report which outlined some of the work she has begun to put in place since her election. It was reported that she is in the process of setting up a ‘Manifesto Delivery Group’. NEC members asked to be informed and involved in the work of the group, as well as reports on any progress or delays.
One of her main manifesto pledges was to review Unison’s relationship with the Labour Party. Given the widespread disdain for Labour, Unison members will be keen to see this progressed. Socialist Party members are fighting for activists, members and branches to campaign to get this key issue democratically discussed across the union and at National Delegate Conference. It was reported that just 13% of union members currently pay in to the affiliated Labour Link Fund. Yet year after year national conference is blocked from discussing the issue.
The NEC voted on numerous motions and priorities for conference in June. A motion that could result in activists being prevented from speaking in a ‘personal capacity’ on public platforms such as at demonstrations, lobbies and public meetings, has been put on the agenda for the third time in a row. It has been decisively defeated both times previously by conference delegates as an attack on the right of free speech and of showing solidarity.
When there was a left majority on the NEC (2021-25) it rightly opposed this. The union already has rules in place for anyone who would put forward discriminatory ideas. But the now right-led NEC has voted by a majority to support it this year, in a clear attempt to prevent left activists from putting forward a fighting programme and applying pressure to the right-wing NEC. It is something that branches should organise to oppose at conference.
Plans were presented by the right majority to the NEC to ask Angela Rayner, Labour MP and former Unison NEC member, to speak to conference on her role in bringing forward the Employment Rights Act.
This prompted a heated debate and vote. This highlights one of the many reasons why trade unions need political representatives in parliament and council chambers who will fully support union policies and members’ interests. The Employment Rights Act has brought in some limited concessions to workers’ rights but does not go nearly far enough – particularly on the Tory ballot turnout thresholds which are still in place, and trade union recognition for collective bargaining.
Angela Rayner is now a backbench Labour MP, but in her role as Deputy Prime Minister had no problem voting to maintain the two-child benefit cap, cutting disability benefits and selling out the WASPI women, all against long-held union policy. She was suspended from Unite membership due to her role supporting the brutal strike-breaking Birmingham Labour council in the bin strike.
No politician should be given an uncritical platform and valuable conference time with that track record. Members at conference will have an opportunity to show their opposition and the NEC majority who voted for this will have to answer to members.
