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Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/482/2288
From The Socialist newspaper, 12 April 2007
UNISON and PCS elections
Vote for fighting, democratic unions
ELECTIONS FOR UNISON's National Executive Council are under way. Six Socialist Party members with a track record of campaigning for and representing UNISON members are standing for election:
Raph Parkinson, chairperson of Liverpool branch and NEC - additional members male seat (all members can vote).
Glenn Kelly, secretary of Bromley branch and NEC - Local government male seat (all local government members can vote).
Len Hockey, joint branch secretary, Waltham Forest Health branch - Health male seat (all health members can vote).
Jean Thorpe, social services convenor, Nottingham City branch - East Midlands women's seat.
Dave Auger, assistant branch secretary, Wolverhampton branch - West Midlands male seat.
Roger Bannister, secretary of Knowsley branch and NEC - North west male seat.
They are standing for a break with past failures and for the building of the fighting democratic leadership that members need.
They stand for:
- A united fight against the government's public-sector pay freeze.
- No cuts to pay or conditions through Single Status or Agenda for Change.
- Opposition to all forms of privatisation.
- Opposition to the BNP and the racist right.
- Not a penny more of UNISON money to the Labour Party.
- Break UNISON's ties with the Labour Party and build a new trade union-based party.
The ballot closes on 8 May.
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Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 12 April 2007:
Fight for a socialist alternative
Coventry - Socialist Party's track record
Environment and socialism
'Climate change will hit poorest of poor hardest'
Nuclear power is not the answer
Is the Green Party heading left or right?
Battling over the world's oil reserves
G8 Summit protests
Join the International Youth Camp
International socialist news and analysis
France: Workers need to build a Left alternative
Socialist Party news and analysis
Workers' lives get tougher under New Labour
Campaign for a New Workers' Party
Why legal aid should be defended
Socialist Party workplace news
Union leaders out of touch with teachers' discontent
UNISON and PCS: Vote for fighting, democratic unions
International socialist news and analysis
Zimbabwe: State thugs crackdown on protests
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