Unison NEC elections: Vote for a fighting democratic union

Unison NEC elections: Vote for a fighting democratic union

Elections for Unison’s national executive (NEC) start on 22 April and run until 24 May. Members of the Socialist Party and members of the Unison United Left are standing in the seats below.

Glenn Kelly, who is standing for the male seat in the local government service group, says in his election address:

“The Con-Dem government is by far the greatest challenge facing workers for decades.

“Their agenda is to destroy public services and this has to be met with the full might of our trade union, linking up with all other trade unions and wider community groups. I believe the NEC has a responsibility to organise and plan a coordinated fightback and not to leave branches to fight alone.

“This must involve the calling of coordinated and generalised strike action in defence of jobs and services. I believe that the union should immediately call a special conference of all branches to plan our national fight against the cuts.

“National action to stop the jobs and services slaughter. No more pay freezes. Not a penny to be given to councillors attacking our members.”

The left candidates are: (Socialist Party members are asterisked)

National black members seats: Female: Monique Hirst*, April Ashley*, male: Hugo Pierre*

National young members seat: Greta Holmes

Eastern region: Female: Claire Wormald

East Midlands region: Female: Jean Thorpe*, male: Adrian Picton*

Greater London region: Female: Helen Davies, Marshajane Thompson, male: Jon Rogers, reserved seat: Gundula Seidel

North West region: General seat: Tony Wilson, female: Bernadette Gallagher, Karen Reissmann, male: Roger Bannister*

Scotland region: General seat: Duncan Smith, male: Jim McFarlane*

South East region: Female: Jacqui Berry*, Diana Leach, male: Paul Couchman*

South West region: Male: Bernie Parkes

Cymru/Wales region: Male: Jamie Davis*

West Midlands region: Male: Dave Auger*

Yorkshire and Humberside region: Female: Helen Jenner, Lorna Foster, male: Mike Forster*, reserved: Vicki Perrin*

Health Care service group: Female: Helen Ridett*, Suzy Franklin, male: Dave Ward, general: Gary Freeman*

Higher Education service group: Female: Tomasa Bullen, general: Max Watson

Local Government service group: Female: Phoebe Watkins; Sonya Howard; male: Glenn Kelly*; general: Paul Holmes

Transport service group, water and environment: John Jones

Community: Female: Janet Bryan, general: Kieran Grogan*