Press release from the Jerry Hicks campaign
Here we go………let’s make
tomorrows history today…. ‘expect the unexpected.’
Up and down the country, and hundreds of workplaces
have already been leafleted, but the next two weeks are
crucial even though we will be doing stuff until the final
day of balloting [19th November] Unite
member or not, everyone will be affected by the result and
who becomes the General Secretary of Unite.
If you can help get our campaign leaflets to Unite
members…….bus drivers, High street bank workers,
Hospitals, councils, well, unite are everywhere!, let us
know how many leaflets you want and where to send them jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk,
or ring 07817827912
For Unite members it’s more of the ‘shame’ and
business as usual
or a chance for change in the election for
General Secretary.
The finish line [or could it be the starting post] is
now in sight, and the race to lead the largest union in
Britain and potentially has begun as ballot papers have now been despatched to 1.3 million Unite members. Whether employed
or unemployed, whether in Unite or not, students and
pensioners, everyone will be affected by the result as to
who becomes the General Secretary of Unite.
Les Bayliss attacks the BA cabin crew, brave enough
to resist and fight for a better future, not the Con Dems
for slashing 500,000 public sector jobs. Tony Woodley and
his chosen successor Len McCluskey would have planned the
timing of the BA cabin staff ballot and the ballot papers
for the election of General Secretary being sent out at
precisely the same time [goes beyond mere coincidence]. The
aim being to present Len McCluskey as a successful
negotiator bringing the year long dispute to a successful
end – knowing that the ‘devil in the detail’ of the deal
would not be exposed to the vast majority of the members
voting in the ballot for General Secretary, until after they
have voted.
Woodley on behalf of McCluskey expresses outrage at
Bayliss’s breaking of the election protocols – then breaks
all the rules himself when publicly promoting McCluskey at
an anti cuts rally in Westminster.
Talk is cheap while poor judgement is costly. Ed
Milliband, who Unite’s leadership supported using members’
money, distanced himself from the union and action against
the cuts as soon as he became the leader and failed to turn
out and support working people by not voting for John
McDonnell’s Private Members Bill in Parliament last week.
Shame on the Labour Party leadership for failing to back
this bill whose sole aim was to stop employers seeking
unwarranted injunctions to prevent lawful strikes on minor
technicalities as in the BA dispute.
Why did we not make support for the bill a condition
of our support for Ed Milliband’s leadership?
Jerry Hicks is the only
candidate that says "We must ensure that those that don’t
support our policies no longer receive any support from our
union".
The choice could not be clearer. Les Bayliss
looks up to employers and offers a ‘strike free union’ while
he talks down to members and offers a ‘free diary’.
Len McCluskey uses the BA dispute
to promote himself. He wants us to believe he will fight the
anti union laws but hopes we forget he has done nothing
about it during the 3 terms of a Labour government!
Gail Cartmail sounds like a
manager at a team brief, offering only generalities and
plays the gender card.
Some things they say are different but they all
support the appointment of officials. They all said nothing
for 13 years, 3 terms of a Labour Government. But they all
have plenty to say now; they will talk about ‘fighting’ but
with someone else’s job, pay and pension. When was the last
time any of them lost any pay in a dispute? When was the
last time any of them was threatened with a disciplinary or
suspension or the sack over a dispute?
Jerry Hicks says "Well, it’s
too late to tell us what you are going to do tomorrow or
next month. Why didn’t you all do it when you had the
chance? The stakes are too high to let them get away with
this any longer. Handing the baton of power to a ‘chosen
one’ has to end. Instead let’s get the union back".
Jerry Hicks is a union member
who wants a member led, member controlled union. Who
believes members should decide who represents them by
electing all union officials.
Jerry Hicks will only take an
average wage, and is independent of the cliques, factions,
official machines and cronyism.
ENDS:
Notes to Editors: Jerry Hicks having come
second in the election for Joint General Secretary, Amicus
section of Unite less than 19 months ago is thought by many
to be a possible winner in this election of the whole Union.
Contact Jerry Hicks either on 07817827912 or by email
jerryhicks4gs2010@yahoo.co.uk
For more information visit www.jerryhicks4gs.com
