Press release from unison united left
Labour MP John McDonnell today welcomed the candidacy of leading
Yorkshire trade unionist, Paul Holmes, to replace Dave Prentis as
General Secretary of UNISON, the largest public sector trade union.
"Paul
epitomises the strength of our movement," said Mr McDonnell, "he is the
elected Secretary of a union branch where more than eighty per cent of
workers are in the Union and he has a track record of fighting for
workers rights.
"At a meeting today with Mr Holmes at the House
of Commons, John McDonnell MP, speaking as a UNISON member, emphasised
his support for the candidacy of an ordinary UNISON member to lead the
Union;
"Just as Mark Serwotka has shown how a rank and file
civil servant has been the best leader for the civil service trade
union, PCS, so I believe that an ordinary local government worker like
Paul Holmes can be the best leader for UNISON, the largest public
service trade union."
"With
threats of job losses and attacks on pay and pensions throughout the
public sector, UNISON needs a stronger and better leadership to meet
these challenges.
I know that Paul Holmes offers our UNISON members this stronger leadership," said Mr McDonnel.
