Still time to fix Unite

There is only one week left to vote. If you 've lost the ballot paper down the back of the sofa then call the helpline free on 0800 783 3856* and they will send you a new one. If you know a member who hasn't voted tell them to do that. Ballot papers must be returned by Friday 12 April 2013.

The other side has resorted to some dirty tactics in the last couple of weeks. See Jerry Hicks' dignified response at http://www.jerryhicks4gs.org/2013/03/len-mccluskeys-election-campaign.html?spref=tw

Let's respond to the negativity with a vote for change that will send shock waves through the union and political establishment.

• VOTE FOR a leader but on an average worker's wage
• VOTE FOR elected officials, not appointed ones
• VOTE FOR equal rights for all workers regardless of origin
• VOTE FOR an (extra)ordinary member who's led strikes and occupations
• VOTE FOR JERRY HICKS and a grassroots movement of millions!

The video is of Jerry at a protest for UBS bank cleaners led by a Bolivian woman in 2010 - go to minute 3,20. Fighting discrimination is not about ticking boxes on manifestos but being there when it matters... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku4K7cbq9U0

*(0818 333 155 from the Irish Republic)

General Secretary Election - McCluskey Panics

McCluskey - £133,916 a year at risk

There is last minute panic in the bureaucracy of Unite.

General Secretary McCluskey called the election three years early, surely for no believable reason except his own benefit. His bloated bureaucracy ran the nomination process over the new year when many branches are inactive, hoping no other candidate would get enough nominations to stand.

What happened though is that none of the right wing or other self-servers did put up, leaving only the Grass Roots candidate Jerry Hicks, the man who came second in the last two multiple candidate elections.

So now it is a clear choice between the highly paid bureaucracy, wanting to minimise union democracy and maximise their pay, and the candidate who wants election of officials from the bottom up, not appointment from the top down and will only take the average member's salary.

Hicks could win

The panic is evident in McCluskey's published election address - an off the shelf piece of red baiting claiming Hicks "is a political opportunist relying on the support of the discredited Socialist Workers Party."

To be clear Hicks is not a member of the SWP but they have decided to support him. Meanwhile McCluskey is supported by the truly loony left 'AWL' - Alliance for Workers Liberty; combining Trotskyism with Zionism is about as loony as you could ever get. AWL is a dominant force in the 'United Left' which runs the McCluskey election machine.

This unwanted and uncalled for election is probably your final chance to reclaim the union for the members and restore branch democracy and member control.  If McCluskey wins it will be more of the same, closed branches, top down appointments and decision making and blind support for New Labour policies.  The one way communication between the bureaucracy and the members we have seen for the last ten years will continue.

Election addresses are available here.

Jerry Hick's site is www.jerryhicks4gs.org

Ballot papers must be returned by Friday 12 April 2013.  If you have not received or have lost your ballot paper contact the union's ballot enquiry service on 0800 783 3856 (0818 333 155 from the Irish Republic). All you need to do is tick a box and post it, no stamp required.

Members of Unite unite 

You have nothing to lose but your overpaid General Secretary 
(last recorded total salary and benefits £133,916 in 2011 (see page 12))