Saturday, March 21, 2009

UNISON London Labour Link elections 2009

Another week, another Labour movement election. This post is a bit late and the ballot papers for this year’s UNISON London Labour Link National Forum and Party conference have to be returned by close of play next Friday 27 March .

UNISON is constitutionally part of the Labour Party. Unlike other trade unions UNISON has two separate political funds.

One for the Labour Party which is called the Labour Link fund (it use to be known as the APF or Applied Political Fund) and the other is the "general" political fund (GPF). UNISON members can choose which fund they pay into or they can pay into none.

I’m standing for election to the National Forum.

All London UNISON Labour link branch officers have the vote in this election (and branch secretaries where there is a current Labour Link officer vacancy).Below is the joint election address and centre left slate which I support. I would urge people to support the slate and no-one else. (BTW - This post is of course in my personal capacity

VOTE JOHN GRAY, JOHN GOUGH, IAN HORRIGAN
&
MARGARET BACK, LYNN BENTLY, GLORIA HANSON, MONICA POWELL AND KIM SILVER

FOR THE NATIONAL LABOUR LINK FORUM

We are all seeking election to represent the views of APF payers in the London Region at the National Labour Link Forum.

We support the link we have with the Labour Party, Labour has delivered improvements for our members, but, particularly in the current recession, Labour needs to do more. We will champion trade union issues and move our members concerns up the political agenda, using our influence to promote;
· Continuing investment in public services
· A fair deal on public sector pay
· Defending public sector pensions
· Access to housing for public sector employees

As active UNISON and Labour Party members we strongly believe in supporting the Party, but also in campaigning for or against change where it impacts on our members.

The elections in the coming year will see Labour face its toughest challenge yet. It is vital that we ensure that Labour link becomes more visible within the union so our members can be reminded of the importance of a Labour Government which creates an environment in which our union can grow and fosters a climate where our members can prosper.

VOTE LOUISE COULING FOR LABOUR PARTY CONFRENCE

If anyone wishes to speak to me about this slate then please give me a ring. The ballot papers have to be returned by 5pm Friday 27 March 2009.

1st. NATIONAL LABOUR LINK FORUM: FEMALE SEATS (5 VOTES - PINK PAPER)
1. BACK, MARGARET
2. BENTLEY, LYNN
4. HANSON, GLORIA
5. POWELL, MONICA
6. SILVER, KIM

2nd. NATIONAL LABOUR LINK FORUM: MALES SEATS (3 VOTES - BLUE PAPER)
2. GRAY, JOHN
3. GOUGH, JOHN
4. IAN HORRIGAN

3rd. LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE: GENERAL SEAT (1 VOTE - PURPLE PAPER)
4. COULING, LOUISE

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Male seats, female seats - how quaint. And sexist. Surely it should be the best people not quota driven. How about black seats, asian seats, gay seats, blind seats, ginger haired seats, ford fiesta seats, smokers seats, etc.

ian said...

....and maybe seats for New Labour Blairites, a shrinking discriminated against minority!!

Ian

James Anthony said...

The gender specific seats are to achieve UNISON's Rule Book provisions on proportionality meaning that delegations should be made up of a gender balance representing the gender balance of the union.

Representation of Black, LGBT, Disabled and Young Members is achieved through delegates from their national bodies.

Anonymous said...

How can someone from near manchester be able to represent what London Labour Link members want? seems a bit daft -would that person then have any interest in the GLA elections and how accountable would that person be to London? isn't this some unison anomaly that actually means someone without any interest in London Region -ie living and/or working in it -potentially has influence over London matters. How can you explain that bearing in mind you seem to support it?

John Gray said...

Hi Anon 18.36
Don’t be so ignorant for crying out loud. The majority of members of UNISON are female and there is nothing wrong with trying to make sure that our delegates represent the actual membership.

Hi Ian
How can you possible call the horny handed sons (and daughters!) of toil - Blairites” Mo?

Hi James
Well said II

Hi Anon 21.17
This is almost as ignorant as the Tory Boy remark! What a plonker you are anon. Don’t you realise that UNISON has members in national organisations which are located in various regions up and down the country. Phil is going to be so embarrassed when he realises who he attacked at the AGM without bothering to check his facts. I know Phil is harmless and has previous for this sort of thing but it goes to show the paranoid delusions of the United Left in London.

Anonymous said...

Sorry - Phil who? Do you mean Trigger Lewis?

Anonymous said...

Not in United Left mate -but you didn't answer the question asked about how someone who lives and works near M'chester can have any real influence re London labour elections? The branch may be national but it has under 30 members scattered about the country doesn't it?

John Gray said...

Hi Martin
Phil is a decent proper working class unison member who is being mislead and one day I am sure will see the light.

Hi Anon 17.00
You are being a real dipstick here even for the UUL? We have loads and loads of national organisations based in particular regions (usually where their head offices or majority of staff are based). So why on earth you would want to prevent members affiliating to their local Labour Parties? What a donkey! (With apologies to donkeys of course)