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MORE REASONS FOR CHANGE AT THE VERY TOP OF OUR UNION

 

A full-time official of Unite-Amicus has given notice of the possible closure of its Newcastle Central Branch prior to the crucial branch nomination period for the Unite-Amicus General Secretary election in November. Each candidate in the General Secretary election requires at least 25 branch nominations in order to be a contestant. The Newcastle branch had made it clear that they were seeking to nominate Jerry Hicks, a candidate for Amicus General Secretary, in an election called following a legal challenge to Derek Simpson by Jerry Hicks.

The chairman of the branch is a former union employee who was sacked by Derek Simpson in 2006 along with two other employees, found by a tribunal to have been unfairly dismissed. The news also comes following the dismissal of two more union employees, thought to have been recently sacked for having fallen out with the Joint General Secretary Derek Simpson.

Also members in the GMPU print workers section are up in arms as it comes to light that some branch funds have been redirected back to head office with little or no discussion. It is estimated that possibly up to £million could have been taken from the full time regional based sector branches. The former GPMU section of Unite held election of officers and members have consistently spoken against the appointment of officers and lack of accountability in Unite.

Jerry Hicks says “these examples are outrageous and for a host of other reasons is precisely why things have to change at the very top and that this election for General Secretary offers us the best chance to do just that”.

Please note: Contact Jerry so you can get his details that Branches and Reps will be required to give in order to nominate him. 078 178 279 12

 

ELECTION OF AMICUS SECTION GENERAL SECRETARY
FOR TERM OF OFFICE CONCLUDING ON 23 rd DECEMBER 2010

 

TIMETABLE AND APPOINTMENTS

 

Nomination forms to Branches, chapels and available in union offices for workplace representatives: Week Commencing 20^th October 2008.Nomination period for Branches, chapels and workplace representatives:

November and December 2008.

Last date for receipt of nominations by Independent Scrutineer: 9^th January 2009.Last date for receipt of acceptance of Nomination and election addresses from candidate by returning officer: 23^rd January 2009.Despatch of ballot papers by ERS: Week commencing 16^th February 2009.Close of ballot: Friday 6^th March 2009.In accordance with Amicus Section rules Electoral Reform Services Ltd are appointed as Independent Scrutineer.

In accordance with Amicus Section rules Professor William Brown is appointed as Election Commissioner.

In accordance with Amicus Section rules John Gibbins, Head of Conferences and Elections is appointed as returning officer.

In accordance with Amicus Section rules candidates require 25 branch or chapel nominations and 25 workplace nominations from 15 different workplaces.

In accordance with Amicus Section rules, members who join after 2^nd February 2009 will not receive a ballot

paper.

Are Unite about to make a big mistake?

PRESS RELEASE 8th October 2008  EMERGENCY NEC TO DISCUSS LEGAL CHALLENGE

 

An emergency meeting of the National Executive of Unite, Britain’s biggest trade union is taking place on Thursday October 9^th to discuss the legal challenge to Derek Simpson launched by former Rolls Royce Convenor and  Amicus Executive member Jerry Hicks.At the meeting Derek Simpson will seek authorisation from the Executive to suspend the rulebook that was voted in by 95.3% of all members of Unite in a ballot held two months ago. He will then seek nomination to stand for election as General Secretary in the Amicus section of Unite for a period of office until 2010.

But such a move to suspend the rulebook, or deny all members a vote in an election, could spark additional legal challenges from members of Unite.

Jerry Hicks said today

“The National Executive are about to make a big and very costly mistake and that they have been extremely ill advised as to their authority in this matter”.Mr Hicks is equally convinced that any decision to suspend the rule book will be successfully challenged and that at some point either before during or after the election it will be declared invalid and so immediately trigger the need for a further election.

The new rulebook is due to come into force on the 1^st November and would abolish the separate sections of the union. With a successful challenge from Jerry Hicks an election for a new General Secretary would have to be held for the whole of Unite next year.

The legal challenge to Unite Joint General Secretary Derek Simpson questioned his right to remain in office beyond 65 without an election, and is still under investigation by the government appointed Certification Officer.

Derek Simpson and others once described the legal challenge as having ‘no chance’ of success. But in a swift about face Derek Simpson met last Sunday morning in Wetherby with Unite Officers and supporters to organise for an election in advance of the emergency National Executive meeting.

Mr Hicks has announced that if there is to be an election either as a result of his legal challenge or by way of the latest developments then he will stand as a candidate for a new General Secretary despite the fact it may well have to be re-run.

HAS THE ELECTION STARTING PISTOL BEEN FIRED?

 

PRESS RELEASE 1^st October 2008

EMERGENCY UNITE EXECUTIVE MEETING CALLED

OVER LEGAL CHALLENGE TO DEREK SIMPSON 

A special emergency meeting of the National Executive of Britain’s biggest trade union Unite has been called for October 9^th in order to discuss the legal challenge to Derek Simpson launched by former Rolls Royce Convenor and Amicus Executive member Jerry Hicks.The legal challenge to Unite Joint General Secretary Derek Simpson questioned his right to remain in office beyond 65 without an election, and is still under investigation by the government appointed Certification Officer.

The challenge was first said by Derek Simpson and others to have had no chance of success. But in a swift about face meetings have been organised for Unite Officers and supporters this weekend by Derek Simpson, in advance of the National Executive meeting next week, in anticipation of a ruling against him.

Jerry Hicks who filed the complaint has always held the view and argued strongly that his challenge was correct legally. He said today “This cobbled together scheme sold as a package with the devil hidden in the detail that was financially beneficial to some and very costly to our members has been exposed”. It was ill conceived, ill thought out, probably ill advised and most importantly illegal. He says this because why else would Derek Simpson break cover so dramatically as he appears to have done, in a way that continues to be the mirror image of the Sir Ken Jackson fiasco.

It is thought that Derek Simpson will seek authorisation from the Executive to suspend the rulebook that was voted in by 95.3% of all members of Unite in a ballot held two months ago, in the hope that this would allow him to stand for election in the Amicus section of Unite for a period of office until 2010. But such a move to suspend the rulebook, or deny all members a vote in an election, could spark additional legal challenges from members of Unite. The new rulebook is due to come into force on the 1^st November and would abolish the separate sections of the union and with a successful challenge from Jerry Hicks force an election for a new General Secretary for the whole of Unite next year.

Mr Hicks has announced that if there is to be an election either as a result of his legal challenge or by way of the latest developments then he will stand as a candidate for a new General Secretary.

Mr Hicks a former union convenor, was sacked from his job in Rolls Royce in 2005 where he had worked for 30 years and won an Industrial Tribunal decision of ‘victimisation’ following the attack on trade union rights in the Bristol factory. Though there was several weeks of strike action at the time, Mr Simpson’s decision not to show a personal presence was considered deeply damaging to the campaign for Mr Hick’s re-instatement.

Unite is not only the country’s biggest Trade Union it’s also the biggest single donator to the Labour Party having given £millions of members’ money over the last few years. Last year Derek Simpson gave his backing to Gordon Brown and also helped to ensure he was unopposed in his challenge for the Labour leadership. Mr Simpson has also been criticised for abandoning his election pledges, including support for the principle of election of officers as well as over the role he played in the construction workers’ dispute at Wembley Stadium.