WE HAVE A CHOICE-REAL CHANGE OR MORE OF THE SAME

It is with great pleasure and pride that I am able to say that I have now received official notification that I am a candidate in the election for the Unite Amicus General Secretary.

I have received nominations from as far afield as the Shetlands to the Isle of Wight, from East Anglia to the North West, from Wales to Ireland. Support has come from all points of the compass, from every region and sector of the union.

It was inevitable that I had the hardest task given that all the other candidates are senior officials of the union. It is worth remembering that when I launched the legal challenge virtually everyone said there was no chance of success. How wrong they were.

Then it was said I would not secure enough nominations to be on the ballot paper, yet I am already in front of Reuter and Faircloth and within touching distance of Simpson and Coyne. Indeed when Simpson himself won the election in 2002 against Ken Jackson he was much further behind at this stage.

This is still very much a David versus Goliath contest and David won that encounter as well! Another example would be Mark Serwotka, the PCS General Secretary was a part time clerk in the DSS when he went on to win.

At the time of the initial challenge back in May of this year not one of the other candidates was either brave enough or willing to come out in support of the action. Now they all say how many problems the Union faces. Not one of them however said anything about these matters prior to me being successful in forcing the election and that begs the question of their judgement. 

 Crisis of credibility where rhetoric fails to measure up to reality

We are at a crossroads in our relationship with the government, with the employers, and between the union and its members. Our union calls for a windfall tax yet nothing happens. Our union demands no job losses – no home repossessions – but things only get worse. Employers feel confident enough to break agreements and announce even more job cuts, while the union appears as bystanders and onlookers instead of opinion leaders and policy makers!

We are the country’s biggest trade union, and the single biggest donator to the Labour government – £11 million since 2005 and £millions more in loans. We support over 100 Labour MPs. We shouldn’t have to plead for change, we deserve better and should demand more. I say support only those MPs or councillors that give support for our policies.

And what of the merger with the T&GWU? I support mergers if we become stronger, not just bigger. But does anyone feel safer in their workplace as a result of the merger? If we ask the members to list their concerns most will answer, jobs, pay, pensions, health & safety, hours of work.

There is a gap that has become a chasm between the union and its members and it needs to be bridged by returning ownership of the union to where it belongs – the members.

The ‘talking shop’ democracy offered by the other candidates is meaningless.

I believe in lay democracy with lay control. Workplace reps, sector committees, combines and branches all know their problems and the solutions and should be empowered to make their own decisions.

 I promise that if I were General Secretary I would support them, not as they are now, policed by the General Secretary. Let’s turn the pyramid on its head – instilling a confidence long since lost.

The Equality and Diversity structure offers an opportunity for more members to become involved, to have their voices heard and for the union to fight on their behalf. I will make sure that these structures are a model within Unite for the genuine involvement of members.

United, Equal and Diverse, Valued, Involved and Incorporated

  Retired members with a wealth of experience and talent should be recognised as a prized asset, not treated as second class citizens. As with other Equality and Diversity committees, they deserve to have their own section as well as participate fully and equally in all the democratic structures of the union. If elected as General Secretary I would push to make this happen.

 A chance to elect a General Secretary in touch and closer to members

We despise ‘Fat cats’ in the city, why have a ‘Fat cat’ General Secretary in our union with wages of £126,939, a free car and a virtually free £1million house forever, a lifestyle nothing like that of our members. The other candidates would continue with these arrangements. This would end if I were elected. I would only take the average wage of a skilled worker.

Over the coming weeks the campaign proper will begin in earnest. There is a straight choice between the person who sought to stay in office illegally, those who stayed silent when things were going wrong or myself who decided to confront the issues by challenging the leadership.

If what I say reflects your own experience, the life you lead, the world you live in then please would you consider supporting me in my campaign for General Secretary, by way of an invitation for me to speak at meetings. And by making a financial donation make a donation make cheques payable to Jerry Hicks 4GS.

If you wish to help, want to know more, please contact me  Tel:7817827912  Email: jo@benefield.force9.co.uk

Or write to me: 10 York Road, Montpelier, Bristol; BS6 5QE.

Donations will be receipted. Records will be available for inspection.

OFFICIAL COMFIRMATION

J Hicks

10 York Road

Montpelier

Bristol

BS6 5QE

JG/vb/elect

9^th January 2009

Dear Jerry,

Election of Unite – Amicus Section Joint General Secretary

(for a term of office commencing on

23^rd December 2009 and concluding on 23^rd December 2010).

 

Today is the deadline for submission of nominations. I can inform you that you have received the necessary branch or chapel and/or workplace representative nominations required in order to be a candidate for the election of Unite – Amicus Section Joint General Secretary.

The list of valid nominations received by candidates will be published on the unions’s website as soon as practicable (please note that there are a small number of nominations where issues are subject to further clarification)

In order to be a candidate you must complete and sign the enclosed acceptance form and return it to me. It needs to be received by me no later than 4 p.m. on Friday 23^rd January 2009. If you wish the Union to circulate an election address on your behalf with the voting papers this should be attached to the completed acceptance form. You should also e-mail your election address to me at john.gibbins@unitetheunion.com

Rule 28 (10) provides that the election address shall consist of not more than 500 words. In counting the number of words used, I will apply the following principles:

• Acronyms e.g. “TUC” will count as one word.
• Numerals e,g. “500,000″ will count as one word.
• Subject to the above, each word in a proper name will count as a separate word. This “John Smith” will count as two words and “The Labour Party” will count as three words.
• Punctuation (including bullet points) will not be counted but numbering e.g. “1″ or “(1)” will count as one word.

If the election address you submit exceeds 500 words, the words after the 500^th will not be printed.

Logos, photographs and illustrations will not be allowed.

If you have any other questions relating to the word count or how the election address will be presented, please contact me in advance of the deadline for submitting your election address and I will endeavour to clarify the position.

Please remember that your completed acceptance form and election address must be received by me no later than 4 p.m. on Friday 23^rd January 2009.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

John Gibbins

Returning Officer

Challenger becomes a candidate

It is with great pleasure and pride that I am able to say that we have secured more than enough branch and workplace reps nominations to be on the ballot paper for the election of General Secretary Amicus Section scheduled for February and March. 

This incredible achievement represents tremendous reward for all the efforts that so many people have made during the course of the nomination period.

The scale of recognition by way of support has without any question or doubt vindicated the decision to challenge Derek Simpson’s right to remain in office for 8 years without holding an election. It also presents us with a fantastic opportunity to not only influence the debate in its breadth and depth, but given the number of nominations received, makes it possible to consider the prospect of even greater things and even dare to dream of winning!

At the time of the initial challenge back in May of this year not one of the other candidates was either brave enough or willing to come out in support of the action. Now they all say how many problems the Union faces, “how we cannot afford to have Derek Simpson re-elected” or that the “finances are spinning out of control”, “the merger is in tatters”, that “the union has been too easy on New Labour”.Over the coming weeks the campaign proper will begin in earnest. We will be rightly and proudly able to say that there is a very clear choice in matters of substance, policy and style – how we relate as a Union to the employers, how we rebalance our relationship with the government and how we bridge the gap that has become a chasm between the union and its members.

Not one of them however said anything about these matters to anyone for so long and that begs the question of their judgement when they would have all waited another two years before trying to tackle the numerous issues facing us.  

 A chance for change or more of the same, top down bureaucracy or bottom up control over decision and direction.

 A straight choice between the person who sought to stay in office illegally and who is responsible for the problems, or one of those who stayed silent when so many things were going wrong or someone who stood up and decided to confront the issues by challenging the leadership. It is not what someone says, it is what someone does that matters.  Action over inertia, principle over hypocrisy.

In the meantime I hope that you have a good Christmas and a very happy New Year. 2009 may be many things but it won’t be dull!

‘Staythorpe’ – Why it matters to every member.

Click here to view the statement in full.

Snatched retained funds returned

After it was revealed that GMPU print section branch funds had been taken by head office with little or no consultation, there followed a very stormy National Sector Committee meeting where despite attempts to prevent discussion a vote was taken to overwhelmingly condemn the decision.

 

It now transpires that the GPM branch funds will be reurned to the chapels for them to spend as they see fit, with everyone now claiming they had no idea who had made the original decision!

 

Jerry says “It is amazing what an election can do to focus the mind. But rather than the current leaderships control freakery that led to this appaling situation, lay control and democracy must instead become the standard for the whole union. If this can be achieved during the nominating period just think what we could do when the balloting starts”.  

 

 

It is worth noting that it has been said by some that this election is a diversion. Try telling that to the GPMU section! 

PDF ‘Flyer for all members’

Please click on file below for ‘Flyer for all members’.

flyer-for-all-members

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.