Monday, August 20, 2007

Vote Rachel Voller - UNISON Labour Link Elections


Ballot papers are being sent out from today to the home addresses of all UNISON members who pay the Labour Party political levy (also known as the APF). Each UNISON region elects one delegate to the National Labour Link Committee. In most regions there is a contested election. In London I am supporting Rachel Voller (together with the overwhelming majority of the UNISON London regional committee - I haven’t been able to contact everyone but so far the endorsement for Rachel has been solid)

Rachel works as a midwife for UCH in central London. She is a committed UNISON and Labour party activist and has done an excellent job for London UNISON Labour link. My branch Tower Hamlets nominated her at our last Labour Link meeting.

Below is Rachel’s election address, please “copy & paste” and email to anyone who pays the UNISON Labour link levy in London.


VOTE RACHEL VOLLER

A STRONG VOICE FOR LONDON MEMBERS
I’m an ordinary community midwife who witnesses the result of poverty pay and poor housing daily. That’s why I want to continue doing all I can for our members and the community we serve.

Like many UNISON members I live a long way from work to live in affordable accommodation, adding to the daily pressure of being a shiftworker.

EXPERIENCED CAMPAIGNER
Since my election I’ve made sure the voice of ordinary UNISON members has been heard at the highest levels within the Labour party.

Whether questioning Gordon Brown directly or lobbying Ken Livingstone I have put London UNISON members first.

I have:

- successfully lobbied to stop the late start of weekend tube trains which would have hit thousands of shiftworkers;
- won support for the LGPS amongst London Labour MPs;
- represented UNISON on London Labour party’s ruling body;
- organised UNISON members to visit Parliament to meet MPs face to face.

PRIORITIES
I will:

- demand Gordon Brown builds enough affordable houses across London;
- campaign for a Ken Livingstone victory in 2008 to ensure a living wage is introduced;
- expose the racist lies of the BNP;
- organise more chances for members to meet Labour politicians.

WORKING WITH DAVE PRENTIS

Dave Prentis, our General Secretary, has shown strong leadership and won major concessions from Labour.

I want to work with Dave to build on this and put our members’ priorities first.

I will not enter into alliances with outside extremist political parties like the Socialist Workers’ Party, Militant Tendency or obscure backbench MPs like others would.

UNISON has a central role to play in the Labour Party and I intend to use it for the best interests of all our members.

Remember your vote will count.

Contact Rachel via RchlVollerataol.com

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

John,

I fully agree she is an impressive candidate and likely to get my vote

BUT

unlike almost any other election, Rachel fails to provide any contact information - even an email.

Do you know why this is, or are you able to help - its a bit of a glaring omission

thanks

Mark

John Gray said...

Good point Mark - I'll get back to you.

John Gray said...

Yes, missed off in error - Rachel's email is RchlVollerataol.com

Andrew Berry said...

John, if you can, could you please tell me which are the “obscure backbench MPs” that Rachel is referring too. Given its more then one are establishment wing now having a go at Jeremy Corbyn as well and John McDonnell?

As you know I am also standing and you can find out why here:

http://unionfutures.blogspot.com/2007/07/why-i-am-standing.html

Anonymous said...

The anti-left sectarianism of Rachel not only opposes working with far left groups but goes on to say

'I will not enter into alliances with .... obscure backbench MPs like others would.'

I would be keen to see if Rachel includes Neil Gerrard as one of the obscure backbench MPs that she will refuse to work with, since I understand she is applying as a PPC for his old seat in Walthamstow. If not Neil then what sections of the PLP is she saying she won't work with?

John Gray said...

Hi Andrew, Hi Simon

3 Minutes apart! Great minds think alike (also fools seldom differ). I’m must ask Rachel who exactly she is referring to? Must be McNoHoper? Actually, Neil would have made a more credible candidate for the extreme left to rally behind as a leadership candidate. He could have even got enough nominations? Perhaps not.

Simon, I hear we might be sharing UNISON offices?

Anonymous said...

Actually I haven't spoken to Andrew for ages, least of all about Rachel.

Nor have I heard anything about shared premises, though we are looking for shared premises with Housing Associations branch (unless you have now transferred over to their branch), though I'm quite happy to share resources with you or any other Unison comrades.

Anonymous said...

I won't be voting for RV - her election address is atrocious - who wants more members meeting MP's?

What we want is elected people who are going to represent and work for our members, eg fighting for a decent pay award, rather than people schmoosing and using the position to get themselves up the ladder.
What has she actually done for members apart from taking some of her mates to hoc for lunch??

Not a lot I'd imagine - and as for refusing to work with obscure backbench MP's ridiculous as an elected member you should be working with MP's that back our unions policies - not ones that are attacking us!

Anonymous said...

I thought most back bench MPs were obscure anyway -except to their local constituencies. But for any candidate to national LL to say that they will not work with the above strikes me as going against the grain of being in LL? Will the candidate only work with well known MPs? Whoever advised her to put that snippet in was clearly not thinking.kat

John Gray said...

Hi All

Firstly apologies for not posting your comments sooner. Just back from Holiday.

Simon

“Actually I haven't spoken to Andrew for ages”

Yes, I have been tuped over to a housing association – so you, I and Marsaha could be working from the same branch office (in whatever role)! The ruling classes will be trembling - Revolution Now or What!

Hi Anon

“Won’t be voting for RV - her election address is atrocious”

Why on earth as trade unionist do we not want our members to meet their MP’s??? However, since you don’t have the courage of your convictions to use your own name (I can however guess) then I will treat you with the silent contempt that you deserve. Nuf said?

Hi Kat

“I thought most back bench MPs were obscure anyway”

Well, yes but no but… As a good Labour Party member yourself you must feel “uncomfortable” working with MP’s who seek and are given the support of declared political enemies of the Party. Actually, I must speak to Rachel but I assume that her quote also refers to the Gorgeous one? BTW – how is your George?

Sean said...

John as an ocassional poster on here (and other blogs you frequent) I am somewhat surprised you didn't manage to contact me to ask my opinion as a member of Regional Committee. Anyhow am delighted to confirm that I will be supporting Andrew Berry and that my Branch has nominated him for this role.

John Gray said...

Yes, very remiss of me Sean not to think of asking your opinion beforehand, Oh no, I have just realised that I forgot to ask Rahul and Mandy and other such members of the RC as well! Please forgive me – (however, I must point out that it was suppose to be a meeting of Labour Link levy payers not your “branch” that should have nominated any candidates? Surely you didn’t break the rules??? You know what this means)

Sean said...

John your post suggests a majority of the Regional Committee back Racheal there was not a qualification about not asking some people because you thought they might give you a wrong answer! But if you meant Labour link paying members of the committee then obviously you would have asked me

Re your second comment the Branch puts in the nomination.If you would care to check the form the nomination was agreed upon by an open meeting of Labour link payers in the Branch. So sorry to dissapoint you but we were well within rules. Interesting you should mention that though since I understand very stringent checks were applied on some of the nominations but not on others

John Gray said...

Hi Sean
I take your point – however, I was talking about the regional Labour Link committee? Perhaps, I should have made it clearer, but it would be pointless asking people on (the) general regional committee since this would include those who are violently opposed to the Labour Party. But I am sure that most members of both committees would support Rachel.

I am glad to see that you have now clarified that it was a meeting of your Labour Link members not your “branch” that decided upon your nomination. Thanks for that.

I must admit that I have been concerned about nominations since I was sent a copy of a UNISON United Left forum post where it was recommended by extremists, who are not Labour members, to hold “labour link” meetings at the end of normal branch committee meetings, where non- Labour link members could dominate the meeting and ensure anti-Labour Party resolutions and motions are “passed”. I must admit to being concerned that none of the United Left “Labour Party” members who post on this forum condemned such views? Such is life. I am of course sure that this did not happen in your branch.

Andrew Berry said...

John: Just to be clear my nominations were scrutinised at the highest level within UNISON Greater London Region, even though it’s an election organised by national UNISON, I also would have thought such people had better things to do like Single Status for example. However given that scrutiny I am sure all my nomination are perfectly in order and yes it is legitimate for a Branch Committee to nominate as long as only APF payers vote.

Did my opponent receive the same scrutiny I wonder I would happy to put both our sets of nominations to a full independent review if you like.

John Gray said...

Hi Andrew
I have no idea whatsoever if your nominations where scruntinised by region (and frankly I doubt it), however, if they were then I am sure there must have been a good reason for it.

I will happily make it clear that I have not myself heard any complaints about your nominations. However, to be honest I am really concerned about your comments that “yes it is legitimate for a Branch Committee to nominate as long as only APF payers vote”.

Whether or not it is legitimate or not I don’t know, but I am appalled that you appear to think it at ok that branch committees which may well (in some inner London branches anyway) be composed of almost entirely active members who are openly enemies of the Labour Party and who are actively trying to destroy or supplant the Party are “allowed “to be present when sensitive internal issues are decided.

Especially, when in my previous comments I referred to the “United Left” Post (which you and no-one else has denied nor condemned) which made it clear that Extremists who are not even Labour link payers encourage meetings to held under such circumstances in order to dominate meetings to ensure that anti-labour party and extremists motions and nominations are passed.

As Labour link officer I have held a number of widely advertised meetings of Tower Hamlets labour link members, usually with guest speakers which have been fairly successful. There are of course problems with getting people to attend all trade unions meeting, however, why don’t you even try to get your link members to attend proper independent and “safe” meetings? No doubt many will not attend certain branch committees since they will feel intimidated and bullied.

Andrew Berry said...

John: It not worth getting into a debate with you as we always disagree about how the political funds should operate, I see no reason to keep the Labour Link hidden away from the rest of the branch. For the record we do have Labour Link meetings in Islington from time to time. However I think you seriously misrepresent our Branch Committee in you last comment, apart from not being a bulling or intimidating place Labour Party members out weigh members of other political parties by a long way.

John Gray said...

Hi Andrew
Fair enough, we will leave it at that, however please note that I did not refer to your own branch committee, but it is a fact some branch committees are dominated by political activists who actively campaign against the Labour Party and some (not by any means all) of these people do bully and intimidate ordinary members e.g. http://grayee.blogspot.com/2007/03/unison-conference-throws-out-pension.html.

Anonymous said...

John
I am pleased to hear that you are not casting aspersions on our BC.
Our RO regularly attends meetings in Islington that are well organised,efficient and very well attended and certainly not like the description you have given of other BC's

Andrew Berry said...

Indeed Jane quite correct, today’s BC was very well attended and as far as I can tell there were five members of the Labour Party in attendance and non from any other party. Maybe we need a Respect link meeting so that members of Respect can have a safe place to meet, were they do not feel bullied and intimidated!

John Gray said...

"I am pleased to hear that you are not casting aspersions on our BC."

Hi Jane
No, with you as branch secretary I was always sure you would keep a proper eye on things. Andrew does know that it does goes on in some branches but chooses not to comment on this issue.

John Gray said...

"Indeed Jane quite correct,"

Hi Andrew
Well done to your branch for having good representation on your BC (branch committee), there is doubtlessly plenty of telephone booths in Islington where Respect members can hold their meetings safely.

Andrew Berry said...

Sarcasm aside, I actually respect all the members of Branch Committees opinions in including the 1 or 2 members of Respect, Fred particularly has a wealth of experience which I will always listen to, despite my disagreements about Respect.

Being member of the Labour Party is not something that should be hidden, you should argue why it important to be affiliated to the movement as a whole, to suggest the Labour Link is a “safe” place for Labour Party members sounds like you are presenting being a member of the labour party as akin to oppression which it is not which is ludicrous, depressing at times but not oppression. You and other treat the Labour Link like it is sacred and must be defended from opinions of the left and the rest of the union at all cost this attitude will ultimately be a disaster.

As for other Branch Committees I have no idea I suspect they are very much like our own in Islington, and not as you describe if there are problems you out line yourself then having seen you speak and read your Blog I would suggests you are part of the problem and unlikely to be part of the solution

Off to TUC now. So when are you going to post something about the pay dispute?

John Gray said...

Hi Andrew

I suppose I should be pleased that you consider me a “problem”, however I’m not really sure what your argument is? Fred may well be an experienced trade unionist and is perfectly entitled to his political opinions, but I would not want him to be present at Labour Link meetings to discuss confidential APF/Labour Party issues? He is an avowed political opponent of the Labour Party? I would not be invited to a Respect planning meeting?

I am sorry but I do not accept that you do not know what happens on certain Branch committees which are effectively controlled by political enemies of the Labour Party. I must try and dig out that United Left advice.

I will try and put something out on the pay dispute soon – still thinking about it, not sure what is best at this particular point? No doubt you and others will offer me some advice on the matter.

Hope you enjoy the speech at the TUC by your Party Leader on Monday morning – give my regards to Gordon.

Sean said...

Hi John it would of course be interesting to know how many London Branches have Labour Party members as Branch Secretaries (and for that matter other major posts)Off the top of my head I can think of at least 7 Branch Secretaries out of 32 in the Borough Branches not that you would consider some of thoese your allies of course I think? Inner London Boroughs controlled by enemies of the Labour Party which ones were you particulalry thinking of?

John Gray said...

Hi Sean

There are I think 150 odd branches in this region. I do have concerns about the way some of these branches and if I felt that I could prove it I would take it further. I have certainly sat on a branch committee where the majority of active participants were members of an Extreme left political party opposed to Labour.

No-one has responded to my report about the advice put out by a United Left activist on how to subvert Labour Link branches by holding “open” Labour Link meetings after branch committees? Do you and Andrew deny any knowledge of this?

I suppose we will find out the result of the election tomorrow?

Sean said...

Can't say this alleged UL advice has come across my radar personally. We didnt need such advice to "subvert" Labour Link meetings just held one and put the nominations recived to it. All present having been verfied on RMS as eligible to be present.In terms of the 150 odd Branches I am only to aware of that but I am limited in my knowledge of the politics of most non local government Branches hence my comment about the LG ones. Our Union is a lay member led democracy thankfully so I utterly respect the rights of members to elect their local leadership regardless of party political affiliation. This with the obvious caveat of any such party membership not being BNP or such groups. Anyone can be a Steward or a H&S Rep or for that matter a Branch Officer and the opportunity is avaiable every year to be so that is a fundamental right of our members and one that is to be congratulated. Unlike some other Unions our members decide who leads them, who represents them at Conferences and on other bodies of the Union

John Gray said...

Hi Sean
This seems ok, since only Labour Link members are present. I think that my issue with Andrew (and United Left) is that he has non-labour link members at LL meetings. Including political activists who are hostile to Labour. Which seems nonsensical? By all means you could invite speakers etc, but Labour Link meetings should discuss sensitive matters amoungst levy payers only.

Anonymous said...

Hi Rachel,
Congratulations. You are an amazing leader and midwife.

Marcia