Dave Prentis re-elected as UNISON General Secretary with Massive Majority

 Great news on an otherwise miserable day (the CONDEM "emergency" budget). Centre left moderate Dave Prentis has been overwhelmingly re-elected as UNISON General Secretary. Official result here

"Dave Prentis 145,351 (67.2%)

Roger Bannister 42,651 (19.7%)

Paul Holmes 28,114 (13%)

Dave has been UNISON’s General Secretary since January, 2001, he said:

“This is a vote of confidence in the union and the direction that we have been taking over the past few years.

“We face critical times as a union and it is important that we remain united, strong and focussed on dealing with the challenges that face our members.

“Under the coalition government, public services face an onslaught on a scale unprecedented since Thatcher was Prime Minister. The government is pressing ahead with cuts to public services, to our members’ jobs, pay and pensions, with complete disregard to the serious social consequences.

“We are ready to face the tough times ahead, we are growing in strength and numbers. Together we will stand up for quality public services, for the hardworking people that provide them, and for the poor, the sick and vulnerable people who rely on them for support.

“We will be the people who stand in the way of these ferocious attacks on our public services and the path to creating a fairer society”.

(Check out UNISONactive take on this victory – I couldn’t possible comment on Lord Sutch:)

UNISON NDC 2010: Dave Prentis Speech

(Some notes about the General Secretary's speech to conference on Tuesday afternoon – usual health warning about my hurried note taking). Dave started off with a joke about conference clashing with the World cup and how UNISON had tried unsuccessfully to get the football authorities to change their date. This conference is the biggest gathering of public service workers in the world. There were more people at the International rally last night then most unions have delegates at their AGMs.

He affirmed our solidarity with our sister unions in Europe taking to the streets to protest against cuts. He condemned the attack in Gaza and offered support for peace and justice in the Middle East. Dave praised the role of UNISON activists and “Our people” in defeating the BNP and Nick Griffin. The Battle against them continues. There is no place for fascists in councils and in our great union. This is the Centenary of UNISON Welfare. He described Gerry Gallagher the UNISON President as a man of integrity and wished him well in retirement. Thanked activists for work you do for our union. Slogging through meetings and paperwork – putting up with each other (most of the time). There are now 5000 Learning reps. Our Self organised groups. We are slowly, slowly winning equal pay. We will continue until we get equal pay for all. Recruitment is at an all time high. There is a new army of area and local organisers. Strong political and industrial action funds.

On May 7th our world was transformed. We have Tory and Liberal attacks on us. I has a message today for the headline writers in the “The Daily Telegraph” “Your parents wasted the money” on your public school education. You are not that clever - you can’t add up. You claim that it cost each household £4000 per year on public pensions. They got the decimal point wrong. It costs £400 per year. We demand an apology from Clegg and the “Daily Telegraph”. Remember before the election the Tories claimed they have changed. They now want to cut your pay, your pensions and your jobs. It’s “gutting not cutting” our public services. This is not inevitable it is ideological. Tell employers they do have choice. Stop cutting pay and start cutting consultants. Councils stop giving council tax "give away's". Go to Osborne and say make the bankers pay for it. It’s about fairness. The richest 100 people in the UK in the middle of a recession increase their wealth by 30% in one year. The money for one Council CEO is increased by 30% 3 years and a NHS CEO by 7% this year. We have money for war and Trident. Let’s have a Pay freeze for the bankers. If threaten to leave the country. I say let ‘em go. I’ve said before that I will organise a whip round for 1 way ticket out of the UK.

Public services are our jewel in our crown. Those who work with young offenders are as important but are not as poplar as those who provide child care. Who will champion what is right and not what is poplar? This union will. This is our time. Unions were not made for good times but for the bad times - this is why we came about. We are facing a “Perfect storm”. 1000’s are joining every week for protection. They are looking for us for leadership. This is a heavy responsibility. We are where we should be. We cannot tell where it will end. Every hour and every day - this union will protect its members. We will not take us down “dead end alleys. We will not exhaust ourselves in the first few months. Build alliances with other public unions – yes, the CPS and NGOs via our “Million voices” campaign. Only support as leader of the Labour Party candidates who will fight the cuts. Expect Labour Councillors and Councils to do the same. Give full support to any branch who is forced to resort to industrial action to defend jobs. United campaign to fight the pay freeze. If Clegg comes for our pensions then we will ballot for national industrial action.

Don’t get me wrong we are not looking for a fight. We are always prepared do talk and negotiate. That what unions are there for but no one should under estimate us. If this government picks a fight - we are ready. If they pick a fight we will be ferocious defenders of our members. They will not know what hit them. This is not the time to hand our heads. We should stand tall and confident. If we have to fight we are ready - this will be our time this is what we are about.

Lambeth UNISON members rally around Dave Prentis for General Secretary

The former branch secretary of Lambeth UNISON, Nick Venedi, has placed this message of support on the “Re-elect Dave Prentis” website here.

Nick had been a senior member of the branch for many years and has only recently stepped down. He has promised to advise branch members to support Dave in the election.

I’m sure that this advice will delight his former comrades in Unison disunited left :)

UNISON Ballot Paper: Election of General Secretary 2010

Yesterday I received a text from UNISON national office reminding me to vote in this election and then latter a recorded telephone message on my home line, with a similar message.

I am pleased that UNISON is trying to encourage members in this way to vote in this important election and try to increase turnout.

It will be interesting to see if the texts and the phone messages have any impact.

Anyway, it wasn't needed in my case since I had only voted for Dave Prentis and sent my ballot form off!

See copy left (double click to bring up details).

There is time still to vote (Friday 11 June) and the result will be announced at the UNISON National Delegate Conference (NDC) the following week.

Check out Elect Dave Prentis

UNISON Members: Vote Dave Prentis for General Secretary

Ballot papers for the UNISON General Secretary election should have been sent out today to our 1.3 million members. I will be supporting the re-election of Dave Prentis and I urge all UNISON members to do as well.

Dave has been nominated by a massive 371 branches, 11 regional councils, 7 service groups and the National Executive Council. All of us in public services are facing the battle of lives. We are facing not only savage job cuts but politically motivated attacks on our pay, our pensions and our basic terms and conditions.

He is the only candidate who is a leader and who is not divisive and will be able to unite the whole union around effective opposition to the cuts and not pointless self indulgent grandstanding.

I think it is vital that not only do we re-elect Dave but that there is also a thumping big majority to give him maximum credibility as our chief negotiator.

Please encourage all your work colleagues to vote for Dave (but do not of course use any union resources to do so).

Re-elect Dave Prentis as UNISON General Secretary

There is of course yet another British election taking place soon. Next week the 1.3 million members of UNISON will receive ballot papers at their homes in order to elect our General Secretary.

I’m supporting the re-election of Dave Prentis who is exactly the sort of thoughtful but still passionate “bread and butter issues” trade unionist who we need to guide us through the very difficult times ahead.

Dave is in my view the only candidate (there are 3) who has not only the practical experience and abilities to lead our union but can also unite all members across all its different parts.

I could never support Roger Bannister as a candidate since he is a longstanding member of an ultra left “democratic centralist” revolutionary fringe party who could/would require him to support what the Party central committee thinks is best - not what is in the best interests of the union. 

The third candidate Paul Holmes is a member of the Labour Party but he has allowed himself to be the candidate of the so-called UNISON “United left” front which is dominated by yet another brand of “Life of Brian” “democratic centralist” revolutionaries. Not only that but there are a tiny number of "Labour Party" entryists who are also actively supporting him. These people have been praying for a Tory government for years since they (somehow) believe the glorious revolution is just about to break out anytime soon in a Council Town Hall close to you.

Yeah...

So I will urge every member to please - Vote to Re-elect Dave - Vote Dave Prentis!

Curse of the McNoHoper: UNISON GS Election

hat-tip thingy icepicker100.

Re-elect Dave Prentis as UNISON General Secretary

Dave is standing for re-election as UNISON General Secretary and he has my full support and I am sure that of a majority of our members. He was elected for a 2nd term in 2005 with a 77% majority.

I strongly believe that Dave is a Labour movement fighter and believer who want a progressive, influential and campaigning union that actually delivers for members. Our bread and butter issues are pay, pensions, equality and jobs.

So who is best placed to deliver? Who can punch our weight? Who has the relevant experiences and talents? Who has the skills and knowledge? Who can unite and lead 1.4 million members through the very difficult economic and political times we find ourselves in?

I believe it is Dave Prentis.

Northern Ireland, Scotland and North West region have already voted to nominate Dave.

UPDATE: so has National Disabled members' committee.  Check out Facebook group Elect Dave Prentis

BTW - People will know by now that personally I have no time for ultra left extremists or their candidates. But if they get the 25 nominations needed it is their right to run and I look forward to some fun and games in the future with them and their politics.

However, I have had the misfortune to come across the usual breathtaking hypocrisy of a certain blogging commentator who has the blooming cheek to complain about the cut and thrust of debate over the GS election.  He pretends to be ultra holier than thou despite his past form for righteous sectarian bile?

Has he no mirrors?