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A repository for reports, opinions and bits of writing on labour, trade union and other issues by a union activist and retired social worker.

Friday 4 September 2020

UNISON general secretary election - change but what kind?

Oh to be a fly on the wall of UNISON national executive’s various cabals following the local government service group executive’s decision to nominate lay member Paul Holmes for general secretary of the union.

The backing of the leadership of the union’s largest occupational group must be a major boost for Paul’s campaign and one that, I suspect, will not be universally welcomed on the lay NEC (along with associated officers) as they approach decision time on their own nomination.

It would be foolish to just put the nomination down to the varying influences of the usual factions on the 40+ strong committee or a vote split between the two full-time officer candidates. That would ignore the disaffection many have felt over recent years due to the growing gulf between front line activists (of all politics and none) and the Euston Road bubble.