By Gray Allan, retired members secretary, UNISON Falkirk
Social worker and UNISON NEC member, Andrea Egan, officially launched her campaign for the position of general secretary last Wednesday. Andrea is also former UNISON President and secretary of Bolton Local Government Branch.
In an enthusiastic event attended by around 200 members, online and in person, and chaired by John McDonell MP, and supported by many branch activists, Andrea gave an inspiring speech. As the sole candidate from the Left, the chances of a victory have never been higher
In all of its history UNISON has never had a general secretary elected from the rank-and-file of the membership: all the previous post-holders of the £166,000 job have been officials from within the full-time apparatus. Moreover, if elected, Andrea will not only be the first ordinary member to become GS, but she has committed to taking only her social worker’s salary, with the balance being donated to the union strike fund and to the welfare fund.
In an excoriating critique of the present leadership of UNISON, Andrea described the disconnect between the leadership and the members. She slammed the the current GS for blocking actions by the majority of the NEC and in the Union, “They have become too comfortable in their positions” she said, “they don’t want change and they are more interested in supporting the priorities of the Labour Party leadership than the priorities of our members”
UNISON is the largest trade union in the UK, with 1.3 million members, and has an annual income of £200m. But, Andrea said, the General Secretary and the leadership are holding the union back. They have failed to convert this potential power into action. They have failed to win ballots for strike action while other unions have succeeded. UNISON is silent on major issues while other unions get the media coverage.
The New Deal for Working People watered down
Egan announced her bid to become General Secretary on December 9, with support from Time for Real Change, the largest left grouping in UNISON. In a previous article, Left Horizons carried her programme here. This focussed on the many weaknesses of the current General Secretary, Christine McAnea, and her leadership team.
On the Labour Party however, while condemning the factional manoeuvres of the UNISON leadership, she wrote of understanding the importance of the Labour Link. She also said that she “would defend the values of democracy in the Labour Party and speak out against authoritarian measures that reduce the power of trade unionists”
In the rally on the last week, while launching the campaign, Andrea Egan’s position on the Labour Party had hardened noticeably. This is understandable, given the Starmer government’s record so far. She listed a series of U-turns and betrayals by Starmer and the Labour Government: the watering down of the “New Deal for Working People”, back-tracking on hire and fire, the abandonment of sectional bargaining other than in the care sector. Then there was to decision to ratain the two-child benefit cap and the end to the universal Winter Fuel Allowance – and of course, the disgraceful silence of McAnea and the UNISON representatives on Labour’s NEC on these issues.
The deteriorating economic situation and talk of more cuts by the pundits seem to have sharpened Andrea’s hostility to Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves. “UNISON members did not vote for cuts”, said Egan, “They will be looking at what value they actually get for the millions the Union is donating to the Labour Party”. Andrea reminded members that she had been expelled from the Labour Party, and said that her meeting with Starmer and Co would be interesting, if she is elected.
Labour Link should be a lever for changing the Labour Party
Replying to a question from an activist on plans to review the Labour Party Link she said that it was impossible to get close to the UNISON Labour Link. It too often serves to frustrate the wishes of the majority of members such as by nominating Keir Starmer for leader in early 2019. “I believe in a Party of the working class”, said Andrea, “but Labour is not supporting working people. We need to have a look at the Labour Link but we may have to part ways”
In saying this, Andrea Egan is merely reflecting the anger felt by many trade unionists and she is treading the same path as Sharon Graham of Unite and of other left trade union leaders.
But she is in danger of confusing the Labour Party with the Labour Government. Hundreds and thousands of rank-and-file Labour Party members are just as opposed to the direction taken by Starmer and his Cabinet, as is Andrea Egan.
If elected as GS, Andrea needs to make sure that Labour Link reflects the aspirations of those working class union members who pay the Labour affiliation fee. Labour Link should be a lever for changing the Party and putting better representatives on Party conference delegations and forward to the Labour NEC. Acting together in solidarity the left of the Party and other unions we have the power to force Starmer to change course, or step aside.
