19.10.1995

Left split in Unison election

RODNEY BICKERSTAFFE, the sitting candidate for the post of general secretary of Unison, the main public sector union, faces two leftwing opponents in the current election.

The first is Yunus Bakhsh, a member of the Socialist Workers Party who, according to an SWP spokesperson, is “too busy” to talk to the Weekly Worker.

The second is Roger Bannister, a Militant Labour member, who is standing on behalf of the Campaign for a Fighting Democratic Unison, which enjoys some degree of support from most left organisations (apart from the SWP).

However, it is clear that neither candidate is campaigning for what workers need. For example, both are content to stand by Unison’s pathetic official £4.15 minimum wage figure, rather than anything like the necessary £275 for a 35-hour week.

The Weekly Worker spoke to Roger Bannister:

Why are you standing in this election?

To give the members the opportunity to vote for a left candidate and to combat moves towards a centralised union without democracy.

You are campaigning as the candidate of the CFDU. How do you see its role?

It’s important that I’m supported by the CFDU, which pulls together left groups and individuals. We need to be in the strongest possible position to contest elections and mount campaigns. At its first conference 160 branch delegates attended, including many who didn’t belong to any group. I see the CFDU playing an important role in disputes - supporting and promoting Unison workers and others in struggle. We also need a disciplined approach to solidarity within the union - a united front against the leadership.

There is one important group missing from those supporting the CFDU, isn’t there?

The SWP? We approached them with a view to forming a united left bloc, but they declined. They prefer to rally behind individual disputes and formed Fightback to do that. But it’s interesting that their candidate in this election is standing as SWP, not Fightback.

Should the CFDU be viewed as a pressure group on the leadership, or should it take the lead in organising the rank and file?

I put forward a national strategy calling for a national one-day strike on the executive, which was passed overwhelmingly. But somehow it became ‘lost’ in the bureaucracy and the members have never been advised it is our policy. Many union officials have even denied that it is.

The CFDU calls for the leadership to lead. If they don’t, others will take up the banner.

You are a member of Militant Labour, whose policy is for a minimum wage of £6 an hour. Yet in your election material the figure you mention is £4.15.

Unison’s level is £4.15. Ideally I would prefer £6 and reserve the right to up the figure. Rodney Bickerstaffe fought tooth and nail to prevent the union’s policy being supported at the TUC and Labour Party conferences. Ordinary members have taken up the call for £4.15 an hour.