Jerry Hicks For General Secretary

After it was revealed that GMPU print section branch funds had been taken by head office with little or no consultation, there followed a very stormy National Sector Committee meeting where despite attempts to prevent discussion a vote was taken to overwhelmingly condemn the decision.

It now transpires that the GPM branch funds will be reurned to the chapels for them to spend as they see fit, with everyone now claiming they had no idea who had made the original decision!

Jerry says “It is amazing what an election can do to focus the mind. But rather than the current leaderships control freakery that led to this appaling situation, lay control and democracy must instead become the standard for the whole union. If this can be achieved during the nominating period just think what we could do when the balloting starts”.  

It is worth noting that it has been said by some that this election is a diversion. Try telling that to the GPMU section! 

Please click on file below for ‘Flyer for all members’.

flyer-for-all-members

A full-time official of Unite-Amicus has given notice of the possible closure of its Newcastle Central Branch prior to the crucial branch nomination period for the Unite-Amicus General Secretary election in November. Each candidate in the General Secretary election requires at least 25 branch nominations in order to be a contestant. The Newcastle branch had made it clear that they were seeking to nominate Jerry Hicks, a candidate for Amicus General Secretary, in an election called following a legal challenge to Derek Simpson by Jerry Hicks.

The chairman of the branch is a former union employee who was sacked by Derek Simpson in 2006 along with two other employees, found by a tribunal to have been unfairly dismissed. The news also comes following the dismissal of two more union employees, thought to have been recently sacked for having fallen out with the Joint General Secretary Derek Simpson.

Also members in the GMPU print workers section are up in arms as it comes to light that some branch funds have been redirected back to head office with little or no discussion. It is estimated that possibly up to £million could have been taken from the full time regional based sector branches. The former GPMU section of Unite held election of officers and members have consistently spoken against the appointment of officers and lack of accountability in Unite.

Jerry Hicks says “these examples are outrageous and for a host of other reasons is precisely why things have to change at the very top and that this election for General Secretary offers us the best chance to do just that”.

Please note: Contact Jerry so you can get his details that Branches and Reps will be required to give in order to nominate him. 078 178 279 12

ELECTION OF AMICUS SECTION GENERAL SECRETARY
FOR TERM OF OFFICE CONCLUDING ON 23 rd DECEMBER 2010

TIMETABLE AND APPOINTMENTS

Nomination forms to Branches, chapels and available in union offices for workplace representatives: Week Commencing 20^th October 2008.Nomination period for Branches, chapels and workplace representatives:

November and December 2008.

Last date for receipt of nominations by Independent Scrutineer: 9^th January 2009.Last date for receipt of acceptance of Nomination and election addresses from candidate by returning officer: 23^rd January 2009.Despatch of ballot papers by ERS: Week commencing 16^th February 2009.Close of ballot: Friday 6^th March 2009.In accordance with Amicus Section rules Electoral Reform Services Ltd are appointed as Independent Scrutineer.

In accordance with Amicus Section rules Professor William Brown is appointed as Election Commissioner.

In accordance with Amicus Section rules John Gibbins, Head of Conferences and Elections is appointed as returning officer.

In accordance with Amicus Section rules candidates require 25 branch or chapel nominations and 25 workplace nominations from 15 different workplaces.

In accordance with Amicus Section rules, members who join after 2^nd February 2009 will not receive a ballot

paper.

PRESS RELEASE 8th October 2008  EMERGENCY NEC TO DISCUSS LEGAL CHALLENGE

An emergency meeting of the National Executive of Unite, Britain’s biggest trade union is taking place on Thursday October 9^th to discuss the legal challenge to Derek Simpson launched by former Rolls Royce Convenor and  Amicus Executive member Jerry Hicks.At the meeting Derek Simpson will seek authorisation from the Executive to suspend the rulebook that was voted in by 95.3% of all members of Unite in a ballot held two months ago. He will then seek nomination to stand for election as General Secretary in the Amicus section of Unite for a period of office until 2010.

PRESS RELEASE 1^st October 2008

EMERGENCY UNITE EXECUTIVE MEETING CALLED

OVER LEGAL CHALLENGE TO DEREK SIMPSON 

A special emergency meeting of the National Executive of Britain’s biggest trade union Unite has been called for October 9^th in order to discuss the legal challenge to Derek Simpson launched by former Rolls Royce Convenor and Amicus Executive member Jerry Hicks.The legal challenge to Unite Joint General Secretary Derek Simpson questioned his right to remain in office beyond 65 without an election, and is still under investigation by the government appointed Certification Officer.

The challenge was first said by Derek Simpson and others to have had no chance of success. But in a swift about face meetings have been organised for Unite Officers and supporters this weekend by Derek Simpson, in advance of the National Executive meeting next week, in anticipation of a ruling against him.

Jerry Hicks who filed the complaint has always held the view and argued strongly that his challenge was correct legally. He said today “This cobbled together scheme sold as a package with the devil hidden in the detail that was financially beneficial to some and very costly to our members has been exposed”. It was ill conceived, ill thought out, probably ill advised and most importantly illegal. He says this because why else would Derek Simpson break cover so dramatically as he appears to have done, in a way that continues to be the mirror image of the Sir Ken Jackson fiasco.

It is thought that Derek Simpson will seek authorisation from the Executive to suspend the rulebook that was voted in by 95.3% of all members of Unite in a ballot held two months ago, in the hope that this would allow him to stand for election in the Amicus section of Unite for a period of office until 2010. But such a move to suspend the rulebook, or deny all members a vote in an election, could spark additional legal challenges from members of Unite. The new rulebook is due to come into force on the 1^st November and would abolish the separate sections of the union and with a successful challenge from Jerry Hicks force an election for a new General Secretary for the whole of Unite next year.

Mr Hicks has announced that if there is to be an election either as a result of his legal challenge or by way of the latest developments then he will stand as a candidate for a new General Secretary.

Mr Hicks a former union convenor, was sacked from his job in Rolls Royce in 2005 where he had worked for 30 years and won an Industrial Tribunal decision of ‘victimisation’ following the attack on trade union rights in the Bristol factory. Though there was several weeks of strike action at the time, Mr Simpson’s decision not to show a personal presence was considered deeply damaging to the campaign for Mr Hick’s re-instatement.

Unite is not only the country’s biggest Trade Union it’s also the biggest single donator to the Labour Party having given £millions of members’ money over the last few years. Last year Derek Simpson gave his backing to Gordon Brown and also helped to ensure he was unopposed in his challenge for the Labour leadership. Mr Simpson has also been criticised for abandoning his election pledges, including support for the principle of election of officers as well as over the role he played in the construction workers’ dispute at Wembley Stadium.

ELECTION FOR GENERAL SECRETARY

MOVES A STEP CLOSER

The challenge to Derek Simpson’s right to remain in office without an election was not so long ago described as having ‘no chance’ by detractors. Indeed, the union (wrongly) stated back in May that they had ‘no case to answer’ as the complaint had been rejected. But Unite the union has now been given until the 12th September 2008 to provide its defence and arguments to the Certification Office. 

The enquiry represents a step closer to the prospect of an election for General Secretary having to be called. Under the rules of the merger with the TGWU Joint General Secretary Tony Woodley could be forced to stand down early and an election held next year for a new General Secretary for all the 1.9 million members of Unite.

Unite is also the largest single donator to the Labour party, £11 million since 2005 where £1.5million of which was in the last ¼ year meaning 41% of total donations.

Stop Press!!!!

The challenge to Derek Simpson’s right to remain in office without an election, which not so long ago was described as having ‘no chance’ by detractors, took a big step forward this week as Unite the union (Amicus Section) has been given until the 12th September 2008 to provide its defence and arguments to the Certification Office. 

This represents a step closer to the prospect of an election for General Secretary having to  be called.

 Indeed it is a giant leap when compared to the union’s statement back in May when they wrongly stated that they had been informed that they had ‘no case to answer’ as the complaint had been rejected.

In 2002 Derek Simpson was highly critical of the decision to extend Sir Ken Jackson’s period of office by two years beyond retirement. Now he has hypocritically arranged for an extension of office for himself until 2010 when he will then be 66. 

Derek Simpson also questioned the right of Sir Ken Jackson to remain as AEEU General Secretary as he had only been elected by the minority former EETPU section of the union and forced an election.

I now question the right of Derek Simpson to remain in office on the same basis that he was only ever elected by the AEEU section of Unite and that members of the former MSF, Unifi and GPMU have not had a democratic vote on who should be the General Secretary.

Last week I lodged a legal challenge with the certification officer. The union has said that the application has been rejected which is untrue. The claim is in the process of being considered. I hope that the result will mean that an election for General Secretary may be called for sometime later this year.

It is widely accepted that what happened in 2002 opened the door for a positive change in the union and that’s precisely what is being sought now.

Derek Simpson did the right thing in 2002. That’s’ why, I and, others gave him our full support.

What he is doing now is wrong and that’s why he is being challenged.

Derek Simpson abandoned his 2002 election promises very quickly having been easily swayed and won over by ‘Tony’ and ‘Gordon’. Simpson, the man once described as a migraine for the government has become their Anadin Extra.

During his 6 years in office we have witnessed ever more closures, job insecurity and vicious attacks on pension and conditions. Did the £1 million spent on a ‘Buy English’ advertising campaign save the Peugeot factory? We should have been calling on the government to step in and nationalise the Peugeot factory as they were forced to do with Northern Rock.

With 2.1 million members and 100 sponsored MPs have we repealed Anti Union legislation?

Have we even gained the most basic right to re-instatement when unfairly dismissed?

Our union is not only the country’s biggest trade union it’s also the biggest single donator to the Labour Party having given £ millions of members’ money over the last few years. Last year Derek Simpson gave his backing to Gordon Brown helping to ensure he was unopposed for the Labour Party leadership.

A year ago MPs cheered as they voted for the abolition of the 10p tax rate. Few now will say it’s right!

This challenge has the potential of being the single biggest change not just within the union, but also in the union’s relationship with the New Labour government.

With that comes an opportunity, perhaps the last chance under this New Labour government of really redressing the imbalance between us and the employers.

The union has just held elections for the NEC on a 10% turnout. Of the 2.1 million members 90% never felt engaged involved or inspired enough to vote. Under Derek Simpson’s leadership our union has not managed to touch the lives or minds of massive numbers of our members enough for them to feel the need or worth of becoming participants in affairs of the union.

Despite numerous mergers, (the latest proposed being with the American USW union) which in principle I support, many of us do not feel stronger and more able to defend ourselves.

When the members voted on the merger and rulebook it was as a package, not on individual rules or clauses. Had they been asked “Do you agree with Derek Simpson going 8 years without an election and staying on to 2010 until he is 66, which would mean an extra cost to members of over £100,000 in wages and expenses?” who’s to say which way that vote would have gone. I could have a good guess!

Last week a legal challenge was lodged with the certification officer questioning the right of the Unite Joint General Secretary Derek Simpson to remain in office.

The challenge has been launched by former Rolls Royce convenor Jerry Hicks who until recently represented workers in the Aerospace industry on the Unite Executive Council.

In 2002 Derek Simpson was highly critical of the decision to extend Sir Ken Jackson’s period of office by two years beyond retirement but now he has hypocritically arranged for an extension of office for himself until 2010, when he will be 66. Mr Hicks has now questioned the right of Mr Simpson to remain in office on the same basis.

Derek Simpson also questioned the right of Sir Ken Jackson to remain as AEEU General Secretary as he had only been elected by the minority former EETPU section of the union. But on the same basis Derek Simpson has only been elected by the AEEU section of Unite. Members of the former MSF, Unifi and GPMU have not had a democratic vote on who should be the General Secretary.

The union has said that Mr Hicks’ application had been rejected which is untrue. It has been confirmed by the certification officer with both Mr Hicks and Unite the union that the claim is in the process of being considered. It is hoped that the result will mean that an election for General Secretary may be called for sometime later this year.

It is widely accepted that what happened in 2002 opened the door for a positive change in the union and that’s precisely what is being sought now.

Derek Simpson won the election in the AEEU in 2002 against Sir Ken Jackson by a narrow majority of 410 following a recount. Jerry Hicks, who was one of the key figures in getting Simpson elected, has announced that if he is successful in his legal challenge then he will stand as a candidate in the election for a new General Secretary.

Unite is not only the country’s biggest trade union it’s also the biggest single donator to the Labour Party having given £ millions of members’ money over the last few years. Last year Derek Simpson gave his backing to Gordon Brown helping to ensure he was unopposed for the Labour Party leadership.

Mr Simpson has also been criticised for abandoning his election pledges. Despite numerous mergers (the latest proposed being with the American USW union), which in principle Mr Hicks supports, many union members do not feel stronger and more able to defend themselves.

With 2.1 million members and 100 sponsored MPs anti trade union legislation is unchanged.
Even the most basic right to re-instatement when unfairly dismissed has not been achieved under Mr Simpson’s leadership.

With the Labour Party facing a funding crisis this challenge has the potential of being the single biggest change not just within the union, but also in the union’s relationship with the New Labour government.

Jerry Hicks said today “With this challenge comes an opportunity, perhaps the last chance under this New Labour government of really redressing the imbalance between us and the employers.”

Jerry Hicks can be contacted on his mobile for an interview on 07817827912.