Update: due to a clash with the Construction Rank & File meeting, the date has been changed to Saturday 24 November.
Unite Rank and File will be holding a national meeting 12:30-4:30pm on Saturday 24 November.
The meeting is at Wood Green Social Club, 3-4 Stuart Cres, Wood Green, London N22 5NJ. Nearest tube: Wood Green (Piccadilly Line). Nearest bus stop: Haringey Civic Centre.
- You can download a leaflet here.
- Facebook event.
- Add to calendar (Outlook/ICS) (GoogleCalendar)
Last year meetings in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow agreed a team to get a new unofficial network of Unite members up and running.
The team set up a Unite Rank & File web site, Facebook and Twitter, and produced leaflets. We’ve publicised and built support for numerous disputes, campaigns and demonstrations. We’ve explained Unite’s structures and encouraged people to get involved. We’ve encouraged branches and workplaces to submit motions to Unite conferences. We’ve highlighted issues such as blacklisting, the union’s attempts to avoid responsibility for discrimination by lay union officials against members and employees. We produced a model motion defending free speech on Palestine and opposing the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
The need for a stronger and more assertive rank and file is clearer than ever.
Many disputes continue to be poorly publicised, hampering solidarity. Isolated reps are less able to assert themselves when the union apparatus isn’t meeting members’ needs. And when we win, too few members know about it.
Politically, Unite continues to be more vocal in its partnership with socially and environmentally destructive employers than in pushing for diversification into high quality socially useful and sustainable jobs. Unite’s delegation at Labour conference helped outvote constituency delegates to prevent debate on mandatory reselection, despite this being union policy.
This meeting will discuss developments in Unite, disputes and campaigns, what Unite Rank & File should be doing and elect officers and a committee.
Further details are being sent out to Unite Rank & File supporters by email. If you haven’t already, please sign up here.