National action Is needed to confront cuts Photo: Mark Salmon
Isiington
UNISON A' FOUR candidates have secured enough nominations for the ballot paper as UNISON elects a new General Secretary.
The front runner, Associate General Secretary Rodney Bickerstaffe, won nominations from 283 branches; SWP member Yunus Bakhsh has 47 branches behind him. while Militant supporter Roger bannise me caracale of the Campaign for a Fighting and Democratic UNISON has 43. Tory anti-abortionist Peter Hunter also scraped enough nominaThe combined far left has obtained a respectable 90 nominations across all parts of the union, indicating a real support for a fighting alternative to the current UNISON leadership. Despite calls from the CFDU the SWP have consistently refused to build a united and broad left.
The election campaige takes place against the sellout of the NHS pay claim. and after Bickerstaffe bul. gation into ditching the union's policy of a £4.15 per hour minimum wage, ingless composite. For the Bickerstaffe ensured Tony Blair an casy nde and ditched the union's policy.
Alternative
A fighting and democratic altemative needs to be raised in this election campaign, to debate the way forward in the union. to controns abacks on paye jobs, and conditions and the privatisation of public servces, a strategy of national industrial action is essential.
A strong vote for Roger Bannister would signal the need for a change of course. Bannister stands for strike action against the NHS deal, a national fight tions, defiances of the anti-union laws. renationalisations of utilities, support for self-organisation and the election of UNISON officials. • To invite Roger Bannister to speak at your meeting, or to obtain election leaflets and posters, contact the CFDU do Bromley UNISON, Civic Centre, Stockwell Close Bromley, BRI 3UH, or phone 0181 464 3333.