TERS THOUSANDS of health workers not covСТСО РУКОО PY VO DOO ies were fuming last week as UNISON revealed management's latest offer.
ay calks mre dorde olt sirice as April, and while two unions - MSF and AEU had broken ranks and accepted a miserabe 370 pay increase (well below the minimum 4.5% paid last year to NHS doctors and nurses) UNISON had been or the verge of balloting members for strike action The ballor was suspended pending a new offer - which now turns out to be a 3-yea deal giving just 3% for last year, 3.25% for 2000 and a likely 3% for 2001 - guaranteeing the continuation of low pay.
UNISON stewards are now posed with a cien wieler coscceoe tes deal, or attempt to persuade angry and frustrated members to cake action.
Activists in UNISON are gearing wp for the campaign o elect a new general secretary. Supporters for a Fightng Democratic UNISON (CFDU) and others on the left, including the SWP, are backing Roger BanIn contrast to the union bureaucracy's candidate, current deputy general secretary Dave fighting general secretary on The general secretary's salary is £74,000, many times higher than that of most UNISON members In return for this, the current union leadershi including Dave chus Have a - W00 OECE to defend the wages and terms and conditions of their members against attacks such as privatisa tion, cuts, wage freezes.
One example in local governership welcomed introduction of Best Valuc (ignoring policy passed at conference on this issue).
Roger Bannister was one of those who warned that without Prentis, adequate funding for Single Sta. tus mn focal govcrument, i woul be used as an excuse to level down, and would be the beginning of the end for national terms and This has been borne out very clearly - Haringey council is the latest example.
Under the current union leaderfailed ship, branches have been closed down and individual activists have been suspended/expelled, for on lines not liked by Vuisdu cracy. the this has left UNI- SPUISC CasC. without a branch SICWATUN fight against man-..* attacks Roger Bannister or CocCS.
If clected, Roger Bannister will only take i a workers wage ochicyes that public services i should be run for profit, and opposes prO pE vatisation policies of PFI, market festing and Best Value.
He will support those who go on strixe in aelenee ol incir micrests, and campaign for a minimum wage of £5 per hour, with no He restrictions.
He also: defends self organisachoosc, and opposes the witchhunt against activists, calling for a oDaasusnson, an end to attacks on activists, and defence of rights Oransc to chanc union poucc