Fred Leplat (United Treasurer)
Last November saw the launch of a new "broad left" in UNISON, the United Left, at a conference of 150 activists in Manchester.
The United left was born through the coming together of the former broad left in UNISON, the Campaign for a Fighting and Democratic UNISON, members of the SWP in UNISON and independent left wingers who had stayed out of The (k)l This new United Left is a tremendous step forward in overcoming the dispersion of the left. It has already seen successes with an increased number of socialist elected onto national bodies of the union, and larger meetings of left activists in the union's regions who want to thrash out a fighting strategy against privatisation or better pay.
There are now opportunities for the United Left to provide an alternative leadership and strategy for the union. But in order to do so, the forces within it must be able to work together, and be able to make alliances with others on the left who are still outside of the United Left.
The Greater London Region is the most left region in the union, and has the most left wing convenor, Geoff Martin.
Geoff has vigorously opposed the witch-hunt against left activists, consistently spoken out against privatisation, and attempted to make the region a more campaigning body of the union. Although he is still outside of the United left, he is certainly someone we must work alongside to turn the union into a campaigning organisation.
It is therefore extremely unfortunate that Glenn Kelly, national chair of the United Left and Socialist Party member, obtained the nomination of his branch to stand against Geoff for the election to the post of regional convenor.
Socialist Party members argued that Geoff was now working as an organiser for the Ratterse, & Wandsworth Trades Council and did not belong to a branch which gave him a "base" from which to be accountable.
This narrow view does not take into account the tact that Geoff is widely known and respected by most union activists across the Region. Furthermore, he is accountable through his election as a lay official at the Regional Council by delegates from all branches in the Region.
Only the right wing and the bureaucracy in the union would be pleased to see two left wingers stand against each other, and union activists will not understand the motivations that lay behind Glenn Kelly's candidacy.
Glenn Kelly's chattenge to Geoff Martin can only be understood in the continuing desire of the Socialist Party to establish its own independent profile on every issue, even when differences are minimal or non-existent.
The sectarian approach, that is putting the interests of their own organisation before the needs of the broader movement, must be rejected.
The London United Left has called upon Glenn Kelly to withdraw his nomination and is backing Geoff Martin for regional convenor.