STATEMENT BY WORKERS UNITING GROUP STEERING COMMITTEE

Forthcoming Election Of Unite General Secretary

Following a meeting of the Workers Uniting Group Steering Committee consisting of Region and Sector representatives the following statement was agreed.

Over the past few weeks three candidates have sought the support of the Workers Uniting Group for the post of Unite General Secretary.

These were Les Bayliss, AGS, Brian Boyd, National Officer and Paul Reuter, National Officer.

They attended 10 regional hustings meetings.

The candidates have expressed their view that the process was fair and provided an important forum for the candidates to debate the key issues facing Unite and answer questions from delegates attending the hustings meetings.

Over 600 activists and members attended the hustings.

The result of the hustings was that Les Bayliss had a majority of regions expressing their support for him.

Therefore the Workers Uniting Steering Committee endorses Les Bayliss to be the candidate for the Workers Uniting Group – the progressive left group in Unite in the forthcoming election.

We would ask all supporters, activists and members to work towards securing Les Bayliss as the next General Secretary of Unite - working to ensure that Unite becomes a unified union.

It should also be noted that Workers Uniting Group is not a “one issue” campaigning group.

Over the past year Workers Uniting Group has supported and campaigned for the many Unite members and working people involved in struggle across the whole of the union including Diageo, First Bus, Vauxhall, Corus, BA, Justice for Pleural Plaques sufferers, Restoration of Democracy to Honduras, in support of exploited ship breaking workers in Bangladesh and the striking nickel miners at Vale Inco in Canada.

The Workers Uniting Group welcomes all Unite members who wish to see the union become a progressive left wing union which unites all members; is forward looking; supports organisation of workers; is internationalist and socialist – neither TGWU Mark2 or Amicus Mark 2 – but Unite – The Union.

For more information visit

www.workersunitinggroup.com