Statement From British Airways Ground Services Heathrow Unite 1/616 Branch

This statement was sent to the Workers Uniting Group for publication.

We have been advised that it was circulated at the Unite EC Meeting this week.


Dear Fellow Unite Activists

We are a group of representatives from Unite the Union 1/616 branch.

It’s a former TGWU branch based at Heathrow Airport.

And we have a warning for you all.

During this election I am hearing lots about “lay member democracy”. All the candidates promise membership democracy at the heart of the union.

But by their actions, not all will deliver it.

If your face doesn’t fit, if you’re not part of the ruling clique, then woe betide you.

Our branch represents workers at British Airways Ground Services Heathrow: Baggage Handlers, Loading Staff, Cargo Delivery Drivers, GTS (coach drivers) and the like. By any measure it’s a successful branch, focussed around a workplace, with 1400+ members and vibrant meetings.

There was just one problem.

We refused to pledge blind loyalty to the existing leadership of the TGWU Section. Nothing personal. We just value independence.

Our reward?

A couple of months ago we were told our branch would be closed down. We objected, but were told by our regional secretary and national officer that they were progressing anyway.

They’ve since taken more than 400 of our members and allocated them to other branches.

We pointed out that the branch was viable with a big membership and our cross over of skills helped in greater understanding of each other’s areas, we did not want to be broken up and scattered to the winds.

Again they ignored us.

In fact only one person has taken our complaint seriously.

That person is Les Bayliss.

Les has asked us if the Regional Council had approved the break-up of our branch. He asked if the Executive Council had approved it. Of course, the answer was no.

In a truly lay-democratic union, only the lay members would be able to take a decision like this one, to close a viable branch against its will.

In fact Unite’s Rules state that only the lay-member Executive Council can merge or change members’ branches.

But the Regional Secretary and National Officer don’t care. They’ve never asked the Executive permission to carry out their plans.

And the warning? Well both these senior officers are leading members of the campaign team for one of the candidates in the current election for Unite General Secretary. The National Officer is in fact the campaign manager.

This group talks about lay member democracy but by their actions they show contempt for it. They show contempt for us.

Only one candidate is proven to stand up for the Unite Rule Book, and proven to stand up for genuine lay member democracy.

That candidate is Les Bayliss.

Our union actively campaigns against bullying, so why are they trying to bully and intimidate the 1/616 into submission.

My branch – what’s left of it – will be supporting Les in the General Secretary election.

If you value democracy, we urge you to do so too.

John Webster
Branch Secretary