Les Bayliss Gives Full Support To Ed Miliband at Workers Uniting Group Meeting at Labour Conference

“Trade unions are the bedrock of civilised society” – Ed Miliband

Tuesday September 28th

A well attended meeting of the Workers Uniting Group on Septmeber 28th heard Les Bayliss the Progressive Left - Workers Uniting Group candidate for Unite General Secretary welcome Ed Miliband’s election as Labour Party leader. He told the meeting that Unite had been instrumental in getting Ed elected and praised the work of the Unite political department in the campaign.

The result had been remarkable given that Ed had been behind in the polls.

Les said he had been confident that Ed would be elected and that’s why he was able to issue a statement through his website shortly after the leadership ballot result on early Saturday evening.

Les said he fully supported the comments made by Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson on Ed’s election, and on his Leaders speech that afternoon – notably when he said “Trade Unions are the bedrock of a civilised society”, and that the Labour Party must now be the optimist party and play our part in Labour’s new generation and not look back to a bygone era".

Les also welcomed the positive comments from Ed on agency workers, council housing, the Iraq war, and his opposition to the attack on the Palestinian flotilla.

Les also reported on his election campaign so far. He said his policies were being well received by members and activists up and down the country. He was satisfied that he had neared his target for branch and reps nominations in the election process and he was greatly encouraged by the support of comrades who wanted to take Unite forward.

He also explained his deep concern’s about falling Unite membership which had to be arrested quickly if we were to avoid damaging the financial recovery Unite had made. Our organising campaigns and project had to be made to work to replace the members we were losing - and would lose with the proposed cuts in public services which would also knock onto the private sector.

The campaign against the cuts had to be built with support from communities, politicians and other unions. We had to work to ensure that when the fight came we were in a fit state to win the campaign and not be branded as “mindless militants” by the media.

He also discussed the union’s international work explaining the importance of Workers Uniting, the global union in fighting back against multi-nationals.

Les also spoke about recent media coverage notably the coverage of his campaign in the News Of The World. He accepted this was a sensitive issue, but polling had shown that this paper is widely read by Unite members. He also said he would take “no lessons” from others on the Murdoch media – particularly when other officers had been interviewed or had articles and interviews published in Murdoch’s Times, Sunday Times and gave interviews to Sky TV.

In a question and answer session an issue was raised about the 24 contact centre and its effect on branch’s notably in construction where the branch was the point of contact. Les assured the delegates that the contact centre would not replace branch’s but would assist them in their work.

There was also questions raised about union properties, training courses for reps and Ed Miliband’s speech. A discussion took place about Ed’s comment on trade unions and also on his comment on having “no truck with a wave of irresponsible strikes”.

A speaker also said he was concerned that a Unite delegate had been seen by the media to respond by shouting “rubbish”. This, he said sent out the wrong signal to members who should be proud of the work done by Unite in getting Ed Miliband elected.

Les said it was right that we should avoid making “overblown statements” and pointed out that he felt Ed Miliband had gone some distance in reassuring unions he was on our side. Notably on the comment about a catering worker who had to buy her own uniform and felt badly treated with Ed Miliband saying it was right she joined a union.

However Ed had used the words “irresponsible strikes” and it was Les's view that the statement did not rule out support for all strikes and disputes. That was the reason we must build a broad coalition against the cuts and should avoid undermining the goodwill built up.

Closing the debate Les said - This was now the time to build unity within Unite, prepare for the battles ahead and Unite behind our new leader.