UNITE GENERAL SECRETARY ELECTION - Vote For Les Bayliss

The ballot for the General Secretary of Unite opens on October 25th.

The Workers Uniting Group – the Progressive Left Grouping within Unite supports Les Bayliss.

Les Bayliss stood in ten hustings meetings around the country to win the support of the Workers Uniting Group and has campaigned up and down the UK and Ireland seeking support for his policies which are designed to take Unite forward and to become a union that not only represents and supports its members - but wins where it matters the most – in the workplace.

Les Bayliss, who is aged 57 and Assistant General Secretary is offering: a Better Service for Members; Better Judgement; Better Support for members and fighting for Better Jobs.

Throughout the past few months Les Bayliss has met thousands of ordinary members, union reps and activists in all sectors of our union – from manufacturing to transport, from finance workers to shipbuilders, from health service workers to steelworkers - and his message has been well received and endorsed.

Among the internal policies Les has explained from day one (some of which have found their way into other candidates manifesto’s) include:

A new Unite Membership Support Centre open 24-hour a day.

A new dedicated Branch Support Unit.

Additional resources for member services within all our Regions and Sectors to service our workplace representatives.

An overhaul of Unite’s current regional and central administration to ensure every member gets the help they need when they need it.

A massive increase in resources for education and support for representatives to equip themselves with the tools to do their job for members.

Improve services to members by increasing training and development for Unite officers and staff.

Have a comprehensive review of all union activity to eliminate waste and improve services.

In a statement retiring Unite Joint General Secretary Derek Simpson said: "Unite members are facing a very difficult time right now and it's vital that the leader of Unite is up to the task of protecting members jobs and public services. Ranting and raving from the side lines will only keep Labour in opposition for a generation.

“The cuts announced this week are the tip of a very nasty iceberg but the task of opposing them will be complex. Only one candidate standing in the Unite General Secretary election has in my mind the skills for this difficult job.

“Les Bayliss has the skills and the courage to unite the Labour movement and build support in the general public for an alternative economic strategy to bring the country our of recession without the pain that will be imposed by the Tories on every family in this country.”

Vote Les Bayliss on October 25th.

Encourage Unite members and comrades to vote for Les Bayliss for a Better union!