Statement from UNITE General Secretary Candidate Simon Dubbins and supporters

UNITE’s first Policy Conference has been a great success and has been an excellent opportunity for activists from different backgrounds to engage, debate and discuss with each other about our respective visions of our new union going forward.

During the Conference the forthcoming UNITE General Secretary Election has been debated by many activists and prospective candidates. Our campaign itself has attracted huge attention, praise and support. It has also become increasingly clear that our vision is indeed very close to that of General Secretary Candidate Len McCluskey and his supporters.

Len's Statement in relation to declaration from Simon Dubbins and his supporters

Further to discussions at the UNITE Policy Conference, I welcome and am extremely pleased that Simon Dubbins and his supporters have decided to take a bold and courageous step and move towards supporting a single Unity Candidate as General Secretary. I want to congratulate them for running a professional, effective and honest campaign that has focused on policies and a vision for the union and its lay members going forward.

France – we must support the protests against reform of the pension system

All 6 trade union confederations in France have recently demonstrated against Government plans to reform the pension system and end the right to retire at 60 years old. Our own retirement age is being steadily increased here in UK as well, and we must support the French unions in their struggle to maintain their right to retire at 60 – their fight is our fight.

Since the financial collapse and the ensuing economic crisis, unemployment has risen sharply in most European countries. The swathing public sector spending cuts (in Greece, Spain, The UK, Portugal, Italy, etc, etc) are likely to cause further sharp rises in unemployment all over the continent.

Same old Tories – attacking those that need help most

Listening to Iain Duncan Smith’s welfare proposal – in particular the parts that stressed if people don’t take work offered to them they will lose their benefits and the need to create a work ethic – took me right back to the Thatcher years. It pretty much confirms that not much in the Tory Party has changed over the years.

Economic and financial crisis – regulate the finance markets

The global financial crisis is still a long way from being brought under control, let alone being resolved. Right across the European Union countries are struggling to fend off the speculative attacks...