Unite the Union stands up for the people of
Britain
After spending a week with fellow union
members in the United Kingdom during what was one of the most
notable elections in history, one point was made clear:
unions are the force worldwide fighting for fairness in
the workplace; for dignity in what workers are paid; and for
equality in access to health care regardless of race, class, or
gender.
During this recent election in the United
Kingdom, Unite the Union had taken its share of criticism from
conservatives allies. But, this is because Unite the Union is
the loudest voice fighting on behalf of the collective interests of
the British people, and against those of the wealthy few.
As one of America’s foremost union organizers,
Stewart Acuff, has said, “Power is how you get things. Power
is how you change things and make things happen. There are
two forms and sources of power. The first is lots of
organized money. That is the kind of power the Financial
Elite have used to bring the rest of us to our knees. The
other source and form of power is lots of people: organized,
mobilized, united, and taking action.”
The first source of power is the sum of Lord
Ashcroft’s financing of the Tories, and the conservative-allied
media that is organized by Rupert Murdoch. As a counter to
their power, Unite the Union represents the second form of
power: organized people.
Unite the Union had assembled an impressive
campaign during this recent election, using everything from direct
mail, to canvassing, to emails and telephone calls to communicate
with their members. The union has effective and well
connected political team with relationships all across the
grassroots, along with sustained and effective relationships with
the Labour Party and members of Parliament. As a result of
these relationships, Unite the Union is a force to reckon with in
both the electoral and legislative processes.
No other union or progressive organization in
Britain possesses the capacities that Unite has built up.
Unite’s leadership has strengthened and accelerated its
communication with members all across Britain, and the union’s
staff is among the most affable and capable in all of the
international labour movement. While the Labour Party was
unable to retain No. 10, Unite the Union certainly helped quell an
overall Conservative majority in 2010, and will continue to promote
legislation that benefits all of Britain’s people
by steering the influence of their vast and growing
membership. This, essentially, is the work of any union: to
mobilize union members; to educate; to agitate; and to take a stand
on behalf of all working families.
In addition, Unite the Union recognizes the
importance of a global labour movement – one that seeks to lift up
workers in Britain and all over the world.
Diary:
Sunday 2nd
May
Campaigning in Brighton with Nancy Platts, Labour Candidate for
MP.
Nancy was a terrific candidate, and the staff/volunteers were
outstanding in Brighton Pavilion. |
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Monday 3rd
May
Anti BNP/Searchlight campaigning and visit in Barking and
Dagenham
On Monday we spent the day out in Barking and Dagenham. We visited
Searchlight campaign offices, and met a lot of the coordinators for
Hope Not Hate. This was an extremely impressive campaign, as we saw
them get more than 200 people in the building and out canvassing in
less than one hour. |
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Tuesday 4th May
AM travel to Manchester on train from London
PM - visit to Chorley constituency and Lindsay Hoyle, Secretary of
the Unite Parliamentary Group.
Lindsay Hoyle's campaign office was well coordinated, and worked
directly with the Unite staff. They had a very well trained group
of volunteers that were putting together all of the materials that
others were taking out into the neighborhoods.
The rally in Manchester with Prime Minister Brown was impressive.
Probably in the range of a few thousand in attendance. |
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Wednesday 5th May
AM - visit to Bolton North East for canvassing with David Crausby,
Chair of the Unite Parliamentary Group
David Crausby was a real pleasure to go canvassing with. He is such
an affable MP, and everyone out on the canvass seemed to know and
respect him. Unite staff had great relationships with Crausby, and
it seems like he is a real advocate for working families in Bolton
North East.
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Thursday 6th May
- POLLING DAY
Observed Unite4Labour phone banks at King Street. This is very
similar to our virtual phonebanks in the U.S.; but, rather than
being one localized virtual phonebank, Unite has members everywhere
using the system. |
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