The Real Unite

We received this email today.

A Message to all Branches and Shop Stewards from Unite Chair, Andy Green

I am taking the important decision to write to you to explain clearly the current situation within our Executive Council.

A number of Executive Council (EC) members linked to the old leadership are currently engaged in deliberate attempts to undermine our Union. Those actions appear designed to frustrate the independent investigations into potential corruption surrounding our Birmingham Hotel and affiliated services, and to divert attention from the findings.

Let’s be clear. It is fact that our members were overcharged by tens of millions of pounds for the Birmingham Hotel project. A development built by friends of the previous General Secretary, Len McCluskey. People who have now been arrested by the Police on a separate matter.

It is also fact that Len McCluskey’s Legal Director (and later Finance Director) Howard Beckett is now part of a criminal investigation into suspected offences of bribery, fraud and money laundering and that his offices were subject to a Police raid.

These issues will be dealt with in the interim report currently been finalised. I am convinced that this is why a group that is apparently called, the United Left (UL) supporters’ group on the EC, have chosen this time to do everything possible to disrupt the business of our union. This will not work.
Investigating allegations of historic corruption has meant our elected General Secretary has had to face repeated an often ugly attacks, but it has not and will not deter her from getting to the truth. A promise she made at the time of her election.

The group attacking its own Union, have tried and failed to disrupt the business of our Union. One of them was Howard Beckett’s campaign manager for the previous General Secretary election.

Instead of supporting our General Secretary to clean up the Union and deliver her mandate for change, they have refused to represent their members. This has included failing to attend normal EC discussions about jobs, pay and conditions and resorting to telling abject lies about the Union to divert attention away from the inquiries into potential corruption.

It should be said that the many EC members outside this group, have continued to diligently represent our members, support those in dispute and develop our workplace agenda.

Up to this point we have ignored this factional nonsense. It was expected. But I felt that it was important to now send clarification to our branches and Reps, especially as we will be releasing our interim report into allegations of potential corruption in a matter of weeks.

Executive Council elections are due to take place in the near future, and we would urge full participation in this.

We will continue to deliver the programme of fundamental change to get back to the workplace, defend our members and not allow the mistakes of the past to be repeated.

In solidarity,

Andy Green
Chair of the Unite Executive Council