by René Lavanchy
DOZENS of Labour MPs including ministers such as Hilary Benn and James Purnell will have trade union funding to their constituencies cut off if they fail to support union policies, a candidate for the post of Unite Amicus general secretary said as voting in the election began this week.
Jerry Hicks, a Respect Renewal party member who mounted the successful legal challenge to Derek Simpson staying in office without re-election, is the only candidate to seriously question Unite’s links to the Labour Party. He warned that many MPs in Unite’s 100-plus parliamentary group would have their constituency funds slashed if he took office.
“I propose a very different relationship with the Labour Government”, he said. “I believe we should support those MPs, those councillors that support the policies of
our union. Unfortunately that would mean far too few MPs being supported. My relationship would be much more businesslike.” Funding channelled to Labour’s central coffers would be reviewed under a democratic process, he added.
Another challenger, Paul Reuter, also said that constituency funding would be reviewed, but stressed his links to and membership of Labour.
The election is likely to place the winner in pole position to become ultimate leader of Britain’s biggest trade union, and the single biggest donor to the Labour Party, when a single general secretary is elected in 2010.
Mr Simpson could face a power struggle with his challengers if unseated, it emerged this week. Although the winning candidate is due to be announced soon after the ballot closes on 6 March, they are not due to take office until December. But Mr Reuter and Mr Hicks – both outsiders in the race – told Tribune that if elected, they would seek to work alongside T&G general secretary Tony Woodley and receive access to information and staff in the handover period.
Mr Reuter, Unite national secretary for communications, said: “I couldn’t envisage anyone waiting nine months for a long handover. The other joint general secretary would need to work very closely with that other person.” Mr Hicks added: “I would be working with people, bringing people together as quickly as possible”.
Unite’s Labour links have strengthened in recent years with the union taking an increased role in election campaigning and boosting its political fund.
Mr Simpson is standing on a mandate of having delivered the merger of Amicus out of four unions in 2004, as well as having increased workplace democracy and campaigned on issues such as agency workers’ rights.
However, his determination to oversee the merger of Amicus and the T&G – due for completion in May – has drawn criticism from his third challenger, north-west regional secretary Kevin Coyne. Mr Coyne recently complained over a letter posted to all Amicus members in which Mr Simpson outlined Unite’s work on their behalf and declared: “It is vital that I… am able to provide the continuity so necessary in these difficult times.” Mr Coyne called the letter “blatant electioneering”, but a union spokesperson said his complaint had been rejected by an independent commissioner.
Meanwhile, Mr Coyne and Mr Hicks have promised to take a reduced pay and benefits package, having criticised Mr Simpson’s six-figure remuneration. Mr Reuter told Tribune he would have the general secretary’s pay independently reviewed.
