by René Lavanchy

The contest to become the first single general secretary of Britain’s biggest union goes public this week, with political groups on Unite’s left and right wings holding hustings meetings to select a candidate.

Joint general secretaries Derek Simpson of Amicus and Tony Woodley of the T&G will stand down in December 2010 and January 2012 respectively, following the election of their replacement next year.

The campaign is already showing signs of dividing the union – officially fully merged – along the lines of its two parent bodies, Amicus and the T&G. Two of the union’s assistant general secretaries, Les Bayliss of Amicus and Len McCluskey of the T&G, look set to end up standing against each other.

Mr McCluskey, widely believed to be supported by Tony Woodley, is the most prominent candidate at the hustings organised by the United Left faction in Manchester tomorrow (Saturday), where members are set to vote on a candidate.

Mr Bayliss, who is considering standing as the candidate of the more right-wing Workers Uniting Group, is not thought to have the full support of Derek Simpson. He is currently negotiating with another possible candidate, Paul Reuter, who also stood for Amicus general secretary in the election earlier this year and came last.

Mr Reuter told Tribune: “It’s probably a tad early to declare yet as we’ve got some discussions to go to. Any candidate needs to command broad support.” Workers Uniting is holding its own hustings on Sunday, but is not expected to choose a candidate.

Two candidates from the non-Labour left of the union look set to stand, in a move which may alarm the party leadership. Jerry Hicks, a former union convenor who also ran for Amicus general secretary this year, is running alongside Rob Williams, who was sacked by his employer Linamar earlier this year and reinstated after a union campaign.

Mr Hicks is repeating his call for Labour MPs who vote against union policies, such as public ownership of public services, to lose their union funding. “I absolutely say, only support those who support our policies, so very similar to the RMT union in that regard.”

But Mr Williams, a Socialist Party member, is going further and calling for disaffiliation from the Labour Party. “The link with Labour is an absolute millstone round the neck of the union. It’s got us nowhere”, he said.

“I’m in favour of Unite joining with other unions who are looking to the possibility of forming another party.”