Nominate Roger Bannister for Unison general secretary

Roger Bannister

Jeremy Corbyn’s victory is a tremendous leap forward for the anti-austerity movement in Britain. It has raised the hopes of millions who want to see a society for the 99% and not the 1%. The scale of the victory should give confidence to all those fighting the onslaught of cuts and closures taking place up and down the country.

Many Unison members in Labour-controlled councils will now demand a much tougher line be taken by Labour councillors against Tory cuts. I have always maintained that Unison should campaign vigorously against all cuts, no matter which party puts them through. If I am elected general secretary of our union, Unison will call on Labour councils to unite with council workers and communities and refuse to implement any more cuts.

Strike action

Over 450 councillors have signed up to support Jeremy Corbyn. This is significant, but it is barely 6% of the total number of Labour councillors.

We cannot accept Labour councillors continuing to slash jobs and services. With council budgets being set from November onwards this will become an immediate issue for thousands of our members in local government.

Unison must now say loudly and clearly: no to all cuts. This must be backed up with a credible strategy for sustained industrial action and a political campaign that targets councillors who vote for and implement cuts to Unison members’ jobs, pay and services.

I will use the general secretary campaign as a platform to ignite this debate within the union.

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