Graham faces second Unite strike as officers ballot for action
A little over a year since the first strike by Unite staff over a “toxic bullying culture,” Sharon Graham now faces a second industrial action ballot by Unite employees. As the union’s officers ballot for action over union recognition, it’s time to Reunite to end the toxicity and divisions which are forcing our own union’s employees into dispute.
In the wake of the strike action by the staff in November 2024, and the indicative ballot for wider staff action that followed, our union’s officers voted to join Community and establish their own branch.
Even in the complicated world of trade unionism within trade unions, where the employees of one trade union are represented by another, the principle is very clear. An independent union is a prerequisite for genuine collective bargaining and representation. The vote of the officers was followed by protracted recognition talks between Sharon Graham’s management team and the officers’ reps, now supported by Community.
Despite the new Community branch having the overwhelming support of the officers, Sharon Graham’s management team opted to also recognise an unofficial “Unite Officers Group” (UOG). While the UOG is a very small rump of officers, this is important because it is not an independent union. It is in effect a ‘staff association.’ This UOG group was then invited to participate in pay negotiations on an equal footing to Community (for Officers) and GMB (for staff).
Unscrupulous employers use bogus staff associations to undermine genuine collective bargaining by legitimate unions. The motivation of management to extend recognition to the UOG can be interpreted in different ways, but during the staff strike the GMB union was very clear that our union’s staff faced “underhand tactics” from Sharon Graham’s management team.
“We have consistently seen underhand tactics used to undermine these workers’ legitimate concerns and their right to pursue industrial action. Today they were met by a counter-protest, in yet another attempt to intimidate them. This is a further example of the culture they are challenging.”
Fast forward and the officers represented by Community have now formally served notice of their ballot for industrial action. An update from the National Committee of the Unite Officers Bargaining Unit gave management the opportunity to prevent this by withdrawing recognition of the UOG:
“Unite were advised that in the absence of our management not agreeing to withdraw recognition of the UOG, the ballot for industrial action would now commence.
Community are now preparing the industrial action notice which is being sent out next week.”
Management refused, so notice was served and ballot papers will start to be issued to officers on 12 March.
Reunite is in complete solidarity with the officers represented by Community, just as we fully supported the staff strike. Both disputes reflect the “toxic bullying culture” which is destroying our union from within. It must stop.
This is not the Graham regime’s only misadventure with employee union branches. A cast of senior management figures, including from Sharon Graham’s office, turned up to the LE128 Unite branch of Unite (and other union) staff and attempted to solicit a donation of thousands of pounds for management’s preferred candidates in the Executive Council election. This was not successful.
As Reunite has documented in recent weeks, our staff, our organisers and now our officers experience this “toxic bullying culture” in different ways, but the root problem is the same.
It’s time to end the toxicity and divisions.
It’s time to get our union focused on winning for members.
It’s time to Reunite.
