Strike two! Solidarity must end Graham's toxic divisons
Solidarity! It is confirmed that from Monday 27th April Unite’s Officers will take strike action for the first time in our union’s history. Pickets will stand outside our union’s headquarters and local offices as our Officers stand up to defend the principle of independent trade unionism.
This is now the second strike of Unite employees on Sharon Graham’s watch, following the GMB picket over 'toxic bullying culture.' It is impossible not to see Graham as the root cause of the toxicity and division which tears our union apart.
The details of this dispute are being obscured by industrial levels of gaslighting and misinformation. The facts are these:
· When Officers negotiated for recognition of an independent trade union, a core principle of trade unionism and free collective bargaining, Graham’s management used anti-union legislation against them, as reported in a statement issued by the Officers’ National Committee (ONC). The Rupert “Murdoch Clause” was first used by News International to prevent a recognised trade union from seeking collective bargaining by setting up an anti-union staff association. It is a grisly irony that Sharon Graham’s team have used Murdoch’s anti-union weapon on the 40th anniversary of the Wapping Dispute.
· While the majority of Unite’s Officers joined the union Community, management decided to also recognise a staff association calling itself the 'Unite Officers Group' and tried to give this group parity with the independent trade union. This is a form of union busting.
· Graham’s negotiators tabled a deal to resolve the strike by withdrawing recognition from the fake union. Management then reneged on this deal, forcing Officers to push ahead with strike action to defend the most basic principles of trade unionism.
We call for full solidarity with our Officers. Just as we called for solidarity with striking staff. Just as we highlight the abuse and degradation faced by our Organisers.
Picket lines must be respected irrespective of individual views on the dispute or internal political differences. Respect for any picket line must be one thing that all trade unionists agree on. That basic solidarity and respect must be the starting point for rebuilding unity.
Reunite speaks for a broad collective of voices in our union. From reps, activists and members to employees. None of us could look a fellow member in the eye if we did not now defend within our own union the principles we claim to fight for in the workplaces.
This dispute is about fundamental principles and could easily be resolved by a management less committed to self-inflicted intransigence and damaging missteps. No dispute happens in a vacuum, this is another manifestation of the divisions wrought by Sharon Graham, just like the 'toxic bullying culture' exposed by the GMB strike.
This is also the closing days of the most important Executive Council election in our union’s history. It is a contest which has pitted a broad alliance of workplace leaders under the banners of Members’ United and Industrial Independents against a management slate of candidates who have submitted themselves to loyalty to Sharon Graham.
Recent weeks have exposed that the election has been waged in the sort of conditions opposition forces may face against collapsing dictatorships in failed states. Allegations of non-compliant candidates. Full time organisers under duress to phonebank. Explicit threats to jobs and positions. Thousands of “missing” ballots.
Yet, despite every obstacle and despite every material advantage at management’s disposal, it is clear a major rank-and-file rebellion of members is successfully reimposing the authority of our members over our union.
For Sharon Graham this is strike two. With the EC election result to come, outstanding accusations of "corruption” and “election rigging,” and new revelations that Graham authorised “secret talks” with Reform in Birmingham, strike three may take many forms. Everyone knows what happens after strike three.
It’s time to end the toxic divisions.
It's time to rebuild unity through solidarity.
It’s time to Reunite.
