We are now into the second week of the elections to UNISON's NEC. Whilst the result of any particular election is unknowable all the indications are that the candidates of the left will improve our position, enabling us to build upon UNISON's progressive policies and develop a better Union to face the challenges ahead.
The calibre of the opponents of the candidates of UNISON's left is revealed in the poor quality of the (barely) political attacks which they have managed to muster in their election addresses and in their stuttering online presence.
Rather than argue about policies and how they should be implemented our opponents focus on smearing our candidates and scaremongering about our politics. Unable to argue on the issues they try to find something to dislike about the identity of candidates. It would be so easy to respond in kind (I have spent years being polite and restrained about NEC colleagues).
It is however vitally important that no one rises to this juvenile bait. UNISON members deserve so much better than we have been getting and UNISON can achieve so much more than it has if we can significantly improve the politics and the quality of our NEC. Our objective has to be getting the vote out now and not to engage in pointless disputes.
Let's leave the personal attacks and essentially apolitical vitriol to those desperate to cling on to position in the face of their own failures. Members are enthusiastic to support radical candidates who are positively promoting policies which provide answers to the challenges we face.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I actually think Jon that there is such a minuscule readership of the UNISON blogs that the content has very little impact beyond those who read them so intensively.
However, I've heard a rumour that an 'electronic leaflet' is to be targeted on non-UL branch secretaries about the composition of the UL slate, and this is likley to be far more damaging.
We get notoriously low turnouts for these elections, and I wonder whether there have been any moves to make the voting process easier for members? It took me nearly half an hour to read all the addresses and decide how to vote.
Keep up the good work!
Cameron Russell
UNISON member
Worcester
Post a Comment