Lambeth Activists Celebrate Election Success

Lambeth Activists candidates today secured 100 per cent of the seats they contested at a lively Lambeth UNISON AGM.

With over 200 Lambeth members in attendance, Dan Jeffery and Ruth Cashman won the post of Assistant Branch Secretary with 56 per cent of the vote.

Dan and Ruth will job share the post and pledged to primarily spend their facility time in workplaces recruiting members and activists to resist the cuts to jobs, pay and public services that Labour, Tories and Lib Dems have promised.

Reg Morrison, Rob Gowland, Mary Kotey, Gurmeet Khurana, James Caspell, Jeremy Dewar and Gary Whiting all secured their positions on Lambeth UNISON’s Branch Committee.

Hassina Poyser, Ruth Cashman and Sahida Uddin all secured positions as delegates to National and National Local Government Conferences respectively.

A number of motions were passed, calling for all UNISON officials to be elected, a cross-union campaign to be built to oppose cuts to jobs and services and a concerted recruitment drive in every workplace.

Gurmeet Khurana’s work as International Officer drew special praise from numerous quarters, with Lambeth Branch having raised £1000’s for Palestinian aid organisations this year and twinning initiatives underway with unions in Palestine and Swaziland.

Lambeth Activists built on their first contested Lambeth UNISON AGM last year and have since recruited almost 20 shop stewards and countless members across Lambeth. Activists were also instrumental in producing the first Branch Newsletters in over a decade.

Lambeth Unison is renound as one of the most active, radical branches in UNISON Local Government and has pioneered the introduction of UNISON learning reps, environmental reps and practical support for the Palestinian people in recent years.

Greater London UNISON Young Members' Election Statements

This election will be voted for by all Young Members' of UNISON in the Greater London Region.

James Caspell - Regional Council Election Statement

I am a shop steward in the London Borough of Lambeth and also the Young Members’ and Publicity Officer for my Branch.

I believe that the interests of young members can only be served by a fighting, member-led union in which maximum participation is encouraged in an inclusive environment free of bullying and harassment of young workers.

We need to provide socialist answers to the financial and environmental crises of capitalism, which will affect young people most acutely in terms of unemployment, pay cuts and attacks on our rights won over decades. Only collectively owned, worker-controlled and democratically accountable public services can put people and the planet before the interests of private profit.

Regional Council is essential in ensuring that UNISON follows its own policies within Greater London. Our representatives should facilitate maximum participation of all members, including young workers, providing the confidence we need to fight our employers, fight the government and ultimately fight capitalism!

James Caspell - Europe and International Committee Election Statement

I have a long record as a trade unionist and student activist campaigning for international socialism and against climate change.

I am a shop steward in the London Borough of Lambeth and also the Young Members’ and Publicity Officer for my Branch. I have co-founded the LSE-Palestine Solidarity Initiative which seeks to provide material and practical assistance for those living under Israeli Occupation to apply to British universities. If elected, I would seek to champion the following issues:

• Ending the Israeli occupation in Palestine and campaigning for a secular, single-state solution. Supporting twinning initiatives with our Palestinian comrades.

• Supporting arms divestment and nuclear disarmament campaigns.

• Campaign to secure and extend the rights of migrant workers across the world.

• Putting trade unions at the forefront of the struggle against climate change; workplaces produce 40% of the UK's carbon emissions. Trade unions should also lobby for recognition and support for the millions of environmental refugees that are already a direct consequence of climate change.

Workers of the world unite!