The Pay offer..

The claim for local government officers is for 5% and a few demands for improvements for those on lower rates of pay. The detail of what the claim is can be seen on the national Unison site www.unison.org

So what will happen to this calim? The process will be the same as with any other year. We will demand more, pretend to ballot members for strike action then settle for the 2.2 % the employer has made provisions in their budget for. But middle voters want to know what happened to the London Weighting dispute? Where did the effort go and what happened to the demands we made for that campaign? The answer is its all been forgotten and both the current 'leadership' and the those responsible before have let it die a 'natural' death...

The Labour party leadership election

Now I, like many Unison middle voters, confess to not being convinced to joining the Labour party. But we all end up voting for Labour . My family have always been Labour and I often argue with my father about how Labour has betrayed the working class. But they got us where they want us to be they know that people like mysself will never vote for the Tories and will rather abstain than vote for the other wallies...

So why do I have an interest in what our frineds on the 'left' are up to? Well left as in the John Rogers, Bannister, Berry and co ( I make that distinction as I consider myself to be on the left, and there are many versions of that ) A lot of us feel that the 'left boys club' are leading the Union into a position where the Unison name will be damaged. Supporting a no hoper like John MacDonald is more ridiculous than supporting John Rogers standing against Dave Prentis. The campaign is stupid especially given the fact that J MacDonald (who may have had a farm..) has as much chance of winning the leadership election as I have getting my 12 year old son to do his homework on time! Stop this nonsense! And Stop Jon Rogers and Berry taking our reputation down the toilet! They are only interested in getting headline news but all they are doing is damaging their own reputation. Does J rogers really think that JMD will ever make it? The answer is no he doesn't but the NEC elections are coming up, there are a lot of Unison members angry with the Labour party so what better strategy than to show that he is leading a fight against the Labour leadership! Get real!

Sad news is that it looks like one of my favorites, John Burgers, is also supporting this campaign? I hope not!

The state of our union....

Who is who in London and who is doing what? Who are the major players?

Ordinary members may wish to know that the following are the major players in regional politics. Unison activists, some are good others have their own agendas..

Dave Prentis: Not a regional officer or activists but important and influential as he is the well respected General Secretary of our union. He has done well to bring in changes and has kept a balance within Unison. A fair, competent and pleasant leader who inspires those of us in the centre. He needs to do more to stop the emergence of sites and groups attacking individual activists. Freedom of speech comes with an obligation to respect different views and observe self imposed standards when criticising individuals. So personal attacks are not acceptable to middle voters or anyone else who adheres to the principle of respect.

Linda Perks: Regional Secretary. Assertive, ruthless and in charge of the day to day running of our union. She was brave enough to take on the SWP and those in the 'United Left' who tried to take control after Geoff Martin's departure in 2006. Her only weakness is that the team she has chosen isn't really up to the job...

Geoff Martin: The best ever Convenor the London region had or could ever have. Geoff was forced to give the job up after he was criticised for not attending national conference in 2005 and 2006. He worked well with regional officers and the regional lay officer team and was not someone who would be influenced by the left or the right. He was fair and assertive and managed to control the affairs of the region. He was the middle voters hero shame he had to go!

Alan Jarman: The current Convenor for the London region. He tries his best but has a lot of work to do before he can inspire the confidence of the ordinary member. He got elected because the alternative was too negative to even consider... Linda Perks is in control so in a way it doesn't matter who is in the job.

Gloria Mills: Deputy Convenor. Very nice inoffensive and charming person but hasn't said much at any meetings I have attended so not much to report.

John Gray: New Fianance Convenor. His only claim to fame is that he irritates people at regional Council meetings and if he supports a motion it is sure that the vote will be lost. Not sure how he got in at Regional AGM this year as I don't know anyone who voted for him?

Melanie Rafe: New Equalities Convenor. May have some new ideas.

Jon Rogers: An irritating left winger who stood against Dave Prentis when he knew he had zero chance of winning. Makes a joke of everything and anything but sounds good sometimes and wins votes . He made two major mistakes. Standing against Dave Prentis and standing for the position of Convenor in 2006. He sounds genuine though and he could win votes when proposing motions but not elections. So a bit of a white elephant? On the other hand he could make a good MP if he repents...

Rahul Patel: An irritating opportunist and a key member of the SWP. He uses the united left for his on ambitions but will never win an election. Standing for the position of regional Convenor was a big mistake for the SWP. He is Linda Perks's favorite activists...

Marsha Jane Thompson: Don't know much about her but doesn't inspire. The personal attacks against her from the right have gained her some suport. She could be better with time and would graduate to better things.

Nick Venedi: He was seen ans Geoff Martin's close associate when he was Fianance Officer and a lot of people expected him to succeed Geoff after he had gone. Rumour has it that the officer side would have been happy to support him or not oppose him. One wonders why the left didn't take the opportunity. But then they are known to be up their khyber passess?

Mandy Berger: Ex Deputy Convenor. A powerful figure within the SWP.

John Burger: New on the scene but sounds good and looks genuine. Branch Secretary for a large north London branch. The middle voters would vote for someone like him and maybe Nick V as a team?

Dave Eggmore: Head of local government. Seems to be doing ok. Not an offensive person.

Jean Geldart: Excellent woman activists who won't tolerate nonesense. She could make a good regional Convenor and the middle voter would support her. Maybe Jean and Nick V or J Burger?

Andrew Berry: Nice guy? Needs a shave? Only joking...

Remington: A Cardinal Woolsley like figure. Manages the Health side. A ruthless but very competent officer who will not hesitate to cut heads off. Loves dealing with problems.

Glenn Kelly: Looks and sounds very competent. On the left but knows how to handle the middle ground. Could win votes. He is on the NEC and does a good job there.

Louise Cooling: Chair of women's committee. Seems more clever than people think she should not be underestimated. But also talks hot air a lot of the time.

Irene Stacey: On the NEC but don't know what she does..

The United left: A very odd amalgamation of ultra left and labour party members. Should be abolished.

So this is a brief summury of who is where and what they do. Conclusion is that middle voters should organise better to ensure that their views, and we are in the majority, are correctly reflected.

Middle Union, the voice of the middle voter..

Middle Union is a site set up by a number of activists in the London region who are fet up with internal politics and the infighting between the left and the right. The fighting is now clearly displayed for everyone to see on different blogs. This is damaging the interests of the wider membership and it will cost Unison if what it is said or done isn't challenged.

This is the site that speaks the truth about what goes on in Unison. The site that represents the interests, views and aspirations of those of us who want our union to deal with issues and matters that affect us, the ordinary member, at the workplace. We are a group of active front line members who would want to get more involved with how our union works but haven't got the facility time that others on the left and the right have. We are silent but form the majority. We can organise and we will if we were given the time. But ignoring us will mean that those who aspire to control our union will not get anywhere.

I will edit this page until someone with more time decides to take over from me. We are a small group right now but know that we will grow in numbers and will become a major force.

So what has made me, and others, take on the challenge?

I have been active in the London region for the last 4 years but haven't been able to get as involved as I would want to. This is something I share with a number of others who attend the odd regional Council meeting but because of family or work comitments can't get time to do more. But we got together and decided that our voinces must be heard.

I can be contacted at middleunion@yahoo.co.uk

Comments containing sexists, racists or personal attacks will not be considered and will be deleted