christina mcanea manifesto

She takes up her post on 22 January. For instance I was astonished when I was standing [for the union leadership] — there were five of us trying to get nominated . The second, in the light of what has already been said above, does not appear to offer a meaningful change to branch funding (which is what is needed) and – taken together – this paragraph speaks to a “service model” rather than an “organising model” of trade unionism (in which the Union exists to “do things for” members rather than to enable members to do things themselves). This is a sentence to which the 'The Law of the Ridiculous Reverse' applies. First of all, in relation to “Resources for Branches and Regions”, Christina McAnea pledges that; On the next page, Christina McAnea promises; The next page highlights the following promise; This offers a worthy objective, but no strategy or programme to achieve that objective. Her nearest competitor was Paul Holmes with 33.8 per cent. The first sentence says nothing specific – but it strongly implies that members (who will be “supported to lead”) will not themselves be leading (in our “member-led” Union). Posted on 13 January 2021 13 January 2021 by Christina McAnea. This is also a promise worthy of a manifesto, and this time with the beginning of a suggestion as to how it might be achieved, although most of the rest of the manifesto (which fails to support meaningful devolution of resources to branch level) fails to point in the same direction. Christina McAnea, from Drumchapel in Glasgow, has been elected as the first woman general secretary of Unison, the largest workers' body in the UK. Christina McAnea Share. Hugo Pierre could well do so and Margaret Greer cannot be ruled out at this point. Mother-of-two Christina McAnea, who grew up on a council housing estate in Drumchapel, Glasgow, and left school at 16, beat three other candidates to succeed Dave Prentis as Unison general secretary. Christina McAnea succeeds Dave Prentis, who is retiring after 20 years as general secretary of Unison. Christina McAnea will take over as the first female leader of Unison this month. In relation to organising our members, the vital task of our Union, the manifesto reveals a great weakness, seeming to be informed by a model of trade unions as service organisations “doing for” our members with centrally controlled resources, rather than – what we need – a Union that devolves its resources to the level at which members can organise for ourselves. She takes up the post on 22 January. What’s interesting though is that this isn’t an entirely Blue Labour manifesto. Where would that leave UNISON members who wanted to use their vote in the General Secretary election to achieve the best possible outcome to change our trade union for the better? Second, and frankly of more importance, however, was the left’s inability to increase turnout significantly due to a lack of organisation at the union’s base, which is in part a symptom of the declining rep numbers. “I wouldn’t say management were any worse than unions.”, She said that although attitudes have changed since she first joined the trade union movement 30 years ago, women still seemed to be held back in going for the top jobs. Instead of devolving control over resources to elected lay officials at branch level, Christina McAnea is promising to “direct” (centrally employed) local organisers to (chosen?) Sexism is as widespread in trade unions as among business executives and the corporate world, according to the new head of Britain’s biggest union. The final substantive page of the manifesto offers the following promise; “I will always fight and challenge discrimination, racism and injustice wherever it occurs.”. Every region will be resourced to campaign and organise to respond to devolved structures and administrations, regardless of who is in power. The text on this page is again repeated as bullet points. Scottish trade unionist Christina McAnea was triumphant yesterday as she was named the first woman head of Unison. — Alan Gibbons (@mygibbo) January 11, 2021. Every branch will be resourced for sustainable organising by investing in training for branch stewards, officers and activists. An “organising strategy fit for the modern world of work” means everything and nothing, and to promise that it will be developed both “from day one” and that it will also be “agreed across all democratic structures of UNISON” is to make promises which any informed observer of UNISON will know cannot both be kept at once. Print / Translate Print page Translate page. UNISON members have always been at the heart of everything I do, and as your General Secretary, you will always be my first priority. This text is repeated in a series of bullet points, and summarised in three slogans (with accompanying graphics) as follows; Local Organisers to lift the load on casework and support branches to build our union, Health and Safety reps in every workplace. UNISON elected Christina McAnea as its first female leader today. First of all, in relation to “Resources for Branches and Regions”, Christina McAnea pledges that; “I will kickstart a modern organising strategy fit for the digital age.”. “There’s always an element of sexism. “It’s probably pretty much even,” Christina McAnea, the first woman to be elected general secretary of Unison, said. Men fight and lose the battle, and the thing that they fought for comes about in spite of their defeat, and when it comes turns out not to be what they meant, and other men have to fight for what they meant under another name. This is a near perfect statement of the aspiration of a Union that exists to service, rather than organise its members. Christina McAnea has today (Monday) been elected as the new general secretary of UNISON, the UK’s largest union. Members will be supported to lead on organising initiatives to grow and build on UNISON’s strengths. I am Chair of Brighton Pavilion Constituency Labour Party and of the Sussex Labour Representation Committee (LRC). Print / Translate Print page Translate page. The care system is fragmented, underfunded and understaffed. Overall, the manifesto is a mixed bag. McAnea won with 47.7 per cent of the vote. Christina McAnea, Roger McKenzie and Paul Holmes seem certain to make the cut. UNISON’s Christina McAnea has received almost twice the branch nominations of the next closest candidate in the race to succeed retiring Dave Prentis as the party-affiliated trade union’s general secretary. I will not let this Government, nor any future one, forget that. Christina McAnea, who was an assistant general secretary at the union, won 47% of the vote, seeing off three challengers from the left of the Labour … This is my personal blog. (This isn’t the only examples of the application of the law to the manifesto but it is a particularly obvious one). Unison, the UK's biggest trade union, has elected a woman as leader for the first time. — Christina McAnea (@cmcanea) January 11, 2021 Unison could play a huge part in transforming our society. Posted on 13 January 2021 13 January 2021 by Christina McAnea. Brought up in Glasgow, the daughter of a labourer, she had left Responding to the result, McAnea said: “I am delighted that my manifesto for the future of our union and for working to get a better deal for UNISON members is gaining support from branches across all sectors, all four nations and now the union’s national executive council.”. UNISON General Secretary candidate, Christina McAnea has published a manifesto, as a service to regular readers of this blog (Sid and Doris UNISON-obsessive) I thought I would have a look at some of what that manifesto has to say. Christina McAnea has today been elected as general secretary of UNISON, the UK’s largest union. Christina McAnea. The final substantive page of the manifesto offers the following promise; This page then makes a series of sincere and worthy policy commitments with specific commitments and pledges to back them up. Here is a little preview of my pledges to every UNISON member. Christina McAnea learnt an early lesson about a male-dominated world when she applied, as a young woman, to train as a journalist. ALAMY. As your General Secretary, I will establish a new National UNISON College, offering free and subsidised education and training opportunities for all members. Christina McAnea, Unison's incoming General Secretary, told the Mirror: "They gave us promises that this wouldn't happen but my worry is that they will revert to type. This offers a worthy objective, but no strategy or programme to achieve that objective. Local organisers will be directed to branches to give immediate support and we will draw on the talents and experience of our activist base to deliver our future generation of local organisers. 894646. UNISON’s General Secretary lacks the power to “direct resources” in the way that Christina McAnea hopes (and every occasion on which resources have been directed outside our lay structures has been disappointing – remember the Three Companies Project). Facebook Twitter Email More options. Commenting on her election, Christina said: “I’m so grateful to everyone who voted for me and for the trust placed in me. Magnus Linklater. A reader less kind than this blogger might wonder why the Assistant General Secretary, This is also a promise worthy of a manifesto, and this time with the beginning of a suggestion as to how it might be achieved, although most of the rest of the manifesto (which fails to support meaningful devolution of resources to branch level) fails to point in the same direction. On the next page, Christina McAnea promises; “I will ensure every member is supported by UNISON.”. Notes to editors: – Photographs of Christina McAnea can be accessed here. But what’s most interesting about the document (after an initial read of the 84 pages) is that it borrows a great deal of the language (and at times the politics) of “Blue Labour”. Christina is married, has two adult children and lives in South London. Posted in care Christina McAnea. Please, Christina McAnea will take over as the first female leader of Unison this month. Christina McAnea 63,900 (47.7%) Roger McKenzie 14,450 (10.79%) Hugo Pierre 10,382 (7.75%). She launched a detailed manifesto focussing on better organised campaigns and more visibility in the media, including as the leader of the biggest organisation, never mind union, of women members in Britain. Community, work and home run through the manifesto like a stick of rock. Christina McAnea was last week elected as the new general secretary of Unison, the first woman to head one of Britain’s big four industrial unions. Since any reader of this blog post will realise that I am not generally inclined to support Christina McAnea for UNISON General Secretary, you will realise that the absence of a further detailed critique of the section of her manifesto on “Dismantling Discrimination” indicates general support for what it has to say. If you work in public services and are not already a UNISON member phone 0845 355 0845 to join. Let’s look in a bit more detail at what this means; I will immediately develop an organising strategy that is fit for the modern world of work, with priorities agreed across all democratic structures of UNISON - not in years to come, but from day one. Having picked apart every sentence so far it is only fair to acknowledge that this is a proper promise for a manifesto (although there is no indication of how this promise would be resourced – and therefore kept). That’s why it’s so important to resource our branches and regions properly so local reps can support and represent every member. Christina McAnea has been elected the General Secretary of Unison – the public services union. The suggestion that Regions can “sort out” facility time perpetuates a debilitating culture of dependency of branches and lay activists upon the full-time machinery of the Union, which cannot take us forward. This College will mean that belonging to our union helps members get on in life and is essential to secure our members‘ futures. This is the opposite of what UNISON branches need and require. . (William Morris - A Dream of John Ball), UNISON General Secretary candidate, Christina McAnea has published. Also standing are three people employed by the union on a full-time basis—Christina McAnea, Margaret Greer and Roger McKenzie. The second sentence begs the question of who will decide where resources are “most needed” (and will therefore “be directed”). It more than strongly suggests a perpetuation of the current culture of central control over resources. I was Branch Secretary of Lambeth UNISON from 1992 to 2017 and a member of the National Executive Council (NEC) of UNISON, the public service union (www.unison.org.uk) from 2003 to 2017. Neither the Labour Party nor UNISON is responsible for the contents of this personal blog. What this amounts to, in practice is the following; As your General Secretary I will direct UNISON resources to ensure we achieve wider organising, support and representation in isolated workplaces in the care sector. Registered in England No. The resources which branches need in order to organise more effectively are the resources which they have been asking for. Trade Unions are the only guarantee of dignity and justice in the workplace. The problem of how to organise hundreds of members across dozens of employers who do not recognise UNISON cannot be resolved by the provision of any amount of training but requires a rapid and decisive devolution of resources to branches. We have noticed that there is an issue with your subscription billing details. The second sentence is another non-sequitur, since facility time depends not upon any amount of resources in a Regional office but upon the strength and organisation of our Union in the workplace. Early life and education. “Trade unions are like any organisation,” she said. A reader less kind than this blogger might wonder why the Assistant General Secretary “responsible for Bargaining, Negotiations and Equalities” who has “worked for UNISON members for over 25 years, negotiating better pay and conditions for you across all sectors” needs now to make such promise of a “new deal.”, The next page promises; “I will lead the fight for a universal Social Care Service.”. Christina McAnea has today (Monday) been elected as the new general secretary of UNISON – the first woman to head the UK’s largest union. Christina McAnea. Facebook Twitter Email More options. Under my leadership, we will use your money carefully, responsibly, and transparently to ensure our services always deliver value for money. There is no way that a General Secretary can possibly “ensure” these outcomes and to promise to do so perpetuates the wrongheaded view that the Union is here to solve our problems, rather than help us to organise ourselves. — Christina McAnea (@cmcanea) January 11, 2021 “Despite the risks, the immense pressures and their sheer exhaustion, the dedication and commitment of our key workers knows no end. Division costs elections. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. The first sentence hints at devolution to Regions without in fact making any definite commitment. This holds that "if the opposite of a statement is plainly absurd, it was not worth making in the first place". This is a non-sequitur. About me Our Future in UNISON Backed by UNISON's NEC, UNISON Scotland, Cymru/Wales, Northern Ireland, Northern, Eastern, Yorkshire & Humberside, East Midlands, Northern and South West as well as our Health, Higher Education, Energy, Community and Police & Justice service groups. , as a service to regular readers of this blog (Sid and Doris UNISON-obsessive) I thought I would have a look at some of what that manifesto has to say. Please, The subscription details associated with this account need to be updated. Share. branches (whilst more than hinting that the Union will recruit more such – centrally controlled - local organisers from amongst the already depleted ranks of our local activists.). McAnea, who counts firebrand Clydeside leader Jimmy Reid as an inspiration, left school at 15 and later became a housing officer in the city of her birth. 447 likes. Regions will be resourced to sort out facility time for our activists. With 1.3 million members, the body is the biggest in the UK and 80% of the public sector workers it represents are female and in low-paying positions. Roger McKenzie, supported by Jeremy Corbyn, came third with 14,450 votes and Hugo Pierre was last with 10,382 votes. It has strong aspirations to defend the interests of our members, but these are not supported by clarity as to how those aspirations might be achieved. Let’s see what detail supports this unwise – and undeliverable – pledge. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. This page then makes a series of sincere and worthy policy commitments with specific commitments and pledges to back them up. Christina McAnea Biography Christina McAnea Wiki A civil servant who represented health A civil servant who represented health & welfare workers during Covid-19 crisis was elected the first woman Christina McAnea to lead the UK's largest union. Christina McAnea, one of the union’s assistant general secretaries, faces a challenge from counterpart Roger McKenzie, who has been backed by Corbyn. UNISON General Secretary candidate, Christina McAnea has published a manifesto, as a service to regular readers of this blog (Sid and Doris UNISON-obsessive) I thought I would have a look at some of what that manifesto has to say. Negotiations and Equalities Christina McAnea on the ballot paper. Christina replaces Dave Prentis, who is retiring after 20 years as general secretary. Since this is a promise to say, rather than to do, it isn’t worth looking in detail at all the supporting text, which is – in any case – summarised in a single paragraph; I will stand with every member to demand a new deal that delivers dignity at work, sees pay and conditions that reflect your essential work and sustained long-term investment in all our public services. The first sentence is merely pious. Resources will be directed where they are needed most to fight for our members and to stand up for working class people. I will ensure that your union is ‘there for you’ whether it’s advice and support, local representation, to resolve health and safety concerns or to campaign for you during your retirement. This sentence offers a vacuous commitment with an internally inconsistent qualification. The union has a predominantly female membership with 74.3% identifying as a woman in their 2019 equalities survey. The union’s former assistant general secretary polled 63,900 votes, a share of 47.7 per cent, ahead of Paul Holmes, backed by former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, with 45,220 votes. ... which resulted in a split vote and a victory for Christina McAnea. Four candidates passed the 25 nominations … Our Future in UNISON. Voting in the ballot was as follows: Paul Holmes 45,220 (33.76%) Christina McAnea 63,900 (47.7%) Roger McKenzie 14,450 (10.79%) Hugo Pierre 10,382 (7.75%). Our Future in UNISON: Vote Christina McAnea for UNISON General Secretary. These policies were part of Labour’s 2019 manifesto, as part of their Green Industrial Revolution, a pledge secured by Labour for a Green New Deal with the support of unions at Labour’s conference that year. She will be the first woman to lead the UK’s largest union. The first and third of these slogans are the antithesis of what an organising Union would do, perpetuating the culture of dependence upon the full-time machine without devolving control over resources to branch level, where it is needed and belongs. The next page highlights the following promise; “I will demand a new deal for public services and public sector workers.”. and I. UNISON General Secretary election - Christina McAnea's manifesto. In January 2021, she was elected as general secretary of Unison, and succeeds Dave Prentis, who is retiring after 20 years. – UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. The second is quite simply fatuous – a worthy objective for which the manifesto offers no explanation of how it will be achieved. Saturday January 16 2021, 12.01am, The … Christina McAnea (born 1958) is a British trade union leader. ... Paul’s manifesto also … I am now a retired member of UNISON. It is strong on support for equality. Posted on 18 January 2021. Imagining what happens next in the UNISON General ... UNISON General Secretary election - can there be a... UNISON General Secretary election - branches can m... Christina in trouble - Hugo to the rescue! 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