AEEU UNITY
Gazette
FOR
A DEMOCRATIC UNION CONTROLLED BY THE MEMBERS
December Special 2001
ARROGANCE
OR IGNORANCE?
Sir Ken Jackson
will be challenged regarding his breach of the legal requirement to face an
election. He will stand accused of allegedly misleading the Policy
Conference and the Executive Council, in his bid to retain power. In the course
of this challenge the real reasons behind his disreputable attempts will be
exposed.
In
a bid to retain their grip on power the Jackson elite clique came up with the
scam of extending his retirement date beyond his 65th birthday, in fact to
entitle Sir Ken Jackson to work until he was almost 68. First it was announced
as a decision of the Executive Council, and circulated in an internal letter
indicating the intention to place an emergency resolution before the Policy
Conference that was due in June 2001. Ironically this letter invited that if
there was any queries not to hesitate in raising them, but when Derek Simpson
(Regional Officer for Sheffield) responded by asking seven questions
challenging the legality of the proposals he was chastised for using union
headed note paper and for daring to 'interrogate' the Executive Council. Derek
was eventually summonsed to face Sir Ken Jackson and was reminded that as an
'employee' he should shut up!
When
Policy Conference was asked to endorse the deferred retirement the wording of the
amendment to rule was most intriguing. "Provided that the general
Secretary as at 11 June 2001 shall be entitled to continue in office beyond age
65 if otherwise lawfully entitled to do so" What an amazing choice of
words. Even their own wording of the amendment raises doubts on the legality of
their action. It no doubt in part arose from the challenge that Derek Simpson
had posed, words selected to deflect the legal arguments at conference.
Engineering
Gazette duly took up the seven questions (see September Gazette or
visit www.aeeunity.com) and following this a number of Branches and Shop
Stewards Committees wrote in resulting in the questions being placed before the
Executive Council. Challenged during the debate, Sir Ken Jackson affirmed
that the legal advice was that he did not have to face an election, but on
being pressed he admitted that in effect he had not sought advice beyond the
'in-house' lawyer.
Now
here is a conundrum for the 'in-house' lawyer and the Executive Council
alike. Do they think that Sir Ken Jackson will take responsibility for any
consequences arising from them following the course of action they perceive
that he wants then to take? Didn't he indicate to the Executive Council (in the
case of the Branch Officers from the North East) that he had been in the dark
over that matter! This is no minor matter and could well cost the union tens,
if not hundreds of thousands of pounds.
It
should be noted that Sir Ken Jackson has gained an assurance that he will
receive the 'Executive Package' whereby he will receive a massive golden
handshake should he go
early.
A prospect it is difficult to believe he is not fully aware of as a
well-briefed General Secretary could not fail to understand the legal
requirements of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992
(TULR(C)A 1992). One thing you cannot accuse Sir Ken Jackson of is
ignoring his own interests even if you think he is screwing yours. A thoroughly
disgraceful state of affairs.
Sir
Ken Jackson and his clique having hi-jacked the Union will do anything to
retain their grip. They have remorselessly stripped rank and file democracy
from the Union, bullying unelected full time officials to 'manage' the
membership through branches (having closed many others) and operating from
offices cocooned often miles away from the membership. They produce so called
policy decision off the tip of their tongues without recourse to the membership
and portray them as the AEEU's position. Partnership, PFI and Pension Links are
but examples.
Working
comfortably with employers, they appear happier to recruit rather than retain
and represent, content to gain the apparent influence that as a consequence is
bestowed to any who seek not to challenge and who are prepared to act as a
buffer, in effect ignoring the thousands of members who are losing their jobs.
Kowtowing to New Labour in support of ANY policy that Blair is pushing
irrespective of the interests of the Union's members, in order to give an
impression of having 'political clout'.
With
the Union's Journal little better than those produced by super markets, and
full of irrelevant and uninspiring adverts whilst real member benefits are at
an all time low, members are truly being denied all aspects of what they
deserve from their union. We do not lay the blame at the door of the Executive
Council, blinded as they are with the lure of full time appointments and/or the
lavish meetings in posh hotels and all expenses paid 'trips', and yet amongst
whom there are some honourable and courageous voices of dissent. Nor do
we blame the in-house lawyer, paid to provide the answers expected rather than
those which more accurately reflect a balanced legal position.
So
who remains as the culprit(s)? Sir Ken Jackson and his clique, none of them
elected by the AEEU membership, none of them who will ever submit to the
democratic process, and all of them seeking to perpetuate their regime. We say
to all officers and members who fear their 'machine' and think it invincible,
just observe how fragile it really is. Join us. Stand up and fight
to bring this union back to its members, to bring it back to credibility
and back to its rightfully and respected position at the head of the labour
movement.
Ignorance,
arrogance or democracy.
Choose
wisely!
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