Previous Stories

Lyons tries to Bounce Simpson into Euro
Derek Simpson, Joint General Secretary of amicus, opposed the euro in his battle for the leadership against Jackson and is on record as being sceptical about it, saying it is up to members.

So Roger "we need to join the Euro sooner rather than later" Lyons, the spare joint GS of amicus, has conducted a private survey of members. This rather partial survey asked a 'sample' of 0.1% of members "Could the Euro help the UK’s beleaguered manufacturing industry?" Apparently 60% said yes. The question "would you vote to join the euro" was also asked of members living in Eire (15%) despite the fact that they already have it! The poll was carried out in September but not released until Christmas. Although no amicus AEEU members were sampled, Lyons attached the spin "AMICUS members will vote yes" to his pet project. The cost of the survey and the exact format has not been disclosed.

Derek Simpson said "I want the union's money spent on the members, not euro propaganda". Under the previous and discredited Jackson leadership, the AEEU allowed the pro-euro 'Britain in Europe' (BIE) to use AEEU offices in Nottingham and Manchester as their regional offices, paid for a number of BIE pamphlets in entirety, seconded a number of AEEU officials to BIE and the North East regional BIE post was reliant on AEEU funding.
[amicus MSF] Amicus members say yes to Euro
[The Times] Union moves against euro
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 14th January 2003

Simpson Victim of Dirty Tricks
Apart from being bugged by his fellow Joint General Secretary's paid spies, Derek Simpson has his own staff to cope with, according to the Sunday Times. We noted that his personal column on the AEEU website (see below) had acquired quite a few typos during its handling by AEEU staff.
[Sunday Times]
NEW [Tribune] Simpson Smears
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 13th January 2003

Amicus Supports Firefighters
General Secretary Derek Simpson speaks out in support of firefighters: "The declaration of a war against a group of heroic workers would have been a misjudgement by the Tories, coming from a Labour government it beggar’s belief."
[Amicus AEEU] Website
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 12th January 2003

Lyons to Appear on University Challenge
Unbelievable but true...
[Guardian Diary] (half way down)
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 12th January 2003

Lyons' Spy Bugs Simpson
Amicus MSF section fulltime officer Arthur Taylor has been caught secretly tape recording a meeting held by Joint General Secretary Derek Simpson. Mr Taylor is known to do 'jobs' for the other amicus Joint GS, Roger Lyons. In typical form Taylor faces no disciplinary action, however he has had to apologise to Simpson. Many view all this as symptomatic of the way Lyons has run the corrupt MSF section.
[Full Story]
NEW [Guardian Diary] (half way down)
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 5th January 2003

Employment Tribunal Extended reasons
The full extended reasons of the ET have now been made available in the case which resulted in the re-instatement of David Beaumont, the first member to be expelled from amicus.
[Employment Tribunal] Extended Reasons
[Full Story]
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 3rd January 2003

Deferred Democracy at Amicus MSF
Hugh MacGrillen covers Roger Lyons' over-extended stay at Amicus in the respected journal Trade Union Review:

"If, as reported, Roger Lyons made excessively merry at the Labour Party conference, it was probably because he saw new vistas opening up before him for plundering the union...."

[Trade Union Review]
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 29th December 2002

2 leaders, 1 too many
December's Private Eye covers the LYONSweb story 'A Tale of Two Leaders' (below)
[Private Eye]
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 29th December 2002

A Tale of Two Leaders
The two joint General Secretaries of amicus are showing remarkably different attitudes to New Labour. Derek Simpson has urged union members "to go into branches, to step up their work within Labour and take this party back to what it used to be." Meanwhile amicus's other joint General Secretary, Roger Lyons, is secretly financing New Labour. A letter leaked to rogerlyons.com reveals that MSF section have been providing 'donations' to the Labour party, including:

* Three weeks free use of MSF's central London Head Office
* Free use of the London Bermondsey Street office
* Free postage in the above offices
* Free use of telephones for a canvassing campaign
* Free use of the Caerphilly Office

This involves two breaches of law and one of MSF's own rules.

Amicus MSF members are increasingly questioning the need for Roger Lyons to stay on, with full salary until 2007, as a 'spare' general Secretary to Derek Simpson.
[Full Story]
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 11th December 2002

Amicus Under New Management
Derek Simpson took up his new job this week as leader of the AEEU section of the Amicus union after his surprise election victory over long-time leader and Labour loyalist Sir Ken Jackson. Simpson marked his first day with a banner reading "Under New Management" across the AEEU's Hayes Court HQ. - Guardian Diary 6th Dec
[Derek Simpson] Welcome Message
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 8th December 2002

Lies, Damned Lies and Terror Warnings
"If you frighten the public with apocalyptic warnings about evacuating cities and incessantly link Iraq, September 11 and the Bali bombing, then people may change their minds and be ready for war - or so the propagandists bargain. "It's a softening up process," says a former intelligence officer familiar with the black art, "a lying game on a huge scale"."
[John Pilger] Daily Mirror
[List of Countries Bombed by the US since 1945] LYONSweb
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 8th December 2002

Simpson Supports Firefighters
"People don't say 'let's have a strike, let's have a week off'," said the General Secretary of amicus, Derek Simpson. "They go on strike when, despite all the best attempts of themselves and the professional advisers, the trade unions are unable to reach amicable agreement."

"The only people who have introduced politics into this dispute are those elements of New Labour who revile trade unions. This is a straightforward industrial argument about a grievance over the pay of firefighters and Andy Gilchrist is trying to defend his union and its members. Is anyone in Downing Street seriously suggesting that the firefighters are trying to overthrow the government? If they are, we should tell them not to be so bleeding thick."
[Sweetheart deals] Financial Times
[Government accused of politicising strike] Guardian
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 2nd December 2002

Lyons: a Case of Extreme Longevity
The respected Labour magazine 'Labour Left Briefing' have published an article on Roger Lyons, spare general Secretary of amicus and his recently self-extended term.
[Lyons Longevity] Labour Left Briefing
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 1st December 2002

Oligarchic Violence in Trade Unions
An academic paper presented to to the 19th SCOS conference in Dublin. "That trade union decision-making structures are unrepresentative of membership diversity is widely recognised (Labour Research, 1998), and Cockburn (1995) coins the term ‘democracy deficit’ to describe the present situation within most British unions." "We want the union movement to move away from hierarchy, not towards it and believe that the Internet provides extensive capabilities in this direction"
[SCOS paper] Challenges in Cyber-Space
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 24th November 2002

Decision of the Employment Tribunal
Today the written decision of the Employment Tribunal in the case of David Beaumont v Amicus MSF was released. As reported before the Tribunal unanimously found that David's expulsion from the union was unjustifiable discipline. The Tribunal Chair condemns the union for "stringing out for as long as possible the proceedings".
[Employment Tribunal] Case Number: 2202562/2002
[Full Story]
NEW[Employment Tribunal] Extended reasons
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 12th November 2002, updated 3rd January 2003

Lyons: "no question of 'cover-ups'"
LYONSweb have obtained a very topical document written by Lyons, spare General Secretary of amicus, way back in 1992. The document was designed to re-assure officials about the retirement terms of the then General Secretary, Ken Gill. Last month Lyons arranged for the National Executive to quietly amend his own retirement deal, giving him an extra £352,000 and leaving members paying an estimated £1 million for a spare General Secretary until 2007. This amendment was secreted away in the final 3 lines of the National Executive minutes. Here's what Lyons said back in 1992:

"All contracts will be agreed by the lay leadership and properly reported" "While I am General Secretary there will be no question of any 'cover-ups'"

Meanwhile ordinary members are drawing up motions to annual conference to protest this gross and expensive hypocrisy.
[Lyons letter] Retirement terms: Ken Gill
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 10th November 2002

Roger Lyons and the EAT
The Guardian have finally published the story first carried on this website about Roger Lyons and his application to join the judiciary on the prestigious Employment Appeal Tribunal. Lyons applied and was rejected at an embarrassingly early stage, however the panel were told by Lord Irvine this was the 'wrong answer' and are having to re-interview. As a result Lyons may well be sitting on the EAT when it comes to hear expelled amicus member David Beaumont's application for compensation. This is for the unjustifiable discipline an Employment Tribunal ruled last month had been inflicted on David by the very same Roger Lyons in his role as spare General Secretary of amicus MSF.
[Guardian] Diary
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 7th November 2002

Jackson supporter comes last in Mayor ballot
Bob Shannon, rightwinger and stalwart supporter of Sir Ken Jackson in the AEEU, came in last in the ballot for Labour's London Mayor nominee, with an unlucky and pathetic 13% of the vote.
[Guardian] Livingstone ally chosen
[LYONSweb] Bob the Baker
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 7th November 2002

Union 'feared exposure of ministerial involvement'
In the vote rigging scandal of the AEEU election, apparently General Secretary Sir Ken urged on his supporters by declaring: "There are no no-go areas. Deliver the nominations or face the consequences." He ultimately lost the election to the left candidate Derek Simpson, but had the cheek to complain that his own supporters election fraud had damaged his chances. The ex-General Secretary is alleged to have told his lieutenants that those not fully supporting his re-election would be "severely dealt with". Two Jobs Jackson, still head of the nuclear waste company NIREX, leaves the union with a £300,000 payoff. These revelations are being exposed in a forthcoming Employment Tribunal brought by his previously loyal henchman and now sacked AEEU official, Roger Maskell. The Government Minister involved is John Spellar(Who he?)
[Independent] Union in vote-rigging scandal 'feared exposure of ministerial involvement'
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 4th November 2002

Union Leaders on £32,000 per year
Enough to make amicus's spare General Secretary Roger Lyons' blood run cold! Not to mention Lyons' expense claims, worth an extra 20% on top of his £88,000 annual salary. The United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) operates on two basic principles: rank-and-file control and aggressive struggle. Their slogan is "The Members Run This Union," and in the union's more than 140 autonomous locals around the country, that's exactly what happens.

UE carefully avoids the top-down, top-heavy, bureaucratic style of many unions by promoting membership control. The salary of the union's three top elected officers is limited by the UE Constitution to the highest wage paid in the industry (currently less than $49,000.) It's hard to think (or act) like a big shot on a worker's wage. More important, this policy keeps UE leaders in touch with the lives of their members — they believe it's too easy for labour leaders to develop "boss-like" points of view if they've become comfortable with "boss-size" salaries." Not to mention a taste for the odd bun....
[UE] United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America
[UE] UE Says, ‘No U.S. Invasion of Iraq´
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 1st November 2002

Jackpot for Jackson
Two Jobs Jackson, defeated head of amicus, will be entitled to severance pay and benefits worth nearly £250,000 when he steps down in a month's time. However Charlie Mackenzie, Sir Ken Jackson's 'aide', will get a package understood to be worth about £400,000 in pay and benefits over the next five years, when he leaves the union at the end of next month.

News of both pay-offs, the biggest seen in the movement, will damage the image of leading unionists loyal to the prime minister. It could also boost the election prospects of union leftwingers hostile to Mr Blair. Labour backbenchers last night joined trade unionists in criticising the deal.
[Guardian] Bumper payoff for retiring union official
[Independent] Union chiefs offered six-figure golden handshakes
[FT] Row over Amicus official's severance deal
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 31st October 2002

Edmonds to Stand Down from GMB
The left-wing General Secretary of the GMB public sector union, John Edmonds, is to announce tomorrow that he will step down a year earlier than expected - bringing forward a leadership battle in which Downing Street is likely to take a keen interest. As yet we have no information as to why he is leaving early. Edmonds turned down a peerage earlier this year.
[Guardian] GMB's Edmonds to retire early
[BBC] Kevin Curran
[BBC] Paul Kenny
[BBC] Union boss Edmonds resigns early
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 28th October 2002

Free Fireworks Display
As part of the continuing celebrations of general secretary Roger Lyons' 60th birthday present (an extra unelected four year term at a cost to members of £1 million), the website www.rogerlyons.com are offering a free fireworks display.

This will give members a taste of the extravagant display Roger recently enjoyed at the union's Whitehall College, paid for by a very grateful firm of lawyers, Thompson's. Unfortunately we can't offer the Tony Blair look-a-like who was paid to attend, but we can match the complete lack of any ministerial level MPs present. To view, simply visit the site and click on the Homer Lyons figure. Enjoy.
[www.rogerlyons.com] Free Fireworks display
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 25th October 2002

NEW[Guardian Diary] Friday 25th October

Union Leaders Were Police Informers
It was revealed by the BBC today that 23 senior union leaders, including Joe Gormley, ex General Secretary of the National Union of Mine Workers, were Special Branch informers. Lately "veterans of the secret state have been prepared to yield up a little bit more of their seedy, anti-democratic world: the large-scale blacklisting of union activists, the use of agents and informers at all levels of the labour movement, the destabilisation and undermining of strikes, and the betrayal of their members by trade union leaders who secretly worked for the security services." This was 30 years ago, what is going on now? Amicus joint GS Roger Lyons appears unlikely to be involved, www.rogerlyons.com can find no visits to Scotland Yard appearing on his innumerable expense claims. In any case these were not paid informers.
[Guardian] The spirit of the narks
[BBC] Former NUM chief was police informer
[Guardian] Union Leaders were Police Informers
NEW [BBC] Interview with Special Branch Officer (Video)
NEW [BBC] Interview with victim Ricky Tomlinson (Video)
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 24th October 2002, Updated 28th October

Codger Lyons Cops £352,000, Cost to members:
£1 Million+
Saturday's amicus MSF National Executive meeting fixed it so that joint General Secretary Roger Lyons has withdrawn his agreement to retire next year. He will now stay on until 2007, "in the interests of the union". The cost of this decision to members will be at least £352,000 in extra salary, not to mention the entourage - Alex McKenna, his chauffeur, his secretary, and so on. Probably over a million pounds in total. All this for the dubious privilege of having a spare GS for four more years. It will mean that amicus MSF members will go some 10 years without an election. Democracy is expensive but it seems no democracy costs more.
UPDATED This major change was slipped through by the National Executive in a mere three lines at the very end of their minutes:

"The NEC agreed that in the light of the election of the AEEU Section General Secretary, the contract of the MSF Section General Secretary be varied to revert to the General Secretary's pre-existing contractual agreement."

To their credit, four NEC members voted against: Paul Street, Dave Hutchinson, ex President Laurence Galbraith and even Russell Cartwright. Peter Blanking couldn't attend but no doubt would have voted against too.
[NEC Report]
[Lyons tries to stay on] Previous story from 11th September
NEW[Guardian Diary] Friday 25th October
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 20th October 2002, updated 25th October 2002

Let them eat cake
Bob Shannon, the AEEU right-winger tipped to finish last in the Labour ballot to be the party's candidate against Ken Livingstone in London, is known as "Bob the baker" in the AEEU.

So confident was he that Sir Ken would beat Derek Simpson, he had a celebration cake made with the iced slogan: "Ken Jackson - Always A Winner." When the shock result came in, the failed team decided to eat the cake anyway to destroy the evidence.
[Guardian] Regime change in the AEEU
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 16th October 2002

Employment Tribunal Victory
The appalling National Executive of Amicus MSF were at the receiving end of an Employment Tribunal in London this morning. At the hearing David Beaumont won a declaration that he had been unjustifiably disciplined by the NEC, when they expelled him in February. David is simultaneously the first person to be expelled and to be re-instated by amicus MSF.

In a very unusual step the Tribunal also and unanimously awarded David's full costs, £1,380.40; this required proof that amicus-MSF had behaved 'vexatiously' or 'unreasonably'. The tribunal were in no doubt about this, declaring that the respondent "has failed to disclose documents relevant to the case" and "waited until the eleventh hour before agreeing to concede" and that "the tribunal has been rather abused by the respondent". Strong words for a legal body. Read their full summation here:
[Full Story]
NEW[Guardian] Matthew Norman's Diary
NEW[ET Report] David's ET report back to amicus London Regional Council
NEW[NEC Report]
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 14th October 2002, Updated 22nd October

Previous stories
'Jackson Presided Over Vote Rigging Scandal', Unexpelled Member Speaks Out, MSF President Speaks out, Bloodsports at MSF documented, Lord Jackson, NEC Member gets 6 years, Secret Fisher Report, Young Lyons, Hunt for the 'Invisible Mendes', Certification Office: Special Report on Corruption in MSF and more... [previous stories]
Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 1st Dec 02