uniteWORKS Comment


NEWS in pictures TUC COMMUNICATIONS AWARDS UNITE: THREE TIMES A WINNER!


Len McCluskey General Secretary


Extraordinary times


These are extraordinary times. Our country has voted to end its 40 year membership of what is now the European Union.


The coming months will see our national life dominated by Brexit and the costs and benefits of going it alone will unfold.


David Cameron and George Osborne, the high practitioners of austerity, have gone. There is a new broom sweeping through number 10 Downing Street, but has the much-loathed and mindless austerity addiction been cleaned up too?


So far Mrs May has pledged that the UK will ‘live within its means’, an echo of Thatcherism’s harshness that suggests that no matter who is running the show, scything through public spending is the default position of the Conservative party.


In the midst of this uncertainty we look to Labour at Westminster to hold Tory feet to the fire. That’s why the mass resignations from the shadow cabinet were such a shocking dereliction of duty. Instead of battling for the best from Brexit, the official opposition is warring among itself.


The leadership contest now upon us is your chance to shape Labour’s future. If you are not already, I urge you to become an affiliated supporter which will guarantee you the opportunity to vote in the leadership election. Read more about how to get engaged on page 12. Labour needs you, so please, get involved. And if you were in any doubt whatsoever about why trade union values and determination are essential to our political life, you won’t be after reading this edition of uniteWORKS.


Page and page of Unite members doing what they do best – with dedication and determination, fighting and winning for justice for working people. It is truly uplifting stuff.


From the continuing campaign to save our steel to the rightful humbling of the abusive retail titan Sports Direct, I am incredibly proud of what you have achieved for our members, their families and communities.


As you will read in our policy conference supplement, too, this union has debated and faced up to some of the biggest industrial and political challenges before our movement, equipping your officers and representatives with the tools they need to deliver for you.


So however rocky the road ahead may be, with Unite leading the way, our movement is in the best of hands.


Unite’s communications department scooped up three out of six awards – a record – at this year’s TUC trade union communications awards event.


Unite campaigns officer Chantal Chegrinec accepted two awards – best campaign for the Fair Tips campaign and best reps’ communication for the Tale of Two Cities graphic novel – while Unite senior graphic designer Doug Pouch’s Ireland gay marriage vote poster won best design.


“What a fantastic night for Unite – three awards,” Chegrinec said. “It was really great that the judges recognised the hard work and dedication that went into our campaigns and communications productions.”


Chegrinec is pictured right in the first picture, alongside Unite regional officer Dave Turnbull – central to the campaign – as she receives the award from TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady. Below is Doug Pouch with O’Grady.


See page 24


uniteWORKS No:24 Published quarterly by Unite the union, 128 Theobalds Road, London, WC1X 8TN. Phone 0207 611 2500. Editor – Amanda Campbell Magazine enquiries and letters to the editor, by post, phone, or email uniteworks@unitetheunion.org Distribution enquiries contact your regional office Available in alternative formats from Taylor Humphris 020 3371 2557


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