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Unison endorses Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leadership Unison endorses Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leadership
(about 3 hours later)
Jeremy Corbyn has received a major boost in his campaign for the Labour party leadership after Unison, one of Britain’s largest trade unions with 1.3 million members, endorsed his bid. Jeremy Corbyn has received a major boost in his campaign to become the next Labour party leader after Unison, one of Britain’s largest trade unions with 1.3 million members, endorsed his bid.
In a blow to Andy Burnham, who had hoped to win the union’s support, the Unison general secretary, Dave Prentis, said Corbyn’s message was resonating with public sector workers whose wages had been frozen. In another blow to rival candidate Andy Burnham, who had hoped to win the support of one of Britain’s main trade unions, the Unison general secretary, Dave Prentis, said Corbyn’s message was resonating with public sector workers whose wages had been frozen in recent years. The union’s 23-member national Labour link committee also recommended Yvette Cooper as its second choice.
Unison has recommended Yvette Cooper as its second choice. Related: Jeremy Corbyn's Labour leadership bid has a momentum even he didn't expect
The endorsement by Unison will help to cement Corbyn’s position as the current – and surprise – frontrunner in the leadership contest. The Daily Mirror reported on Tuesday that Corbyn, who is already supported by Britain’s largest trade union, Unite, has opened up a 20-point lead in the leadership contest after a YouGov/Times poll last week gave him a 17-point lead. The endorsement by Unison, Britain’s main trade union for public sector workers, will help to cement Corbyn’s position as the current – and surprise – frontrunner in the leadership contest. The Daily Mirror reported on Tuesday that Corbyn, who is already supported by Britain’s largest trade union, Unite, has opened up a 20-point lead in the leadership contest after a YouGov/Times poll last week gave him a 17-point lead.
UNISON the public sector union have just decided to nominate #jeremy4leader Thankyou @unisontweets pic.twitter.com/kIAHphu3JR Prentis said: “Jeremy Corbyn’s message has resonated with public sector workers who have suffered years of pay freezes, redundancies with too many having to work more for less. They have been penalised for too long by a government that keeps on taking more and more from them. Their choice shows a clear need for change towards a fairer society where work is fairly rewarded, and where those living and working in poverty are supported.
Prentis said: “Jeremy Corbyn’s message has resonated with public sector workers who have suffered years of pay freezes, redundancies with too many having to work more for less.
“They have been penalised for too long by a government that keeps on taking more and more from them. Their choice shows a clear need for change towards a fairer society where work is fairly rewarded, and where those living and working in poverty are supported.
“Today’s decision is a recommendation and our members are of course free to cast their vote as to who they think should lead the Labour party.”“Today’s decision is a recommendation and our members are of course free to cast their vote as to who they think should lead the Labour party.”
Corbyn said: “I want to thank Unison for its nomination today. Unison members are in the frontline of the impact of the government’s austerity agenda. They are the people that provide the services our society relies on. They should be valued and heard. Corbyn welcomed the union’s support. He said: “I want to thank Unison for its nomination today. Unison members are in the frontline of the impact of the government’s austerity agenda. They are the people that provide the services our society relies on. They should be valued and heard.
“As leader of the Labour party I would promote high-quality, modern, public services – against outsourcing, privatisation and low pay. We are building a movement for a modern, kinder Britain, and I look forward to working with Unison members to achieve that.” UNISON the public sector union have just decided to nominate #jeremy4leader Thankyou @unisontweets pic.twitter.com/kIAHphu3JR
The trade unions have less impact under the new leadership rules than they had in previous elections. Under the old system, in place at the time of Ed Miliband’s election in 2010, trade union members had one-third of the votes in the electoral college system, and would “As leader of the Labour party I would promote high-quality modern public services – against outsourcing, privatisation and low pay. We are building a movement for a modern, kinder Britain, and I look forward to working with Unison members to achieve that.”
send out ballot papers to their members. The Unite union plastered pictures of Miliband on envelopes that contained ballot papers. Burnham might have hoped to win the support of the main public sector trade union after his warnings, as shadow health secretary, that the Tories are trying to move towards NHS privatisation. But he had realised more than a month ago that he would not win the support of the Unison leadership and is confident many individual members will vote for him. He has won the support of the shop workers’ union, Usdaw.
Union members who opt in to the union’s political fund, or who are signed as as a registered union supporter, have one vote, which carries the same weight as any other member. The main trade unions have been signing up supporters ahead of the leadership election. Related: Jeremy Corbyn warns 'naughty people' to leave Labour party alone
The announcement by Unison came as the GMB union announced that it would not endorse any candidate after failing to reach agreement. A spokesman said: “Following consultations there was no clear consensus for a recommendation for any one candidate for leader and therefore GMB will be making no recommendation in that election. Given the extensive debates and candidates’ hustings GMB members will cast their votes for a candidate of their choice for leader in the normal way.”
The trade unions have less impact under the new leadership rules than they had in previous elections. Under the old system, in place at the time of Ed Miliband’s election in 2010, trade union members and members of other affiliated societies had one-third of the votes in the electoral college system, and would send out ballot papers to their members. The Unite union plastered pictures of Ed Miliband on envelopes that contained ballot papers.
Union members who are signed up as a registered union supporter have one vote, which carries the same weight as any other member. The main trade unions have been signing up supporters ahead of the leadership election.
Of Unison’s members, 430,000 have opted into the political fund and do not have a vote in the leadership contest. Around 28,000 Unison members are Labour party members in their own right, which gives them a vote. So far a further 15,000 have signed up as registered supporters to vote in the leadership contest.