50 members of Unite call on their general secretary to immediately withdraw from his negotiations with Theresa May, AND the official Unite reply

Len McCluskey and Brexit negotiations

50 members of Unite call on their general secretary to immediately withdraw from his negotiations with Theresa May, and urge MPs to vote down the Tory Brexit deal

Guardian Letters Wed 6 Feb 2019 https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/06/len-mccluskey-and-brexit-negotiations

AND the official Unite reoly

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 Len McCluskey of Unite outside 10 Downing Street on 24 January 2019 after talks with the government over Brexit. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

As members of Unite, we are deeply concerned by reports that our general secretary, Len McCluskey, is entering into direct negotiations with Theresa May over the Tory Brexit deal. The outcome of the Brexit process will affect the lives of all of us for decades to come. Workers face the prospect of lost rights, lost jobs and lost prosperity.

The Labour party, to which Unite is affiliated, has a clear policy to vote against any deal which does not meet its six tests or which puts the Good Friday agreement in doubt. Unite policy conference established a similar set of red lines in July. It appears that McCluskey is engaging in separate talks with the government in which he is putting forward a position which contradicts both the policy of the Labour party and Unite’s own policy. This is absolutely wrong.

AdvertisementBy voting down the deal, MPs can create the conditions to bring down the government and force a general election, giving us the chance to get a government for the many. Backing the Tory deal, or abstaining on it, means keeping the Tories in power with their agenda of cuts, austerity and privatisation. Unite must stand up for the jobs and rights of its members. We call on Len McCluskey to immediately withdraw from his negotiations with Theresa May, and urge MPs to vote down the Tory Brexit deal.

Rebecca Tonks NE/100/11
Salman Shaheen London ITC
Tracey Thatcher Unite community Shrewsbury & Telford
Mark Boothroyd Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Hospitals
Graham Martin York community
Rebecca Lawrence SE London Medical
Alena Ivanova LE524
Jane Lawson Manchester, community member
Sheila Ravnkilde Unite community Nottingham
Matthew Smyth NW/NW11 Liverpool and Merseyside Clearing Banks
Joshua Lovell Beds and Herts
Ana Oppenheim LE 524
Liz McShane Central London
Sandy Paul Tower Hamlets Unite
Dennis Leech Tower Hamlets community
Omar Salem LE/790 (legal workers) branch 
Steven Carver Tower Hamlets 
Catherine Overton Poplar & Limehouse/City 
Laura McCormack London and Eastern
Nick Dearden Central London 
Eugene Dalton-Ruark Unite community 
Sarah Parker Enfield
Kristian Ravnkilde Unite community Nottingham 
Michael Chessum LE524
Elias Eiholzer SC/156/AREA
David Kirk
Lee Griffiths Tower Hamlets
Roland Rance East London 
John Bowden 
Susan Pashkoff East London
Joseph Clough
Ruben de Dios Armesto Tower Hamlets
Terry Conway Islington 
Sabrina Huck 
Chris Brace York Community 
Matthew Jury Brixton
Joseph Healy
Hannah Webb LE524
Mark Findlay Retired
Michael Tucker West Midlands retired 
Katia Widlak ACTS
Lisa Homan Parliamentary 
William Conway Nottingham Community branch
David McNerlin Belfast
Jane Kelly Retired
Radhika Patel 
Anita Downs South East London Medical Branch
Debby Boon LE524
Barry Woodling Greater Manchester Unite Community Branch
Alan Rawnsley Yorkshire

Unite responds to misleading letter from Another Europe is Possible

·         Thursday 7 February 2019

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Responding to today’s (Thursday 7 February) letter published in The Guardian coordinated by second referendum campaigners Another Europe is Possible, a Unite spokesperson said: “The criticisms of Len McCluskey from second referendum campaigners are malicious and deliberately misleading. Len McCluskey is not negotiating a Brexit deal with Theresa May.

“He has met the prime minister once, as have several other trade union leaders, when he took the opportunity to raise a number of concerns for working people, including the danger of a no-deal Brexit and the need for a customs union in order to preserve jobs.

“The terms of Brexit can only be determined by MPs, and Unite fully supports Jeremy Corbyn’s efforts to secure the best possible arrangements.

“We endorse the proposals set out in his letter to the prime minister yesterday as being an approach that can bring all people of goodwill together. We urge all Labour party members and supporters to get behind them.

“Len McCluskey continues to liaise with government ministers to ensure that jobs in manufacturing and elsewhere are safeguarded and makes no apologies for doing so. Posturing will not keep a single factory open.

“Unite activists for the most part know better than to believe media rumours about their union, and we urge Another Europe is Possible to take the same sceptical approach.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For more information please contact Alex Flynn Unite head of media and campaigns on 020 3371 2066or 07967 665869 

• Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Len McCluskey.