Gail Cartmail blog

In the bleak mid-winter

2010-12-08T13:42:13+00:00

I love Christmas. In an uncharacteristic outpouring of domesticity I make puddings, cake, mince meat and sloe gin. Over the years we have collected baubles for the tree, each with its own significance.

Christmas can be a wonderful time for reconnecting with family, friends and neighbours of all faiths and none.

But Christmas is also a time to reflect on the strain we know parents, especially lone parents face this year.

Children and young people are bombarded by TV advertising ‘must haves’ and grocery shopping trips can be a nightmare.

Looking at data published this week by the TUC on the gender impact of the cuts we see that lone parents are hardest hit by the Comprehensive Spending Review by a very large margin.

The 18 millionaires in the coalition cabinet have no idea what it is like to struggle on a low income at times such as this. Many lone parents will go into debt to make Christmas a special time for their children. Loan sharks will flourish.

Increasingly within our circle of family, friends and neighbours conversation turns to redundancy and belt-tightening. As a union official I have in the past dreaded December since private sector ‘restructuring’ plans hatched during the summer seemed to come to fruition with notices being issued immediately before the Christmas holiday break. That always struck me as cruel timing.

In 2010 it is the public and third sector workforce under the cosh.

Financial strain and uncertainty about job security could turn many homes into pressurised environments over the Christmas holiday this year.

The coalition government is imposing a series of economic measures to make even Scrooge cringe. Their decisions are to blame for the hardship many will face this Christmas and beyond, decisions that will snuff out hopes and dreams.

But we can all get even by supporting the students in their protests, by taking part in the various UK Uncut campaigns and by building mass support for the TUC demonstration on 26 March 2011.

UNITE’S EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCES RESULT OF GENERAL SECRETARY BALLOT

2010-11-24T09:31:00+00:00

PRESS RELEASE, 24 NOVEMBER 2010

The executive committee of Unite the union formally announced the result of the ballot for the post of General Secretary today (see below for numbers of votes cast).

Of the four candidates who stood, only one was a woman. Gail Cartmail, 55, currently assistant general secretary for public services said: “I would like to congratulate Len on his success in the ballot and I look forward to working with him”.

Now that the election is over, she warned that “the most pressing issue facing the GS designate is to heal the wounds of division that have plagued the union since the merger between the TGWU and Amicus”.

She also urged the new leader to support a different style of leadership from the machismo of the past. “Sexism has no place in a progressive and modern union and is as offensive as racism or discrimination against disabled people, lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender people. I look forward to working with Len to help get rid of the image of the union movement as male, pale and stale”.

She added that: “My campaign slogan, "Together to win" will continue to resonate and hold firm into the future as it is only a united union that will be capable of defending working people, low and middle income families from the ravages of economic austerity that threaten valuable public services and jobs across our whole economy”.

NOTE FOR NEWS EDITORS

The votes cast were as follows:

Len McCluskey - 101,194

Jerry Hicks - 52,527

Les Bayliss - 46,786

Gail Cartmail - 39,363

Thank you for the honour

2010-11-19T11:34:17+00:00

The Unite GS election ballot closes today.

I am sure that by the end of this weekend’s count, the result will be in the public domain. However, I will hold back as the union’s executive meets on Wednesday 24 November and it is their prerogative, as lay members, to make the formal declaration.

In the meantime I would like to express my deep appreciation to all those who have had the faith and courage to support our campaign ‘Together to Win’.

Our first major achievement was gaining nearly 100 nominations from branches, chapels and workplaces. Some said we wouldn’t manage and without the machines available to other candidates it was hard work and I am so grateful for each and every one.

Fundraising has been all consuming. We relied entirely on collective efforts and individual donations, not a penny has been drawn from union funds. So while we can’t boast lanyards, pens, tin badges, lavish adverts, dinner and dances, pop up stands or a van with a man – not to mention a virtual forest of leaflets and avalanche of e-mails – our campaign funds are open, transparent and available for scrutiny.

I stood on the basis that I would at all times carry on with my ‘day job’. I don’t think members would forgive me as AGS for Public Services deserting my post when they are facing the fight of their lives. Doing two jobs has been tough on me, my family, friends and campaign supporters but it was the right thing to do.

The campaign was based on a few basic principles. Independent from any faction, politically progressive, faith with the building blocks of the merger – an industrial structure comprised of sectors with autonomy to set policy that is right for the sector, progressive political policies leading change from within Labour, international solidarity and an effective and adequately resourced organising strategy.

I have urged support for a style of leadership that is different from the past ‘same old, same old’ machismo and as many men as women have embraced this aspiration. Sexism has no place in a progressive and modern union, it is as offensive as racism, discrimination against disabled, lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender people. ‘Made in Dagenham’ showed what progressive women and men can achieve together and much remains to be done to rid the union movement of the ‘male, pale and stale’ image gleaned from the lack of diversity at leadership level.

Looking to the future, the GS Designate must press on with full integration and heal the wounds of division. In my correspondence to the Election Commissioner I have put forward suggestions for any future GS election as there is huge scope for improvement and I feel strongly that the UK’s largest union should lead by example of good practice.

It is my sincere hope that our next GS election is genuinely based on principles of openness, transparency and a level playing field.

The campaign team are all working people busy with paid or voluntary jobs. Their support has been generous, patient and unstinting. None were motivated by personal gain nor were any of them union employees. I am enormously fortunate to have such support.

Thanks to them, my family and all those who in many ways have joined in. Whatever the outcome of the ballot good women and men have come together in support of ‘Together to Win’ – a wonderful achievement.

Why I'm voting for Gail by Mark Wood, Unite EC member

2010-11-16T10:18:00+00:00

By Mark Wood, Unite EC member

As a full time convenor in local government with 24 years experience of trade union activism and a current member of Unite’s executive council, I know only too well the trials facing the union.

As the largest union in the UK, we are at the forefront of the battle to protect our members’ jobs and conditions, and to ensure the future of the trade union movement itself.

At this crucial time not only do we need a general secretary with political and industrial competencies to lead us through this fight of our lives, but we absolutely need one that will truly Unite us all in this common aim without faction or favour.

Gail’s competencies are constantly reaffirmed by personal performance; this was further demonstrated by her television appearance recently, responding to the review written by former Labour minister John Hutton on public sector pensions. She took on a pensions expert and demolished their arguments.

On a personal note, her support for me and others is always there when needed and Gail’s expertise on a range of matters is invaluable and in particular in the battle for equality in the workplace.

She understands what its like on the shop floor and has never forgotten her roots.