Unite should put members before power politics, says leadership rival

A union boss is urging members in London to reject the “power politics” of Jeremy Corbyn and his main backer Len McCluskey who push their agenda “down people’s throats”.

The plea was made by Unite organiser Gerard Coyne as he visited London as part of his campaign to become the union’s next general secretary.

He criticised his rival Mr McCluskey, Unite’s current leader, for his support for Mr Corbyn despite dire poll ratings. He said: “It’s wrong to try to push power politics down people’s throats.

“It’s about being a welcome voice for working people. [Len’s] focused very much on the Labour leadership and the politics of Westminster and my view is there have been massive changes, not least in London, with a rapid increase in the use of zero hours contracts.

"For London workers, it’s time for them to take back their union and make sure it’s focused on the things important to them.

"It’s about selecting a leader that fully focuses on the day job of being a union leader first and foremost.”

Ballot papers land on the doorsteps of 290,000 Unite members in London from today with the result out on April 19.

The election is seen as pivotal to Laboury’s future because Mr McCluskey has been a vocal backer of Mr Corbyn and ensured the union delivered financial support to his campaign.

Mr McCluskey has the backing of many on Mr Corbyn’s front bench and most Unite branches which have made their nominations public.

More than 28,000 bus and taxi drivers in London are members and 36,700 people in the aviation industry. Some 14,000 health workers and 17,000 charity workers are also members of the union, which is Labour’s largest donor.

Mr Coyne, a regional organiser in the Midlands, said that if elected he would give union members a direct say on who it should back in Labour leadership elections, rather than the decision being taken by a smaller group of union officials.

Mr McCluskey said: “Gerard Coyne is not interested in Unite members in London. Under my leadership, Unite has achieved so much for working people in our capital.

"The establishment of the minimum bus drivers’ wage has been a huge testament to the campaigning by Unite members.

"Unite has led the campaign against zero hours contracts and exposed the scandal of [low pay] at hotel chains in London.”