UNISON: Big opportunity for the left in Britain’s biggest trade union

In January, the process to elect UNISON’s National Executive Council (the union’s highest democratically elected body) begins. UNISON, the largest union in Britain is based predominately in the public sector. The broad left Time For Real Change (TFRC) has held a majority on the NEC for the last three years, and will be looking to strengthen that position in the coming elections, which will be critical to the union’s future.

The last three years have started to see a real change in UNISON, under the aegis of the Organising to Win strategy. This has started to see a move from a servicing, individualistic insurance type model to an organising, collective campaigning approach, something which is starting to transform the union from a vehicle dominated by the bureaucracy into a real fighting organisation of and by workers.

This has paid off, not just in terms of record growth in the number of members, but also in activists, and extra money put in members pockets by successful industrial action. It has also made UNISON a reference point for workers across Britain seeking to transform their own trade unions.

Despite the successes, the right wing and a section of the bureaucracy lie in wait, wedded to the old, failed demobilising and deactivating approach, which they would return us to given the chance. It is often these same forces that favour an uncritical, subservient approach to the Labour Party, asking permission to fight for our members rather than taking decisive action to fight for it industrially and politically.

The funding crisis facing the NHS, local councils and much of the public sector means we need a union that will fight for members whoever is in government. That is why Socialist Alternative members are active participants in Time For Real Change, and will have a number of candidates for the NEC.

However, real power to effect change in UNISON doesn’t lie just with the NEC. We must also swell and win the ranks of new activists to the left through continuing to build TFRC at levels of the union and take a fighting strategy into branches, regions as well as the national level. In addition, currently the General Secretary often acts as a counterweight to the drive to implement positive change and must be challenged.

There will be a General Secretary election in the last few months of 2025. It is crucial that Time For Real Change wins both the NEC and General Secretary elections. With members angry at constant cuts in resources and living standards, a Time For Real Change double victory is possible.

Socialist Alternative will continue to actively build the left in UNISON and link this to a strategy to transform the trade union movement into an independent, fighting force on the industrial and political planes for the whole of the working class.