THE VOTE which could oust Blair’s favourite union leader, Sir Ken Jackson, from the head of the AEEU section of the Amicus union will start on 24 June. Jackson faces a serious challenge from left candidate Derek Simpson who gained over 100 nominations. These include factories like Ford, Vauxhall, Nissan and Rover.
AEEU branches in Heathrow Airport, British Aerospace, London Underground, Rolls Royce and steel branches in Sheffield, Scunthorpe, Corby and Llanwern supported him. This solid base of support has startled Jackson. He boasts of his close relationship to Blair and having ‘more than a foot in the door of Number Ten’. Jackson is eager to stress that he has gathered over 300 nominations.
But his supporters have been investigated for ‘double voting’-turning up at different branches to try to swing the nomination for Jackson. The Guardian reports that ‘Roger Maskell, the south east regional secretary of Amicus/AEEU, is to be questioned at an internal inquiry after membership records were wiped then incorrectly reinstated.’
Simpson’s supporters are launching their election campaign and urge everyone to build the biggest possible vote to get rid of Jackson.
Contact Simpson’s campaign-phone 0114 236 1419 or e-mail [email protected]
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