UK: More controversy at Unite

Unite union faces allegations of offering paid position to prevent executive challenge, adding to ongoing controversies following Birmingham hotel debacle

The Key Points: Unite union faces fresh allegations that it offered a paid position to a Heathrow baggage handler activist to prevent him from challenging for a seat on the union's national executive committee. This controversy adds to ongoing fallout from the Birmingham hotel and conference centre debacle, which ran millions over budget amid allegations that construction contracts were awarded to friends of former general secretary Len McCluskey. Despite the UK's EU exit, Unite officials continue to be appointed as expert advisors to European Works Councils and Special Negotiating Bodies by European trade union federations. 

Why This Matters: Despite the fact that the UK has left the EU, officials from Unite are still being appointed by European trade union federations as expert advisors to European Works Councils and to Special Negotiating Bodies (SNBs). We view the involvement of advisors and experts from outside the EU to EWCs and SNB is ill-advised, as they are not subject to European law. The latest controversy in Unite further adds to this concern. 

You can read a full account here.