For a fighting union, led by the members I AM asking you to support my

campaign to become the first public sector worker to lead our

union as General Secretary. I have worked providing services to the most vulnerable almost all my working life in the private, voluntary and public sectors.

That is why it breaks my heart to see the Tories trying to eradicate our welfare state through cuts and privatisation.

If elected I will fight with you for every job and every service. Leadership should be about what a million-strong union can do—not what it can’t do!

UNISON should be at the forefront of the battle to stop the Tories’ Trade Union Bill—if elected I will lead the fight to defy this attempt to shackle us with new anti-union laws.

Action against austerityI am currently the branch secretary of Barnet UNISON. Our branch has mounted a seven-year relentless campaign, including strike action, against the Tories’ flagship “Easy Council”.

On the many picket lines we have organised in Barnet, members continue to ask me, “When are the trade union leaders going to start a serious campaign to protect jobs and services before they have all gone?”

Building an alliance with all the trade unions will be a key task if I am elected.

Token one-day strikes over pensions and pay are unacceptable.

They undermine the confidence of our reps and members who quite rightly question if our union knows what it’s doing.

If elected pay and pension campaigns will be key tasks I will undertake to organise with the support of branches, reps and the wider membership.

I am a socialist and a Labour Party member. I have actively supported Jeremy Corbyn for Labour Party leader.

Jeremy has ignited the anti-austerity debate that we needed.

I am a trade unionist in the Labour Party, not vice-versa.

It is UNISON’s job to tell the Labour Party what it wants in return for our support. The recent fiasco of abstaining in the welfare debate was a disgrace. Why are we backing people who are not acting in our members’ interests?

We don’t need austerity-lite. As general secretary I will bring

our union together and fight alongside others to end austerity. Challenging discrimination, racism and IslamophobiaThe Tories are using the old tactic of divide and rule to force through their attack on the 99 percent.

While the rich get richer they tell us to blame single parents, young people, Muslims, disabled people, and refugees.

This government of millionaires wants us to believe that everyone is to blame for the financial crisis—except the bankers and speculators that this government supports.

Austerity policies have disproportionately affected women, disabled people and Black people.

We need to do a lot more to challenge the negative impact austerity brings to our members’ daily lives.

I am proud of multiculturalism and will use the union’s resources to campaign against those who fail to treat all human beings with dignity and respect.

John fighting austerity—alongside Jeremy Corbyn

Vote John Burgess for UNISON general secretarySupport one of your own: a local rep....

Time for a democratic unionThe lead national negotiators in our union are not ordinary members having to deal with the day to day consequences of cuts, redundancies and privatisation. They do not appear to understand the necessity of winning our national disputes, or have the determination needed to win.

If elected as General Secretary, I understand that it would be a five-year term during which I would receive my current wage as a social worker.

We need a union leadership that gives hope, energy and builds confidence. I will offer a leadership that encourages debate and democracy. I will ensure that the union is accessible and accountable to you.

Our future is at stake—our members’ jobs and services need defending, and now. We cannot continue as we have done and under my leadership I want to release money back into the branches so that they can work with and for workers facing attacks in the workplace.

One of my first tasks will be to organise a tour across all 12 regions to meet up with branches, reps and members in order to listen and understand what is required to help all of our members fight for jobs and services.

If you are a member show this leaflet to your work colleagues and join our campaign to build a fighting union fully accountable to its members.

What you can do to help the campaignl Ask your branch to nominate John Burgess.This must be done at a quorate meeting of your branch or branch committee on a date between 2nd September and 9th October.

A formal request for nomination has been sent to every branch. If you want a copy of the request go to http://johnburgess4gensec.blogspot.co.uk/ to download one.

It is best to talk with others on the branch exec before the meeting about John, to drum up support, tackle any questions they may have (or get the answers if you don’t have them).

If your branch does agree to nominate him, then they need to send a form to national office. Check well before 9th October that they have sent it off and got acknowledgment.

l Ask your branch if they are willing to organise a hustings for all the candidates, so members can hear what they have to offer. This can be done by one branch alone or they may choose to coordinate with other branches. The best time for this is before voting starts—October to 9th November.

l Individual UNISON members can give out leaflets to members explaining why John is standing, and letting them know the voting period is 9 November to 4 December. Ask them if they are willing to help give out leaflets themselves during the election period.

l Individual UNISON members can give money to the campaign to help pay for leaflets, travel costs etc. This can be sent to an account via http://johnburgess4gensec.blogspot.co.uk/. Do a collection. Ask colleagues to contribute too. Collection sheets can also be downloaded from the website.

l Most importantly use “John Burgess for General Secretary” material to help build the biggest opposition to Tory attacks now.

We need the biggest demo at the Tory party conference in Manchester on 4 October; the biggest lobby of the third reading of the anti trade union bill on 2 November; and the most solidarity with workers in local struggles such as those fighting privatisation and trade union victimisation at the National Gallery.

“The myth that young people are apathetic when it comes to politics and activism has been disproved by the student demonstrations and the Corbyn campaign. I believe that John can bring a similar member-led campaign to our union.Greta Holmes, Young Members Officer, Wakefield UNISON (personal capacity)

“John leads by example. His record is something activists will be encouraged by, and members will respect.”Paul Gilroy, branch secretary UNISON Newcastle City LG, UNISON NEC (personal capacity)

“John Burgess is a thoroughly decent man, an active trade unionist fighting for the rights of others against the wrongs in society with no thought of personal gain.” Theresa Rollinson, “90 day Care UK striker”, Doncaster

Vote John Burgess for UNISON general secretaryWeb: http://johnburgess4gensec.blogspot.co.ukEmail: JohnBurgess4GenSec@gmail.com