Unite: Graham die-hard asks members to vote for her challenger

I now need to put right my wrong.

These are the words of long-time Unite executive member and union convenor, Steve Hibbert, in a video he has published for the union’s general secretary election.

Hibbert campaigned in 2021 for Sharon Graham to become Unite’s general secretary. Now, like fellow former-diehard Dave Williams, he wants union members to support her challenger, Simon Dubbins.

Hibbert cites “grave concerns at the actions taken by the union under Sharon” and the “toxic” environment she (and her husband) have created.

Unite exec member’s video could have been longer

Hibbert’s succinct video could have been far, far longer. Graham’s tenure has been packed with admitted and alleged scandals and cover-ups. As she seeks re-election, she faces a challenge from her former Unite international director, Dubbins.

Simon Dubbins is a complete contrast to Graham’s refusal to speak or act against the Gaza genocide, her support for militarism and her stubborn withdrawal of Unite from its former political clout for workers.

Dubbins shocked Graham’s camp in the nominations phase of the election by winning almost twice the number required to stand in the general secretary election. Even more importantly, he won many of Unite’s biggest branches — in sectors that strongly supported Graham in 2021.

He is also likely to have the backing of many of the union’s 20,000 Community section members. Graham wanted to close it and merge it with the retired members section if she won re-election, but u-turned after Skwawkbox exposed the plan.

Moreover, Unite’s environmental campaigners are likely to turn away from her after Unite ordered the Community section not to support a climate day of action. In an election with a history of low turnouts, these factors could be decisive.

A world of difference between Unite candidates

The differences between Graham and Dubbins run much deeper than their approach to politics and their plans for different Unite sections. Graham has been almost invisible on the issue of Palestine and Israel’s genocide. She has, though, been highly vocal advocating for a bigger UK arms industry and against protest and direct action against genocide and illegal war.

Behind the scenes, meanwhile, she has been accused by disgusted members of blocking activists from supporting the anti-genocide movement on behalf of Unite. She has held ‘secret’ talks with far-right Reform. Unite’s lack of political engagement and education has seen support for the far-right mushroom in the union.

Anti-union union boss

Despite running Unite, Graham has repeatedly been accused of using appalling, anti-union tactics against workers employed by Unite, leading to several strikes. In many cases, these tactics have been seen as Unite’s attempts to protect her husband, Jack Clarke. Clarke is the target of much of the industrial unrest among Unite staff.

Soon after her accession in 2021, Graham created a new Bargaining and Disputes Support Unit (BDSU). Outside of the union’s usual procedures, Clarke was appointed to run it. The appointment was made despite Clarke being on a final warning for bullying and misogyny. As striking workers picketed against Clarke, Graham’s faction staged counter-demonstrations against them and attacked their reps.

Explosive admission — and challenge

Explosively, Unite’s lawyers admitted to Skwawkbox that the union had destroyed evidence that workers had gathered against him. This did not stop further complaints and strike action from workers in his new fiefdom, with almost all the women working under him quitting.

Dubbins, by contrast, has spoken out consistently against Israel’s genocide and against Unite’s disengagement from wider politics to suit Graham’s narrow ‘workplace only’ agenda. He was suspended as Unite’s international director after refusing to cancel a pro-Palestine fringe event at a Labour conference.

Graham hid from union branches and declined to debate Dubbins at any hustings event during the nominations phase, angering many, including allies, by sending weak proxies instead. Last week, Dubbins publicly challenged Graham to stop hiding and face him in an open debate in front of members.

Now it seems that union members and activists, even among Graham’s former core supporters, are waking up. Ballots in the contest will be sent out from 14 July, with a deadline of 11 August for the receipt of member votes.

Featured image via Nurith Wagner-Strauss/ KOMPETENZ