Statement by the majority of the Unite Executive Council on 10 March 2025
We will not allow the democracy of our union to be extinguished!
The majority of the Unite Executive Council has today taken the difficult decision to adjourn this week’s scheduled meeting and to seek legal advice on the next steps in our struggle to restore the democratic functioning of our union and the authority and integrity of the Unite EC.
The decision to take this step was an extremely difficult one and has not been taken lightly but the actions of Unite EC Chair Andy Green have left us with no alternative.
This situation has arisen following a submission made and signed by 31 members of the EC requesting that a special meeting of the EC be organised with one item of business on the agenda – to remove the EC Chair Andy Green.
The motion was submitted on the 25th of February 2025 and fully complied with the Unite Rule Book. Rule 14.3 states that “Special meetings of the Executive Council may be called when the General Secretary or when a majority of the Executive Council considers it necessary”.
Despite having been prevented from holding the meeting in the requested time frame, the special EC meeting took place today, 10th March 2025, at 1pm.
At the meeting, a vote was held with a clear majority expressing their wish for the Chair to be removed with 31 in favour, 28 against, and 1 abstention.
In an astonishing move however, and upon the advice of the Unite Legal Director, it was deemed and ruled that a two thirds majority was necessary to remove Andy Green from his position as Unite EC Chair. At this point the majority of the EC adjourned the meeting to seek legal advice.
A proposal was made to allow the two sitting Vice Chairs to chair the EC until the situation has been resolved but this was rejected by Andy Green.
The majority of the EC will not now take part in any further proceedings of the EC until this situation has been resolved.
The majority of the Unite EC believes that Unite’s internal democracy is being extinguished and that the EC is currently unable to carry out its functions of overseeing the union and holding the General Secretary and senior officials to account. It is nothing short of a disgrace that this is happening in our great union but be assured that we will not rest until we have restored the authority and integrity of the Unite EC on behalf of its members.
