Exclusive: Unite exec boycotts further meetings after union moves to block removal of pro-Graham chair

Majority of exec votes to remove Green but abandons meeting after union manoeuvre

The elected executive of the United union has adjourned it’s scheduled meeting today after the union management moved to block the democratic removal of its chair Andy Green, a supporter of United’s problematic general secretary Sharon Graham.

Executive members called an emergency general meeting last month to vote on the issue, but were made to wait until today’s scheduled meeting, at which Unite’s management stepped in to prevent Green’s removal, despite a clear majority vote in favour of it.

In a statement, the ‘exec’ majority condemned the attempt by Sharon Graham’s clique to ‘extinguish democracy’ and said they are seeking legal advice:

Statement from the majority of the Unite Executive Council – we will not allow the democracy of our union to be extinguished

The majority of the Unite Executive Council (EC) 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.

This is not the first time elected members have felt forced to take action because of what they say are anti-democratic moves by Green on behalf of Sharon Graham. Last year, the key ‘F&GP’ committee walked out after the pair refused to allow exec members to meet Unite officers who were then on the verge of industrial action against Graham and her team that is still ongoing.

Graham is also embroiled in a dispute by union staff working in the department she created for her husband to run, who allege that he and managers working under him have bullied and abused staff. At least three and by some reports four of the five women working in the department have quit and Graham and her team have been accused by furious workers of employing union-busting tactics to break up the strike, including having allies join the GMB union that represents staff working for Unite to try to vote down the strike action, an allegation that the union’s sector committee has demanded be investigated. Unite’s officers have also accused her of using anti-union legislation to stop them organising collectively.

And in a stunning development exclusively revealed by Skwawkbox, lawyers acting for Unite and Graham also confirmed Skwawkbox’s reporting that the union had destroyed evidence gathered by staff, particularly women, who had recorded the behaviour her husband, Jack Clarke, in their complaint that he was behaving abusively and misogynistically.

Clarke was appointed to his current role, after Graham became general secretary, despite being on a final warning from the union for his behaviour. The industrial action continues and threatens to spread to the whole HQ staff after more than 9/10 workers there voted in favour of strike action over the issue.

Graham has also been heavily criticised for her refusal to implement the union’s position, democratically agreed by delegates, to support the people of Palestine against Israel’s apartheid and genocide.

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