The election of the General Secretary

[Martin Walsh]

It is intresiting Dvbuk national elections used to be done at conference prior to anti employment laws coming in ! All Branchs would block vote for national postions. National officers were then elected for life or till 65.

Then national officers were told that they had to stand for election every 5 years and then this would be subject to a postal vote instead of an indivdual member vote in work which would get an higher then out.

Let's be clear union members even on industrial action ballots or pay rises vote in huge percentages , national officers elections most Branchs will do well to get one in five members to vote , that's why the law was bought in ! But let's be clear who ever wins providing there is a debate and everyone has the chance to vote then that is democracy ! A flawed democracy but the right not to vote is a right as well.

[dvbuk55]

Well you're obviously preparing for a low turnout dingo, so when is the debate going to take place? There is something fundamentally wrong when only a fifth of the membership will actually vote for what you describe as "The election between Dave Ward and Billy Hayes will shape the direction of the union for years to come" and yet nobody is apparently interested and feel that there is some sort of skulduggery afoot. Time of course will tell.

[Van Driver]

I wud have thought that however is elected to the postal executive leadership is even more important.

[fishtank]

It isn't a debate, it's a popularity contest, Billy is unpopular because despite being an intelligent guy he comes across as a bumbling fool, Dave is popular because he thumps the table a bit, makes the right noises but at the end of the day says very little, it's a shite state of affairs when you don't want to vote for either candidate.