Unit rep elections and Viagra

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Back to our unit elections.

Our Branch Secretary has agreed that it is alright for us to have a workplace ballot box but he wants us to take the box over to his work location so that he can count the votes privately. He feels he should be trusted to do this but I don't think he should be so sensitive. He ought be puttting the reputation of the branch before his feelings. At the last election, nobody from our unit got to witness the count and as a consequence there was grumbling.

Does anyone agree that our Branch secretary is being a bit precious?

Yes.

If he thought this through he would see that an independent witness actually strengthens his own position. In ANY vote there will always be dissenters who vote against the recommendation of the Union, Branch and if there was ever a question over the validity of the results he would have witnesses that back his position it was a fair count.

Ideally I would have 3 people at the count:

1. Him.
2. Someone representing those being ballotted.
3. An independent person - This could be a non CWU member, a CWU member not being balloted - or even a manager)

Only 1 person counting a ballot leaves that person open to various accusations, but more importantly its not really in the spirit, or fulfils the basic tenets of a Democratic voting system.

Even in this small picture of a vote count you can clearly see "Party members" (wearing rosettes) watching the count.

[cashman]

To be fair to our Branch Sec, there was a witness present at the count. I do agree Minister, we should have someone FROM OUR CENTRE as a witness. I would prefer a ballot box in the work place as I think we would have a higher response.

[MinisterofCucumber]

Latest news from our rep is that the Branch Secretary wants us to do a postal vote and only wants there to be two witnesses at the count, neither of whom will be from our workplace as he intends to choose two members from the Branch committee.

Our unit rep elections are on hold at the moment. I have heard of a secret ballot but I've never heard of a secret count. I would like the count to be transparent as a lot of our members already believe that the union is a stalinist organisation and it would be nice for the CWU to show its members that it respects the concept of democracy. I am told that our Branch Secretary feels hurt as he thinks we don't trust him but I feel he should put the good name of the union first. Where is the harm in letting the candidates witness the count?

[MinisterofCucumber]

We have prepared a petition to our Branch Secretary:

"In the interest of democracy and transparency, we request that a workplace ballot take place and that the candidates or their representatives be present at the count."

There are 27 signatures so far.

My rep told me that the Branch Secretary said that we had to have a postal ballot or he wouldn't allow us to have one at all. All we want is a fair ballot so that whatever the result, nobody can claim it was fixed.

[Big Daz]

What do your branch rules say, postal ballots are done at my branch but with candidates allowed to watch the count.

[MinisterofCucumber]

The rules say that for a postal ballot the branch committee has much more control than for a workplace ballot:

"a. postal Ballots

by post in a sealed envelope together with precise instructions as to ballot arrangements, which shall have been decided by the Branch Committee and notified to the membership in advance at the time of calling for nominations. The Election Procedures as published must be adhered to at all times. The postal ballot shall be counted by the scrutineers appointed by the Branch Committee and they shall sign a certificate declaring the results for publication to the membership.

or

b. Workplace Ballots

by a RETURNING OFFICER appointed by the Branch Committee who shall not himself be a member of the committee and who shall arrange for the provision of ballot boxes wherein the members shall place their completed ballot forms on the day and times stated in the Notice of the ballot.

The results of the ballot shall be counted by the scrutineers under the supervision of the RETURNING OFFICER and they shall each sign a certificate of declaring the results for publication to the membership."

The call for nominations went up last night but the membership have not been given precise instructions as to ballot arrangements, in particular the notice does not state who the Returning Officer is or who the scrutineers will be.

In addition, three of the prospective candidates have been insisting that we have a workplace ballot and have made their preference known to the incumbent rep who has been liasing with the Branch Secretary. As our wishes have been ignored and we have been passed the message that we either accept a postal ballot or we won't be allowed to have one, we have been forced to raise a petition.

[MinisterofCucumber]

Good news, I won.

33 votes to 22.

60% turnout.

[clashcityrocker]

Congratulations Minister.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

[cashman]

Congratulations Cucumber!!!

[Big Daz]

Good news, I won.

33 votes to 22.

60% turnout.

Good man willing to roll up your sleeves and tackle the issues head on!!