POLL:YOUR VOTE PEC:VOTES LOST YOU'LL NEED TO VOTE AGAIN!

[belle smith]

What you need to ask yourself though Belle, is why?
Is it just because they could be bothered to make contact, or because they've won people over through the debates?
If it's the latter. Then that's a very strong case for all candidates in the future to enter into debates with the membership, instead of just providing a brief election address. Now I'm not suggesting that they should all use RMC for that. There's also Facebook, Twitter, etc., so it's up to the candidate which site they use. Although they'd need to mention in the election address, where to find the debate, so everyone could find it. You might also be right, that the results Nationally won't reflect what we've seen on here. In fact, I'll be amazed if it IS the same (we still only have a fraction of the total workforce on here). But unless you're seriously suggesting that people are simply voting for them because they've seen them on here. It does show the way to improve the voting process in the future. Perhaps it's the fact that people don't usually know much about the candidates, which prevents a better turnout.

I personally think that it's because they bothered to post on here.

[clashcityrocker]

Tony Bouch - 19 posts
Kye Dudd - 11 posts.

We are easily bought aren't we?

[dvbuk55]

It is true they posted on here and it is true that on here they have been voted for BUT as so many pundits point out, this site is not representative of the membership and so doesn't point in any direction. Take BT 2010, the poll on here said no, the pundits said yes and lo and behold. The pundits were right, the agreement was wrong, and the nay sayers have proven to be closer to the truth.

[belle smith]

If thousands if not tens of thousands of members deliberately spoil their ballot papers in protest we could force the Union bosses to at least take notice. This form of protest is called direct action and although a small step, it is a small step in the right direction whilst voting for the same thing that many of us hate is just standing still. Still vote away if your happy as i am happy to spoil my ballot and send my own message.

Nobody cares about spoilt papers.
Nobody cares about non-voters.
Of the 129,291 eligible to vote last year 115,302 didn't.
That's an 89% vote for apathy...how much bigger a message do you want?
What difference did it make?....None.
Non-voting helps those who cannot get a mandate through the full membership but rely on a low turnout and a strong local vote....it's the same with branch voting...you make sure your mates vote and hope nobody else bothers but you're right on one thing....it's a long way from democracy.
Same old,same old.

Randompostman, i'm sure fish is right about the figures.

The ballots to accept the 2007 pay and mod deal and the BTA 2010 proved that the those on this forum would and could not sway such a large vote when the union HQ and RM were commited to putting their full weight behind getting a yes vote.

With so little people bothering to vote in the election of members of the PEC and NEC this may be diffrent and a perfect opertunity for revenge on those that i personally believe sold us out.

You should vote, randompostman.

[belle smith]

Tony Bouch - 19 posts
Kye Dudd - 11 posts.

We are easily bought aren't we?

NO!
Influenced perhaps.
Happy to include myself in that Clash, because on the poll i voted for Kye and also intend to in the official ballot.
Had he not posted on here then i wouldn't be voting for him.

They equally could have the highest number of votes on this poll simply because they are not the incumbents.

Maybe it's just a coincidence.

[randompostman]

belle smith and fishtank your points are well made but i am set on this path, i don’t wish to be lumped with those that don’t bother to vote as i take time to spoil my paper and then send it in but if my paper is not counted as spoilt but as a non-voter then that’s something i can live knowing even if HQ decide to withhold information belonging to the members about the members and the way they have used their ballot paper, as with most things HQ are very aware in their nice well-paid jobs of what we do to the ballot papers and from what area they come from and that there are some and i hope a growing number that are on to them and will not just sit back and become apathetic, i did say it was just a small step, whilst voting in "their elections" is voting to stand still and that i won’t do. I hope that your revenge is sweet but after all these decades i don’t think a few people off and a few people on to PEC will change anything either, my point is about members making a choice for themselves to do something for themselves rather than doing nothing or just voting for the same old status quo that has failed the membership thus far.

[BPeters]

Might have highest cause they are only ones on here and others couldn't be bothered. Probably to arrogant. I can't see big return so that suits them in power

[Big Daz]

Bothered?

How on earth did PEC candidates manage before RMC.

To judge a candidate by whether of not they post on RMC is bonkers.

[POSTMAN]

Even the RMC members don't give a f**k,just look at the thread views.
Shame,would be interesting tho if the 2 on here swung something.

[fishtank]

Bothered?

How on earth did PEC candidates manage before RMC.

To judge a candidate by whether of not they post on RMC is bonkers.

...and judging them from their 300 word address is.....?
...and judging them because your branch tells you to is.....?
...and judging them because you recognise their name from last year is.....?
...and sticking a pin in a piece of paper is....?

If you have to judge them on something i would say that 19 posts on a forum is probably more contact than the majority of members will have with a potential NEC/PEC member.
It's far from perfect but at least it's something.

[POSTMAN]

Tony Bouch - 19 posts
Kye Dudd - 11 posts.

We are easily bought aren't we?

To be fair,that is a possible 30 questions answered,if we we're to be picky 20 odd questions answered.
Possible (but see my post above ) thousands reading it over the election period.
Not a bad few hrs work.

[POSTMAN]

Feck me Fish you type fast!

[BPeters]

Daz don't know whether they can bothered or not but point was its not surprise them that have postedon here are top the league. Don't think it means nowt meself but I'd have voted for more probably if I'd seen em write views on here. Election book is to big and long for members to read lot so those with sense will look at other ways to get message out.

Early start in morning so off now but hope wifes replaced macleans toothpaste with coolgate as don't want to see that jokers name again today

[Big Daz]

BPeters

You appeared to be criticising the candidates for not using RMC and even went so far as to call them arrogant for not doing so. That mssrs Bouch and Dudd come out high on a RMC poll when they are the only ones posting on RMC is of no surprise. It would be very interesting to see what would happen if all of them took part in a Q and A session on RMC. One candidate is making use of Facebook and has answered all questions I have asked of him. Should I refer to him as arrogant for not posting on RMC?

The WWW can be a useful tool for interaction between CWU postal mbrs and NEC/PEC candidates of that their can be no doubt, however if a candidate chooses not to use the WWW but more traditional pre WWW methods to put their case to the membership then that should not be put in the cons column when considering the pros and cons of each potential NEC/PEC member. When casting votes we should use all the info available regardless of source.

When the election is over it will be interesting to see what effect the WWW has on turnout and % of vote for candidates making use of the WWW.

[BPeters]

Agree with you there Daz. Seems to me though with exception of lad from Ireland its two youngest that are using this so maybe they thought of something old guard didn't. It says on front page all candidates welcome. With so many on ere each week seems like missed opportunity if you ask me. If all had come on here the forum could have been great debate