CWU NEC , INDUSTRIAL EXECUTIVE, NATIONAL OFFICER ELECTIONS

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Letter to Branches





No. 832/12

Ref: TK/sn/PM

Date: 5th November 2012


(All Branches)

To: The Branch Secretary

Dear Colleague

CWU NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, INDUSTRIAL EXECUTIVE, NATIONAL OFFICER ELECTIONS

At their meeting on October 9th 2012, the National Executive Council agreed the election arrangements for; NEC and Industrial Executive elections 2013 – 2015, together with National Officership 5 year term of office 2013 – 2018.

Because of some transitional arrangements, publicity is being given to ensure that all Branches and candidates are aware of the NEC decision.

In respect of the National Officer elections, in recent years we have taken the decision that in order to save on costs etc that we organise the elections to run concurrently with the NEC and Industrial Executives elections where this is practicable and possible. We are continuing this policy.

A further examination into the election arrangements for National Officers will be conducted in future with a view to ensuring that we aim to continue to reduce the cost of the election process during years when no Industrial or NEC elections are due to take place.

In 2013 the following National Officer elections will therefore run concurrently with the NEC and Industrial Executive elections:


Deputy General Secretary - (Postal)
Deputy General Secretary - (Telecoms &Financial Services)
Assistant Secretary - Health, Safety & Environment
Assistant Secretary - Equal Ops
Assistant Secretary - Postal
Assistant Secretary - T&FS (1)
Assistant Secretary - T&FS (2)#

# relates to the vacancy being created by the abolition of the National Organising Secretary together with the move toward elected industrial Officers as vacancies arise

In respect of the NEC and Industrial Executive elections, we believe there is a desire to return to our election period being concluded within the first quarter of each year and this of course is possible.

To achieve this, all of the above elections (NEC, IE and National Officers) which are due in 2013 will take place in June/July 2013 with all successful candidates taking up the position on August 5th 2013.

This would involve nothing problematical with respect to National Officer election’s, however it does mean the current NEC and IE foregoing one month of their current term of office.

Given that it would avoid an election in the August period, together with the fact that it is a “light” month with regard to activity, it would not involve any major inconvenience for the current NEC/IE members.

Further in respect of future arrangements it is proposed that the incoming NEC serve a 21 month term of office (three months short of two years) – i.e. up until April 2015.

This means that the NEC elections due in 2015 would be arranged to conclude in the first quarter of 2015. Thereafter all NEC elections would always take place in the first quarter of the calendar year and of course for a two year period thereafter.

Legal opinion and the union rules allows the Union to make this variation as part of any transitional arrangement.

The Regulations and detailed timetable for the forthcoming elections will be issued in the New Year. The early publication of the above information will allow Branches to plan their meetings in the knowledge that the union is moving back towards 1st quarter election period from 2015 onwards.

Any enquiries on this LTB should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary quoting the reference GS 1.1

Yours sincerely

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

[hans solo]

can we not have an election for general secretary

[fishtank]

can we not have an election for general secretary

No.
He was unopposed.
The most fundamental principle of an election is that you need at least two candidates.

[hans solo]

obviously does not want to share the pies and the last photo of gs i can see why

[LinChong]

What is wrong with Billy?

He has done a good job on the political campaigns. He defeated Mandelson and later on made sure we got a 10 year contract between Royal Mail and the Post Office.

A lot of posters on here are too knowledgable about the way the Union runs to mistake the GS's role for anything other than running political campaigns yet they try to make out they believe the GS is the Chief Executive of the Union. This is the line that has been fed to the general public by the enemies of trade unionism.

The NEC runs the Union, not the GS.

Who will replace Billy and be better at running a campaign to stop Post Office closures?

[fishtank]

A lot of posters on here are too knowledgable about the way the Union runs to mistake the GS's role for anything other than running political campaigns yet they try to make out they believe the GS is the Chief Executive of the Union. This is the line that has been fed to the general public by the enemies of trade unionism.

You're thinking too hard again LinChong.
You'll do yourself a mischief.
Billy is a target for those upset with the union because he's a figurehead that's all,nothing more,no major conspiracy.

Yes,most of the posters on here know that GS is mainly a political role but in the union hierarchy GS is still at least on paper the "leader" of the union.
Nobody really believes that David Cameron actually runs the nuts and bolts of Government or dictates policy but..........

As for it being a line fed to the public by the enemies of the trade union movement,i hate to burst your bubble but the general public generally couldn't give a general f**k who the General Secretary of the CWU is....generally.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

What is wrong with Billy?

Post snipped for brevity.

£29K in lieu of Holidays
Uncontested elections for his position (does not still well for me in a Union which is supposedly democratic)
His media/speech making style.
His support for the Labour Party even when it looked likely they would part privatise us.
His backing of Labour when in power even when they briefed against us.
He is a good political leader if you support Labour - I don't.

[dvbuk55]

What's wrong with him? He's overpaid to the tune of £150,000 a year if all he has responsibility for is political officer - the guys a buffoon - I cringe every time I hear him or see him on the media. Anyone who has been a postie for a number of years know how the job has changed and yet here we have a throwback to the 70s GS of a communication union who can barely string to words together without the obligatory scouse erm.

[LinChong]

Who do you want to replace him with?

Are any of you in the position to decide who gets nominated? We will get to choose from a shortlist chosen for us. You know this already so what do you want to achieve with this campaign?

The Labour party f**k us but the Tories f**k us harder and they are better organised. Mandelson's Bill was defeated mainly because Billy lobbied the Labour back benchers. No union increases their influence when a right wing regime is in power so we might as well have someone who can deliver when there is a Labour government in power.

Anyway, I heard Billy was going to step down after this term. If this is common knowledge, why make a big fuss now unless your objective is to weaken the Union.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Who do you want to replace him with?

I may not want to replace him. I want a chance to have a democratic vote and either endorse or reject his positions.

Are any of you in the position to decide who gets nominated? We will get to choose from a shortlist chosen for us. You know this already so what do you want to achieve with this campaign?

Campaign This is a form for discussing things we are discussing a subject - there is no campaign.

The Labour party f**k us but the Tories f**k us harder and they are better organised. Mandelson's Bill was defeated mainly because Billy lobbied the Labour back benchers. No union increases their influence when a right wing regime is in power so we might as well have someone who can deliver when there is a Labour government in power.

Correct but who decides who the someone is. A choice should be put to membership at least occasionally, you cannot have a mandate from the membership if you have no election. If no one wants to stand against him then there should at least be a mechanism to allow ordinary members to influence the direction of the Union.

Anyway, I heard Billy was going to step down after this term. If this is common knowledge, why make a big fuss now unless your objective is to weaken the Union.

You heard that Billy was going to step down, sounds like a rumour or perhaps a symptom of the Unions malaise at the moment - controlling the flow of information (at what or whose benefit seems blurred). I haven't heard he was stepping down beyond the perennial rumour that he is looking for a safe labour seat, so by definition its not common knowledge. As to weakening the Union, if discussion on a forum that has CWU members and non-members, on the direction, personality and presentation of a "dear leader" really could weaken it, then I am afraid it would already be in terminal decline and on the fast track to irrelevance. Far from it such a discussion both within and without the Union should either help to strengthen it, or be a reflection of the commitment if its membership.

Do we really want to be a Union of "Tankies" and North Korean flunkies.

[dvbuk55]

Who do you want to replace him with?

Are any of you in the position to decide who gets nominated? We will get to choose from a shortlist chosen for us. You know this already so what do you want to achieve with this campaign?

The Labour party f**k us but the Tories f**k us harder and they are better organised. Mandelson's Bill was defeated mainly because Billy lobbied the Labour back benchers. No union increases their influence when a right wing regime is in power so we might as well have someone who can deliver when there is a Labour government in power.

Anyway, I heard Billy was going to step down after this term. If this is common knowledge, why make a big fuss now unless your objective is to weaken the Union.

I don't want to replace him - I'd prefer to keep the money for what is a sinecure - we don't need him - I'd rather employ a lobbyist on a contract with a finite salary and not an infinite one, with a pension commensurate with the position not one that harks back to when the unions had power.

[LinChong]

Tankie culture goes right through the Union. It is pure top down organisation and the tankies probably control every Branch committee. That is the problem.

Let's face it, nobody is allowed into the CWU full time release 'club' unless they are tankies and if you want to be in the 'club' that badly, you definitely shouldn't be in it.

Local reps need to realise that Area Reps and above are not going to help them very much. Local reps should use other unions' websites for information and use the Grievance Procedure and Employment Tribunal claims to get things changed. It is only when local reps stop looking 'up' for help and look along to their workmates for help that a strong unit develops because each individual becomes a rep. Every member that sums up the courage to face management in a grievance hearing develops their fighting ability.

We could employ mercenary lobbyists but they would be easily nobbled by our opponents who have far more cash than us. We would still need a figurehead who could be interviewed on TV and radio, maybe a retired Archbishop?

[gluteus maximus]

Old thread but can anyone tell me please:

1/ when is the next NEC, NATIONAL HQ POSITIONS & Elections

1/Can any member of the CWU run for a national officer position

[Martin Walsh]

The next elections will be around March 2015. Any member can stand but they have to the endorsement of theit Branch in line with the CWU rule book.

[dvbuk55]

The next elections will be around March 2015. Any member can stand but they have to the endorsement of theit Branch in line with the CWU rule book.

Wonder if there's any chance I could get an endorsement,..............no it'll be some sycophantic union yes man looking for a nice cushy number with no work, big bucks and living on past glories................. wonder who fits that bill