GS election. Old codger Vs youthful contender?

[JoRo]

Having read both candidates election material a few things struck me. First. Dave Ward - the change candidate - is 56. Billy - over the hill - Hayes 61. Neither is the future of the CWU. Second. In the "bureaucracy vs the membership" stakes both candidates have been part of the CWU bureaucracy for almost 40 years between them and neither have shown much inclination to change it. For example. despite a reduction of a third in the membership There has been no significant reduction in the number of posts on the industrial executives or in the number of bureaucrats employed in HQ. In fact I am advised that the number of personnel employed in both contenders' departments have increased since they took up post. Third. Not only did Mr Hayes called the election early but so too did Terry Pullinger and Sally Bridge. haven't heard much criticism of either of them. Fifth. It is clear from the candidates nominations that the union is a split today as it was post merger in 1995. We are and will never be "one union" apart from in name.

[fishtank]

Both candidates are out of touch with the membership. It is not a vote for change but simply a power play by one faction over another. Billy will lose because he is inept but there will be no change.

[dvbuk55]

Both candidates are out of touch with the membership. It is not a vote for change but simply a power play by one faction over another. Billy will lose because he is inept but there will be no change.

The whole of the union hierarchy are out of touch with the membership, a falling membership due to loss of staff and the never ending part time posts replacing full time officers, how long before the number of employees outweighs the number of union members.

[slinder123]

the sooner the better i say

[JoRo]

It is ironic that Mr Ward's latest wheeze is to play the victim of "the headquarters machinery" when he and Mr Hayes have been the main cogs in that same machine for too many years. Haven't heard him complain about it before.

[POSTMAN]

Haven't heard anybody (from HQ or various top tables) complain about anything while Billy has been in his role for 14 years,now all of a sudden...

[dvbuk55]

Haven't heard anybody (from HQ or various top tables) complain about anything while Billy has been in his role for 14 years,now all of a sudden...

Well according to dingo good old Billy has been on a sinecure for the last 14 Years and DW has been doing all the graft - funny he didn't mention it in passing, in fact he was always singing the praises of what a wonderful organisation the CWU was and now - well he could be flying a Dornier and parachuting into Scotland