Union Democracy in action

[Wessex]

If elected these members will be released from duty for the period of office while maintaining their pay grade, they will be supported financially by the Union for extended periods in London. Those unelected will return to duty. The Executives will hold National Officers to account in implementing policies decided by the Union at our conference.

I've been a member of the CWU for about 10 years and this is the first time that the role of the Executives has been clearly explained to me. Tamsky's explanation is not included in the booklet that was sent to us because it is not actual Union policy. The Rule Book states a more watered down role, "Each Industrial Executive shall be responsible for implementing Industrial Conference decisions".

How easy is it for ordinary members to judge whether the Postal Executive has been holding National Officers to account?

We should all get a booklet after each year's conference detailing the motions that have been passed and failed and the voting records of PEC members.

How easy is it for ordinary members to hold the Postal Executive to account?

I see the same ugly faces every year. Are there really only 18 activists in the whole of Royal Mail Group that are competent enough to sit on the Postal and National Executives?

It does sometimes seem like an old pals act .

[Big Daz]

That's because some years the number of candidates not currently on the PEC/NEC is very low, this year there is more candidates currently not on the PEC/NEC.

[davidwilshire]

The sad thing is that it will always seem like an old pals act when people are getting elected with such low percentages of the overall vote and with only Phil Browne getting elected with a majority of those voting. Please make sue you vote if you have not done already

[lovejoy]

The sad thing is that it will always seem like an old pals act when people are getting elected with such low percentages of the overall vote and with only Phil Browne getting elected with a majority of those voting. Please make sue you vote if you have not done already

Well said David - but some of the onus for the continuing disengagement of the members in these elections has to fall to us (branches).

Things have to change - structure, election routines, whole ethos of the process. Only when we elect people for their ability and achievements alone can we truly say we are moving things forward.

[fishtank]

You will never stop geographical tactical voting unless you have assigned members from each area.
Unfortunately that scuppers any chance of having the most talented 13 on the PEC.

[lovejoy]

You will never stop geographical tactical voting unless you have assigned members from each area.
Unfortunately that scuppers any chance of having the most talented 13 on the PEC.

I am 50/50 on that one fishtank.

In principle (so all areas are represented) it is a good idea. But my ideal (we will probably never get there) is that the PEC should contain the best 13 representatives in the UK. I wouldn't care if everyone was from one City if they were the best 13.

The other issues with the elections being regionally based are that (a) a region would vote for somebody who would be a National representative and (b) the issues wouldn't go away. Bigger branches would still dominate. Slates would be in force and therefore the splits would continue.

Its a hard one!

[Fab4]

You will never stop geographical tactical voting unless you have assigned members from each area.
Unfortunately that scuppers any chance of having the most talented 13 on the PEC.

I am 50/50 on that one fishtank.

In principle (so all areas are represented) it is a good idea. But my ideal (we will probably never get there) is that the PEC should contain the best 13 representatives in the UK. I wouldn't care if everyone was from one City if they were the best 13.

The other issues with the elections being regionally based are that (a) a region would vote for somebody who would be a National representative and (b) the issues wouldn't go away. Bigger branches would still dominate. Slates would be in force and therefore the splits would continue.

Its a hard one!

Got me thinking. I remember attending a seminar in bourneouth about 10 years ago looking at structures. They were attended by a lot of senior reps and run by john Farnham and Steve Jones, I think they were Div Reps at time. I recall a view that pec should have someone elected from the region and 10 voted nationaly with some occupational seats. I remember that view had majority support. Can someone get the report posted on here to add to the debate.