I was one of a group of 11 UNISON reps who have taken a
complaint against the Union over the conduct of paid officials to the
Certification Office.
You can read a series of reports on Unisongate at the end
of this post.
You would have thought with the bad publicity generated
through the #Unisongate complaints would mean future UNISON elections would lead to rule changes which would drive up greater grassroots participation in all Unison elections.
Perhaps not?
Below are three extracts from different UNISON election procedures
over the last two years, they are in chronological order. Please
take a look.
“49. Candidates must not visit branches or workplaces to ‘canvass’ (persuade people
to vote for them) without the branch’s permission and unless the same
opportunity has been offered to other candidates.”
(GENERAL
SECRETARY 2015 ELECTION PROCEDURES)
“60.
Candidates must not visit branches or workplaces to ‘canvass’ (persuade people
to vote for them) without the branch’s permission and unless the same
opportunity has been offered to other candidates.”
(Service
Group Executive, 2016 - 2018 By-election procedures)
55. Candidates or their representatives
must not visit branches or workplaces to ‘canvass’ (persuade people to vote for
them) without the branch’s permission and unless the same opportunity has been
offered to other candidates.
(National
Executive Council, 2017–2019 election procedures)
I do not remember reading how or when the particular rule
was changed but lets take another look.
The first two rules in practice means that the candidates cannot
turn up outside workplaces to hand out their own leaflets.
Imagine political candidates in council or parliamentary elections being told that as candidates they or their campaign supporters could not go out
campaigning on the doorstep without permission.
What happens in practice for grassroots
reps is that their supporters leaflet workplaces.
One of the possible implications of this change appears to be making it more difficult for supporters of a particular NEC candidate to turn up outside workplaces in order to hand out leaflets.
Whilst some have suggested anyone can stand outside a workplace
in a public place, the fact is that this rule change has been made with a
purpose and at this moment I am struggling to see how this improves grassroots democracy
and participation in elections.
UNISON members turnout in internal elections
But perhaps I have misunderstood?
UNISON members turnout in internal elections
But perhaps I have misunderstood?
What do you think?
***Please note: The General Secretary election 2015 less than 10% of members bothered to vote and for NEC/SGE it can be as low as 5% hardly a sign of a healthy democratic mandate for whoever is elected.
Recent
reports on the #Unisongate Hearing
“UNISON:
Union democracy on trial.”
Unison
election: Now Electoral Reform Services on trial
“Yesterday
that image slipped when deputy chief executive Simon Hearn was cross
questioned about his role in supervising the 2015 election of
general secretary Dave Prentis to Britain’s biggest public sector union, Unison.
The union paid ERS almost £1m of members money to safeguard fair play.”
Unison
election: Now Electoral Reform Services on trial
“Why
had he only investigated nine branches to check whether there had been breaches
of the rules when the union had 953? He said he had investigated more but no
longer had the information.”
Unison
election: Now Electoral Reform Services on trial
“Why hadn’t he followed up the breaches in the
Greater London area – where he admitted the union tape had revealed there was a
breach of the rules at a meeting to discuss how to promote Dave Prentis to see if
there was ” systematic malpractice” elsewhere ? He said he hadn’t had enough
complaints to do this.”
Unison
election: Now Electoral Reform Services on trial
“Probably the most damning point was following
the inquiry by Unison official Roger McKenzie into the breach of
union rules at the Greater London meeting which led to the suspension – now
lifted – of one official, Linda Perks, when he had been told that more
officials were involved.”
Unison:
A libel threat, a database and a “cut and paste” email – all to help Dave
Prentis win?
Unison:
Former senior official says “anti democratic practices” used to elect Dave
Prentis in three previous contests. http://bit.ly/2ia9OJL #Unisongate
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