Usdaw has announced the election for its General Secretary which is being held over the summer when many of the branches are not meeting so there won’t be a genuine debate that trade union democracy demands.
The results will be declared in September some seven months before John Hannett finishes his five year term in office. Usdaw’s members should be asking the General Secretary why is the election being held so early and why is there no time to fully debate the issues in an open and honest manner.
At the end of the year, the EC and president are up for election, so members should also be asking of the General Secretary how much the Union could save if the three elections were held at the same time.
Rather than a restricted campaign period, there should be a full debate on the future direction of the Union and this would help to improve turnout. At the last election less than 14% of the members voted, with John Hannett only receiving 6% support from the membership. We wonder if the summer election represents John Hannett’s fear of debating the issues in front of the members which also shows his lack of confidence.
Is the decision to hold the election over the summer in the interest of the Union? Now we have two election periods and it will divert resources away from the crucial work of the organising and recruitment campaigns necessary to build our membership
Another question John Hannett must answer, if he loses, and that is a possibility, will he resign and move over or will he hang on until his term is up.
From Activist supporters around the country we hear that John Hannett has planned a tour of the country visiting key sites. Let’s hope that the same facilities are offered to all the candidates standing in the election.
What is needed is a change of rule to ensure that future elections are democratic, there is a long enough period to allow the members to fully participate in the debate and importantly cannot to be called at the whim of the general secretary.
The Activist the email bulletin of Socialist Party members in Usdaw will now attempt to raise these issues and ensure there is a debate on the future direction of Usdaw.
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
Reply to letter from John McGarry to union officials and branch secs
Dear John Hannett
Re: Circular GC 26/08
I am deeply concerned that the above letter was circulated to all Union officials and Branch Secretary’s. The letter contains incorrect and misleading information regarding your proposed election. The Executive Council (EC) did not recommend that branches nominate you for re-election to the EC. Neither did the EC agree that your details be included on any material distributed to Branch Secretary’s or Union Officials.
The inclusion of this misleading recommendation and the inclusion of your details on the circular are an undemocratic and irresponsible way to gain credibility through bureaucratic manoeuvres.
You will recollect that I raised a number of concerns regarding your hasty decision to call the election and in light of misleading information circulated to members I certainly would object to your name and details being recommended to branches for re-election.
My concerns are as follows:
v The hasty election for the post of General Secretary will mean that 2 separate elections will be run this year. This is an unnecessary and wasteful use of our low paid union members subscriptions to the union.
v Two elections will divert valuable resources away from the important organising work of building USDAW.
v That a hasty election would not allow our members the opportunity to have a full and democratic debate on union policy.
v That a hasty election would not allow other candidates equal opportunity to canvass support from our branches and members.
v I have to ask why is the General Secretary so desperate to hold an early election in the middle of the holiday period with the knowledge that this will significantly reduce the turnout?
I wish to formally register a complaint concerning the circulation of your election details through the union’s internal administrative network which gives the General Secretary an unfair advantage over any other candidate who may wish to stand.
Yours Sincerely
Robbie Segal
Executive Councillor
cc. John McGarry, Electoral Reform Services
Re: Circular GC 26/08
I am deeply concerned that the above letter was circulated to all Union officials and Branch Secretary’s. The letter contains incorrect and misleading information regarding your proposed election. The Executive Council (EC) did not recommend that branches nominate you for re-election to the EC. Neither did the EC agree that your details be included on any material distributed to Branch Secretary’s or Union Officials.
The inclusion of this misleading recommendation and the inclusion of your details on the circular are an undemocratic and irresponsible way to gain credibility through bureaucratic manoeuvres.
You will recollect that I raised a number of concerns regarding your hasty decision to call the election and in light of misleading information circulated to members I certainly would object to your name and details being recommended to branches for re-election.
My concerns are as follows:
v The hasty election for the post of General Secretary will mean that 2 separate elections will be run this year. This is an unnecessary and wasteful use of our low paid union members subscriptions to the union.
v Two elections will divert valuable resources away from the important organising work of building USDAW.
v That a hasty election would not allow our members the opportunity to have a full and democratic debate on union policy.
v That a hasty election would not allow other candidates equal opportunity to canvass support from our branches and members.
v I have to ask why is the General Secretary so desperate to hold an early election in the middle of the holiday period with the knowledge that this will significantly reduce the turnout?
I wish to formally register a complaint concerning the circulation of your election details through the union’s internal administrative network which gives the General Secretary an unfair advantage over any other candidate who may wish to stand.
Yours Sincerely
Robbie Segal
Executive Councillor
cc. John McGarry, Electoral Reform Services
Usdaw Academy and Rep Education – A policy for future growth
Over the past few years great strides have been made in Usdaw’s training for its shop stewards. One of the major developments has been Usdaw’s Organising Academy which was formed in 2003. There has been over 100 Organising Officers who have graduated from the Academy. Many of these have become Area Organisers and Recruitment Development Officers and many more are playing an important role within Union. The Academy has been a major success.
There has been some debate whether the Academy has been used solely for the purpose of recruitment of new members. The recruitment of new members provides the necessary income to continue finance the Academy but the key to the success of our Union is the development of the shop stewards and the building of the shop steward structures in the workplace.
The decision has now been made to continue the training for those who have successfully completed the Academy. This new Academy, which we hope will utilise and further develop the skills that the Organising Officers have obtained, should have been introduced at least two years ago. Let’s hope this new Academy 2 must concentrate on building the workplace structures rather than being just another recruitment exercise.
Also organising training should be provided for all those who donate their time for the union and these include Tesco RDRs and Stand-down reps.
The Academy should not only be for those who are willing and able to take six-months out of their workplaces but for all the activists. Many of the Union’s leading members are playing important and crucial roles in shops, distribution centres and factories up and down the country and the Academy is unavailable for them because they cannot be spared from their workplaces The whole of the training for shop stewards, health and safety reps, and learning reps should be part of the Academy structure. From the rep’s first introductory course to the advanced course and then onto the specialist courses, reps will have the opportunity to progress which should lead to a recognised qualification.
The Education Department, along with representatives from all parts of the Union, will be asked to review the present structures and then propose a new training programme. The members and Executive Council will be fully involved in the process and the final document will then be discussed at the Executive Council and the new plans presented to the ADM.
By Robbie Segal
(Usdaw General Secretary Candidate)
There has been some debate whether the Academy has been used solely for the purpose of recruitment of new members. The recruitment of new members provides the necessary income to continue finance the Academy but the key to the success of our Union is the development of the shop stewards and the building of the shop steward structures in the workplace.
The decision has now been made to continue the training for those who have successfully completed the Academy. This new Academy, which we hope will utilise and further develop the skills that the Organising Officers have obtained, should have been introduced at least two years ago. Let’s hope this new Academy 2 must concentrate on building the workplace structures rather than being just another recruitment exercise.
Also organising training should be provided for all those who donate their time for the union and these include Tesco RDRs and Stand-down reps.
The Academy should not only be for those who are willing and able to take six-months out of their workplaces but for all the activists. Many of the Union’s leading members are playing important and crucial roles in shops, distribution centres and factories up and down the country and the Academy is unavailable for them because they cannot be spared from their workplaces The whole of the training for shop stewards, health and safety reps, and learning reps should be part of the Academy structure. From the rep’s first introductory course to the advanced course and then onto the specialist courses, reps will have the opportunity to progress which should lead to a recognised qualification.
The Education Department, along with representatives from all parts of the Union, will be asked to review the present structures and then propose a new training programme. The members and Executive Council will be fully involved in the process and the final document will then be discussed at the Executive Council and the new plans presented to the ADM.
By Robbie Segal
(Usdaw General Secretary Candidate)
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