UCU - Independent victories

WORKERS, MAY 2012 ISSUE

In the recent University and College Union election for General Secretary, on a 12.7 per cent turnout, Sally Hunt got 73 per cent of the votes, against the ultra left candidate’s 27 per cent. Do the maths: 27 per cent of 12.7 per cent equals 3.5 per cent – which the ultra left called a “big” vote. What would they call a small vote?

Candidates opposed to the ultra left won 26 of the 37 NEC places up for election, giving them a 39-30 majority.

In the March ballot on changes to the union, the turnout far exceeded that in recent elections. The results were:

• 88.6 per cent voted to support reducing the size of the National Executive Committee and spending the savings to improve member services.
• 85.1 per cent voted to be balloted whenever the majority of negotiators believe a final offer is on the table and before a decision is taken to accept or reject.
• 82.4 per cent voted to elect the lay national negotiators by the system of one member one vote rather than by annual conference.

The overwhelming majority of branches in all sectors voted to support all three proposals. Support was also above 75 per cent in every UCU electoral region. ■

top