UNISON General Secretary election - and then there were four?

 Labourlist are reporting that there are now only four candidates still in the running for the role of UNISON General Secretary as “UNISON national race equality officer Margaret Greer…  …has been deemed ineligible by UNISON and is no longer a candidate in the contest.”

If this is correct then it must be that Rule E.3.2 of the UNISON Rule Book is a factor. This states that; “Any candidate for the post of General Secretary must either have been a member of the Union or one of the predecessor Unions for at least five years, or have been employed by the Union or one of the predecessor Unions for at least five years immediately preceding her/his candidature…”

 

These two conditions are alternatives – and a potential candidate cannot jump from one category to the other and remain eligible. However employees of the Union can apply for (or to retain) UNISON membership in accordance with Rule C.2.9 in the category of membership available only to employee of the Union. Rule C.2.9.1 provides that “this category of membership shall extend to employees of the Union who shall pay contributions as provided in Schedule A(1). A central register of such members shall be maintained at Head Office.”

 

I am not supporting Margaret for the position of General Secretary and – if she makes it onto the ballot paper – will not be voting for her. However, I like to be sure that UNISON is complying with its rules.

 

I don’t know the circumstances of the particular case, but a UNISON member who was appointed to a job with the Union, and who transferred their UNISON membership to the category of membership available to employees of the Union, would appear to be capable of satisfying the first of the two criteria set out in Rule E.3.2.

 

Section 47(1) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 protects the right of UNISON members (including members who are employees - though not UNISON employees who are not UNISON members) not to be “unreasonably excluded from standing as a candidate”.

 

I hope – and assume – that, if the Union is disqualifying a candidate for General Secretary this is being done in accordance with our Rules, and the law.