NEC election re-ballots

A re-ballot of the BECTU NEC elections in two Divisions is to be carried out following a software problem.

There has been a serious problem with the NEC ballots held in March-April this year to elect NEC (National Executive Committee) members from the London Production and Arts & Entertainment Divisions. Approximately 500 members in each Division did not receive ballot papers.

BECTU General Secretary Roger Bolton has now established that this was due to a software problem on the union's membership database, which could not have been detected at the time of the ballots.

Because of this problem it is necessary to re-ballot the members of the London Production and Arts & Entertainment Divisions, and ballot papers were scheduled to be sent out by the independent scrutineer, Electoral Reform Ballot Services, on Thursday 6 July. Ballot papers have to be returned to the scrutineer by 1200 on Friday 4 August.

These are important ballots for places on the most senior lay committee of the union, and it is vital that all members concerned should fully take part. (Only two Divisions are balloting, the NEC elections in other Divisions being uncontested.)

The General Secretary has apologised to members in the London Production and Arts & Entertainment Divisions who have had to go through the electoral process twice. However, he has emphasised the importance of having a democratic structure the union can be proud of.