New Year GS and AGS elections

Elections for BECTU's General Secretary and one of the Assistant General Secretaries are to be held.

The union's NEC (National Executive Committee) has decided to hold elections for BECTU's General Secretary, and to fill a vacancy for one of the union's two Assistant General Secretaries, in the New Year.

The current General Secretary, Roger Bolton, was last re-elected to the position in 1998. Under the union's rules (which reflect the law) another election needs to be held within five years.

Last month Assistant General Secretary Marilyn Goodman gave notice of her wish to take early retirement after a lengthy period of sickness absence. The NEC decided that both elections should be run simultaneously.

If the elections are contested (i.e. if there is more than one candidate) all paid-up members will be entitled to vote for the General Secretary.

If the Assistant General Secretary post is contested paid-up members in the London Production, Regional Production and Laboratories Divisions will also take part in the ballot for Assistant General Secretary. These were the Divisions which elected Marilyn Goodman under the union's rules in 1999.

In the same year the Arts and Entertainment, BBC and Independent Broadcasting Divisions elected the second Assistant General Secretary Gerry Morrissey - an election in those Divisions is due in 2004.

All BECTU Branches can make a nomination for General Secretary. Branches in the London Production, Regional Production and Laboratories Divisions can also nominate for the Assistant General Secretary.

In each election, a candidate needs to be nominated by at least ten Branches or by Branches whose combined paid-up membership is more than 1,000.

Nomination papers were sent out to Branch Officers with Branch Circulars at the end of October. All nominations have to be returned by 23 January 2003.

If a ballot is required in either or both elections, this will open on 6 March 2003 and close on 8 May 2003. The ballots will be fully postal to members' addresses and conducted by the appointed independent scrutineer, Electoral Reform Services, Independence House, 33 Clarendon Road, London N8 0NW.

The elections take place under "ground rules" laid down by the NEC which give effect to the rules and procedures to be followed. In summary these provide that:

• The term of office in each case is for not more than five years
• Employees, paid-up members, and non-members of BECTU are eligible to be nominated as candidates
• As a condition of being nominated, candidates must agree to abide by the respective contract offered by the NEC
• Only BECTU Branches may make nominations, and Branches should hold meetings of their members to consider suitable candidates
• Branches must use the form prescribed by the NEC to submit their nominations
• Candidates can submit an election address of up to 600 words
• Only Branches can declare support for any candidate
• If a Branch invites candidates to address a meeting, all candidates in the relevant election must be invited
• No candidate will be given campaigning assistance by the union (and they will not be allowed to campaign through the pages of Stage Screen and Radio)
• Employees of BECTU may not interfere with the election process