Election of Territorial Representatives : POL

[TrueBlueTerrier]

To: All Branches with Postal Members

Dear Colleague

Election of Territorial Representatives – Post Office Limited

Nominations are invited from eligible Postal Branches for the position of Territorial Representatives for:-
Northern Territory

3 Territorial Representatives

1 Territorial Representative – Northern Ireland (who shall be elected by and from the CWU members in Northern Ireland)

Branches with POL members within the following CWU Regions are eligible to nominate candidates for Northern Territory positions:

Scotland
North East
Northern Ireland
North West
Western Territory

2 Territorial Representatives

Branches with POL members within the following CWU Regions are eligible to nominate candidates for Western Territory positions:

Wales
The Midlands (except Northamptonshire Amal)
South West
Eastern Territory

3 Territorial Representatives

Branches with POL members within the following CWU Regions are eligible to nominate candidates for Eastern Territory positions:

South East
London
Eastern (plus Northamptonshire Amal)

The term of office for the above positions is for a period of two years.

The timetable for the election is as follows:-

Nominations Open: 29 March 2010
Nominations Close: 12 April 2010 (14.00)

If elections are required for any of the above positions then they will be by individual member ballot of all eligible members. Any ballots will be conducted in accordance with the election guidelines, a copy of which is attached for your information. The timetable for the ballot will be as follows:-

Despatch of Ballot Papers: 19 April 2010
Ballot Closes: 4 May 2010 (first post)

Nomination Forms are attached to this LTB, or are available on request from the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department. All Candidates must have the nomination of their own branch and completed nomination forms, which must be signed by the Branch Secretary and Branch Chair (or accredited deputies) and the nominee, should be returned to: Tony Kearns, Senior Deputy General Secretary by 12 April 2010 (14.00).

Any enquiries regarding the above should be directed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on 0208 971 7237 or email address sdgs@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary


Branches with POL members within the following CWU Regions are eligible to nominate candidates for Eastern Territory positions:


q South East
q London
q Eastern (plus Northamptonshire Amal)


The term of office for the above positions is for a period of two years.


The timetable for the election is as follows:-

Nominations Open: 29 March 2010
Nominations Close: 12 April 2010 (14.00)


If elections are required for any of the above positions then they will be by individual member ballot of all eligible members. Any ballots will be conducted in accordance with the election guidelines, a copy of which is attached for your information. The timetable for the ballot will be as follows:-


Despatch of Ballot Papers: 19 April 2010
Ballot Closes: 4 May 2010 (first post)

Nomination Forms are attached to this LTB, or are available on request from the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department. All Candidates must have the nomination of their own branch and completed nomination forms, which must be signed by the Branch Secretary and Branch Chair (or accredited deputies) and the nominee, should be returned to: Tony Kearns, Senior Deputy General Secretary by 12 April 2010 (14.00).


Any enquiries regarding the above should be directed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on 0208 971 7237 or email address sdgs@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely


Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Communication Workers Union
Election Guidelines – Territorial Representatives – Post Office Limited 2010


1. These guidelines have been produced by the Senior Deputy General Secretary to assist branches, and candidates, who are standing for election in ballots for the above positions.

2. The SDGS will, following consultation with the relevant officer of the union, publish a notice for the elected positions. The notice will normally be published in a Letter to Branches (LTB). The notice will contain the timetable for the election, the period of office and the ballot arrangements for the respective positions.

3. Nomination forms will be available from the SDGS department. All relevant Branches shall be eligible to nominate members of their branch for these elections (subject to the regional boundary/constituency/or business base relevant to the election). All Branch nominations must be agreed at properly constituted Branch meetings. Each Branch shall return nomination forms to the SDGS, to arrive no later than the published closing date. Nominations received after that date will not be accepted. Each Branch shall be responsible for the correct completion of the nomination form.

4. Branches who nominate candidates will be sent a letter confirming receipt of a nomination, and if appropriate, forms to be completed for providing biographical details etc. together with a copy of these Guidelines.

5. Each Branch shall be responsible for ensuring that both the branch and any candidates standing in the election abide by the rules and relevant policies of the union governing such elections. Any breach of these rules will be treated very seriously and could result in candidates being brought before the union's National Discipline Committee and in the most serious of cases could in fact result in candidates being disqualified. 

6. Only the secretary, or an accredited deputy, of a nominating branch will be allowed to contact the SDGS during the election process to ask about their own branch nominations.

7. A full list of all nominations received for each election will be published in alphabetical order to all the union's Branches via a Letter to Branches (LTB).

8. Where it is permitted a candidate shall have the right to prepare an election address of not more than 300 words and to submit a recent photograph. The SDGS shall delete words in excess of 300. The content of the election address is the responsibility of the individual candidate and the Union will not be held responsible for any defamatory or libelous statements contained in the address.



9. The election addresses and individual photographs (where applicable) for all candidates will be published and distributed with the ballot papers to all members. Branch publicity should be restricted to the membership of their individual Branch and no other publicity or canvassing such as handouts, posters etc. for candidates should be distributed to any other branches, or workplaces within branches, without the express authority of that branch.

10. The method of recommending support for candidates to its own Branch members will be a matter for each Branch. No Branch officer or other workplace representative shall have any responsibility for the circulation of publicity for any candidate other than the candidate recommended by the Branch. All material produced by a Branch must include the name of the Branch and the printer's name and address where appropriate.

11. So far as is reasonably practicable, all members entitled to vote will receive a ballot paper at the address notified in writing to the CWU. The ballot papers will be dispatched so far as is reasonably practicable, from the date published in the timetable. For votes to be valid, members must mark the ballot paper in accordance with the instruction, and return it sealed in the prepaid envelope provided. The last time for receipt of ballot papers will be first post on the date published in the timetable. Any ballot papers received after that time will not be counted.

12. The CWU is committed to free and democratic elections and will actively oppose racism and sexism and all forms of discrimination based on race, creed, religion, age, disability, sex or sexual orientation in industry, the Union and Society. Branches and candidates must not behave in a discriminatory manner or circulate any material that may be offensive to any other member or candidate.

13. No full time officer of the Union as defined under the rules, shall publicly endorse, at any official Union organised meeting or conference or in writing, any candidate for election.

14. A Branch or candidate may make a complaint regarding the ballot on the grounds that there has been a breach of Union Rules. The complaint must be submitted in writing to the SDGS no later than four weeks after the declaration of the results. The SDGS shall investigate the complaint, and if as a result, the complaint is upheld may declare the election void or the election of any particular person void or any appropriate candidate disqualified. In addition they may invalidate any vote or any number of votes previously counted, or include any vote or any number of votes not previously counted and thereby re-determine the results of the election. The decision of the SDGS shall be final and binding.

15. Any matter not covered by the Rules of the CWU, or by decision of the NEC prior to the ballot, shall be determined by the General Secretary in the light of the prevailing practice of the former unions, as may be relevant to the constituency involving the complaint.




Candidate Guidelines

Each member nominated, as a candidate will be entitled to complete the appropriate forms giving the following biographical information for inclusion with the branch ballot paper or in respect of individual member ballot, the ballot booklet that will be sent to members addresses:

Branch
Date started employment relevant to CWU
Date of joining CWU (or relevant predecessor union)
Job Title/Grade
Union Record - this should include information on positions held in Branch, District, Region, NEC etc. together with appropriate dates.
Other relevant service to the Union and Labour Movement - This should include information on representation at Conferences e.g. TUC, PTTI, C.I. UNI, membership of other unions, political parties, any education or training relevant to this election.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Nomination form

tr pol nom form.doc