VITiL AEU ELECTION GOES TO SECOND BALLOT from an engineering correspondent
In the first ballot for the election for the general secretaryship of the AE, the result: James Conways 46,277; Ernie Roberts: 34,887; and two other candidates sharing 7,000 votes, The contest now goes to a second ballot between Conway and Roberts. Following the news of Sir William Carron's re-election to the presidency of the union, this result confirms what commentators of various political persuasion have been saying for some timer that the percentage poll in the union is extremely small, and that the results ensuing cannot therefore be held to provide an accurate reflection of union members' opinions. There is very little doubt that the left would greatly benefit from a larze increase in the percentaze poll, ‘The fact that the Roberts-Conway contest his run to another ballot will provide an opportunity for all union activists in the engineering industry to pull out every stop to secure the maximum vote in the next round.
There can be little doubt that elections in the AEU would be a lot fairer, and the results more representative of feeling in the union, if all steps were taken te ensure that all members voted, If branches circulated all members about the ballot, enllectively taking the burden of envelope addressing from the their secretaries’ shoulders; if branch mectin‘s all remained open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., instead of opening for two hours only; and if all stewards were alerted to lobby members to attend their meeting to vote; then there can be no doubt that everyone would be happier with the results.