VITAL AEU ELECTION GOES TO SECOND BALLOT from an engineering correspondent
In the first ballot for the election for the general secretaryship of the AEU, the result:* James Conway: 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 time: 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 large increase in the percentage poll. The fact that the Roberts-Conway contest has run to another ballot will provide an opportunity for all wnion 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 ABU would be a lot fairer, and the results more representative of feeling in the union, if all steps were taken to ensure that all members voted. If branches circulated all members about the ballot, collectively taking the burden of envelope addressing from the their secretaries' shoulders; if branch meetin’s all remained open from 5 peme to 9 pem.e, 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.