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Your vote counts!
The 2009/10 academic year is a busy one for NUT elections. Voting for national officers took place in the autumn, and this term sees elections for the union’s executive and new deputy general secretary. Here we take you through the different ballots and explain why all NUT members should take part.
The NUT is your union, pursuing the issues that you, our members, want to take forward. The more people that get involved, the more we’re able to make sure the NUT addresses the issues that matter to all teachers.
Two important NUT elections will soon take place – look out for information and ballot papers in the post. All members are encouraged to participate to ensure their views, needs and aims are reflected in the union’s governance and policy-making. Make sure you use your vote and have your say in how the union is run.
Deputy general secretary
The NUT deputy general secretary is the union’s chief negotiator and stands in for the general secretary whenever she is unavailable. The post has been vacant
since former deputy general secretary Christine Blower became acting general secretary in 2008.
Nominations for the deputy general secretary election closed on 2 December.
There are three candidates for the post:
• Kevin Courtney
• Hazel Danson
• Martin Reed.
Ballot papers were despatched on 6 January to all those in membership at that date, including retired members (but excluding students). The candidates’ election statements, biographical details and names of the NUT associations nominating each of them are included with the ballot papers.
Ballot papers must be returned to the independent scrutineer, Electoral Reform Ballot Services, The Election Centre, 33 Clarendon Road, London N1 0NW by midday on Wednesday 27 January 2010. The result will be announced after all the votes have been counted, and the new deputy general secretary will take up the role in February 2010.
If you do not receive a ballot paper by Wednesday 13 January 2010, contact the election hotline, 020 7380 4825.
Executive
The NUT’s executive develops union policy as set out by the annual conference. Each region of England and Wales has its own executive members who represent the views of members there and report back to them on the executive’s work.
Nominations are made through local NUT associations, and all members have the chance to vote on who represents them on the executive. To vote, a member must be in membership of a local NUT association within the electoral district at the date balloting commences. Retired members may vote in executive elections, but student members may not.
Nominations close 11 January 2010
Ballot opens 3 March 2010
Ballot closes midday 24 March 2010
This year, for the first time, there will be a black member constituency seat on the executive, representing black members. From 2012 there will also be constituency seats for disabled and LGBT teachers. These groups have been under-represented in the past, so the new seats will help ensure that the executive is truly representative of the NUT’s membership and the teaching profession as a whole.
To vote in the election for the new black member constituency seat, a member must be shown in the union’s records in an ‘other than white’ ethnic origin category. Please ensure your membership record is updated before the ballot opens on 3 March. Members who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender and members who are disabled are also urged to update their membership records in readiness for the 2012 elections. This information will be stored confidentially and not shared with divisions and associations.
To update your membership details call 0845 30 1666 or 020 7380 6366, or go to
www.teachers.org.uk and click on ‘Your union’ and then ‘Update membership’.
National officers
Voting in the national officers’ election closed on 18 November 2009. The following members were elected and will take up office at the union’s 2010 annual conference, to be held in Liverpool over Easter.
Senior vice-president Nina Franklin
(NUT president 2011)
Junior vice-president Marilyn Harrop
(NUT president 2012)
Treasurer Ian Murch
Examiners of accounts Hilary Bills
Alyson Palmer
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