Union elections...
have your say
AEU Branch Secretary Leah York asks, how can we encourage greater participation in union ballots?
Democratic processes are central to our union’s
success as a strong and representative voice to
protect, promote and enhance an inclusive public education for all South Australians.
Whilst the AEU Office will survey and consult affected members on topical issues from time to time, it is our
democratic structure that provides the process for determining our values, strategic direction and goals of the union through the development of policy, strategic framework and decisions on professional and industrial issues.
The reports of elections that are run by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) tell us that the participation rate of our members in elections for Branch Executive positions is disappointingly low. Similarly, in many Areas, nominations for Branch Council delegates
often are fewer than the positions vacant, and subsequent participation
in elections (if there is one) is low.
As communicated to members via eNews, the AEC is currently not in a position to hold our 2021 Branch
Council elections until their backlog
of postponed elections have been
concluded. However, AEU SA Branch Executive is keen that many more
members participate in our democratic processes to ensure that both our supreme governing authority (Branch Council) and the committee of management that has the power to conduct
and manage the affairs of the Branch between meetings of Branch Council (Branch Executive) are truly representative of our membership.
The AEC runs these elections in line with the requirements of the AEU Rules and the Fair Work Act, and therefore we can only advise them on some matters such as the timing and length of ballot period. However, we want to hear from members about what barriers they feel they face in participating in elections, and what processes or communication we could put in place to better engage members to participate in Union-wide elections.
If you have any suggestions or comments on our election processes you would like to make, please email me.
As Branch Secretary, I’m accountable to all members to ensure that the union is working in the most efficient and effective way to deliver the best possible outcomes for members as professionals working in public education.
If you have any queries or comments please email me at [email protected].