Elections are taking place this spring for UNISON’s national executive council (NEC). These elections take place every two years. The council is the union’s senior governing body, elected by the members to represent their interests in how the union is run, so it’s crucial to encourage as many members as possible to vote.
How do you start a conversation about this?
Start by introducing yourself and asking if the member knows that elections for the union’s national executive council (NEC) are taking place this year and whether they’ll be voting.
What if they say they don’t know what the NEC is?
That’s the perfect opening to explain that it’s the senior decision-making body in UNISON, made up of 68 ordinary members of the union who work in public services. These members attend regular meetings and decide what the union will do. They are volunteers who don’t get paid, but they do get travel expenses to attend NEC meetings.
What if you’re told that they’re bored of elections?
Explain that decisions the NEC makes affect how the union works for all members. Choosing who is on the NEC is a really important part of being a member, so they should use their vote and participate in our proud democratic tradition.
What if members say they don’t know what the candidates stand for?
When their ballot paper arrives, it will include statements from all the candidates, so they will have the opportunity to see who they most agree with before actually casting their vote.
When is this happening?
Voting starts on 21 April and closes on 21 May. A helpline will open for members from 30 April until noon on 14 May, on 0800 0 857 857 and text phone 0800 0 967 968. If they don’t receive their ballot paper, they can use those numbers to request one.
