The Stage

Equity to review elections procedures

Published Tuesday 23 May 2006 at 17:00 by Nuala Calvi

Election procedures at Equity are to be scrutinised amid accusations that the use of factional lists and favoured candidates is undermining the organisation’s claim to be open and accountable.

A motion carried overwhelmingly at Equity’s Annual Representative Conference has called on the general council to review the union’s internal election processes and abolish those that are “a barrier to democratic involvement”.

The council is to set up a commission, possibly involving outside expertise, to examine the rules, procedures and paperwork used by Equity in all its elections, from local branch to general secretary.

Proposing the review, Michael MacKenzie from Equity’s Scottish National Committee said many members would prefer it if factional lists were abolished.