No re-run of UNISON leadership poll


Public services union UNISON has welcomed the decision of the assistant certification officer (ACO) not to order a re-run of its 2015 general secretary election, which was won by Dave Prentis.


Formal complaints had been laid by the three rival candidates plus a member of the national executive committee. While some of these were upheld by the ACO, she said that it would be “disproportionate” to order a re-run.


In relation to some of the complaints, the ACO used very strong language to criticise certain events, particularly the actions of the union’s London regional secretary who, she said, had abused her position to campaign for Prentis. 


Despite this, the ACO did not order a re-run, partly because she considered that the actions, though “extremely shocking”, would only have had a marginal impact on the result. 


In addition, she said there was insufficient evidence that the problems extended beyond London, or that Prentis himself had been aware or personally implicated.


https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/615717/D5-20.17-18.pdf