Last night the results of the NEU National Executive elections were announced, with Socialist Alternative member Louise Lewis among a number of fighting left candidates to be elected. Louise was elected convincingly in the second round after fellow Education Solidarity Network candidate Patrick Murphy topped the poll. Louise will be a fighting socialist on the Exec, campaigning to transform our union from the ground up!
James Kerr, another SA member standing for the Exec, narrowly missed out despite a strong first preference vote. Another Education Solidarity Network candidate, Kirstie Paton, was elected in the same district, and James will continue to fight for members in Inner London.
A number of other ESN candidates were elected, strengthening the grassroots voice on the Exec. Unfortunately the ESN candidate for the Support Staff position, Tracy McGuire, was not re-elected – of course this is a blow to support staff activists in particular, but their fight for better pay, conditions and union recognition will continue and Tracy will be standing with them.
Turnout for the elections was once again very low, showing that more needs to be done to involve members in the Union’s structures, meetings and campaigns – and that we need candidates who inspire members to vote for change in the union and their workplaces.
