DGSNUJ, former candidate 2012. Post election statement by Helen Gavaghan.

Post election statement by Helen Gavaghan, former candidate in 2012 to be DGS of the NUJ.

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The count was already complete when I, my witness, and Mr Fitzpatrick's campaign manager, an NUJ staff official (I am a member in good standing of the NUJ), were allowed by the electoral reform service at 2pm, 05.01.2012 into the room with ballot papers. My understanding is that the ballot was open until 05.01.2012. I inspected NO voting papers. My witness looked at some of the spoiled papers shown to him by the ERS. Neither of the other two candidates was present when the result was announced. Two ERS staff were present for nearly all the time we were in the room. One ERS staff member was present at all times. HG 18.01.2012.

6th January, 2012.

I congratulate Barry Fitzpatrick on his election to the post of deputy general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, and thank my supporters for a little over 11 per cent of votes cast. For my first foray into the politics of the NUJ in the UK and Ireland I am not disappointed.

Of the 4308 voting papers returned, the percentages, rounded to two significant figures, were:
Barry Fitzpatrick: 57.6 per cent.
Chris Youett: 31.25 per cent.
Helen Gavaghan: 11.15 per cent.
Spoiled votes: 00.02 per cent.

Of eligible votes, had all voted, those figures represent:
Barry Fitzpatrick: 8.3727 per cent.
Chris Youett: 4.5427 per cent.
Helen Gavaghan: 1.6204 per cent.
Spoiled: 0.2227 per cent.
Total of 14.7585 per cent of 29,190.

I think it disappointing that only 14.8 per cent of the 29,190 eligible voters within the NUJ cast votes, given the complexity of the issues we as journalists, editors and authors, PR professionals, photographers and photo journalists face today. I think strike action is no longer an effective industrial relations tool in almost any situation, because we no longer live in the legislative world of the 1980s, but I would cross a picket line only in certain specific circumstances. In the 1980s when I went on strike the industrial relations and employment landscape was different. Helen Gavaghan, 06.01.2012.