NIPSA General Council Elections

national | worker & community struggles and protests | opinion/analysis Thursday February 21, 2008 13:48 by observer

What No fanfare. I'm suprised at the lack of comment. I would have assumed as Time for Change are simply a left wing election vehicle they would have been crowing proudly at their excellent election result in the NIPSA GC election. NIPSA Unity on the other hand I would expect to be more pragmatic and modest. Let's face it they do have a lot to be modest about!!

For years Time for Change have been accused of being only interested in elections. To counter this (in their eyes) cynical approach Reclaim Your Union which this year morphed into NIPSA Unity made a concerted effort to win control of the General Council. At a time when many TFC activists were up to their eyes in the classroom assistants dispute it seemed the NIPSA unity candidates would have a distinct advantage. However it seems the NIPSA membership recognised and appreciated the vast difference between talk and substance. While NIPSA Unity produced a fine looking website with a grand manifesto talking of making pragmatic interventions that will cure all our ills. TFC activists were out on picket lines and demonstrations. They were lobbying MLAs organising meetings. It would seem this is what is expected and required.
Even the NIPSA Unity candidates from the education sector (whose profiles should have been greatly enhanced) faired badly. It seems clear that the NIPSA membership have made a clear statement recognising the troubled times ahead, they have made their choice as to who they want fighting their corner.