MR Gavin Laird has been returned as general secretary of the
Amalgamated Engineering Union for a third five-year period after winning
an overall majority in a postal election against five other candidates.
He attracted 73,000 votes, somewhat down on the 79,000 votes he won in
l984, but still way ahead of Mr Martin Foley from Coventry who was
placed second with 25,004. His victory was so expected that the left
wing did not put up an ''official'' candidate against him.
However, the left did successfully contest the London and South-east
executive seat held for the past decade by moderate Mr Jack Whyman, who
is to retire next year. West London district organiser Mr Roger Butler
defeated moderate Mr John Jenkins from Kent to register the first
significant left-wing gain since Mr Jimmy Airlie broke the right-wing
stranglehold on the AEU executive by winning the Scottish seat six years
ago.
In elections for a whole batch of more minor posts there was little
overall change. These included the return unopposed of West of Scotland
divisional organiser Mr Bill Scott -- this is believed to be
unprecedented for what is normally a fiercely contested seat -- and Mr
Tom Adam's defeat of challenger Mr Jim McEwan to retain his post of
Falkirk district secretary.
Attention will now focus on next spring's elections to fill the vacant
North-east executive seat and an assistant general secretaryship.
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