TORONTO – “Union members all across Canada are concerned about the apparent change of rules in the upcoming NDP leadership,” says IAMAW Canadian General Vice President Dave Ritchie.
“The IAMAW will abide by the rules as they appear to be set, but we voice a strong objection to a simplistic one member, one vote leadership process.”
“Machinist members elected me to represent them – in their jobs and in the political arena, where decisions about their working lives are made,” said Ritchie.
“I have a strong belief in democracy and it is that belief which drives me to say this publicly at this particular time,” said Ritchie, representing more than 40,000 IAMAW members in Canada.
He added, “I believe no-one really wants to debate the issue because it seems unpopular at this time. The NDP was created in 1961 by an historic partnership of the CCF (forerunners of the NDP), and the labour movement and the Machinists were very much a part of that creation. This created an alliance between organized labour and the political left in Canada. This proposed new system, brings me to question that partnership.”
Removing the weighted vote from the leadership process removes the weight of those organisations representing Canadian workers and goes against the founding principals of the party. “Under this new system I question who will represent organized labour and how,” said Ritchie.
“The IAMAW will abide by the rules as they appear to be set, but we voice a strong objection to a simplistic one member, one vote leadership process.”
“Machinist members elected me to represent them – in their jobs and in the political arena, where decisions about their working lives are made,” said Ritchie.
“I have a strong belief in democracy and it is that belief which drives me to say this publicly at this particular time,” said Ritchie, representing more than 40,000 IAMAW members in Canada.
He added, “I believe no-one really wants to debate the issue because it seems unpopular at this time. The NDP was created in 1961 by an historic partnership of the CCF (forerunners of the NDP), and the labour movement and the Machinists were very much a part of that creation. This created an alliance between organized labour and the political left in Canada. This proposed new system, brings me to question that partnership.”
Removing the weighted vote from the leadership process removes the weight of those organisations representing Canadian workers and goes against the founding principals of the party. “Under this new system I question who will represent organized labour and how,” said Ritchie.