Trade unions to host Labour leadership hustings

Trades unions will host a hustings ahead of the Labour leadership contest between Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton and Minister of State for Primary Care Alex White.

A debate will take place in the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) headquarters on Dublin’s North Circular Road tomorrow week.

Adrian Kane, secretary of the Labour Trade Union Group, a branch of the party, confirmed that the group would not side with either Ms Burton or Mr White.

“We will not back anyone because it’s an individual vote. The process is a secret ballot, one person one vote. It wouldn’t be appropriate for the section to support one particular candidate,” Mr Kane said.

Trade unionists participate at every level of the party and affiliated unions are entitled to send delegates to party conferences.

Among the unions affiliated to the party are the country’s largest union Siptu and the municipal employees division of Impact. The Transport Salaried Staff Association (TSSA) and the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) are also affiliated.

However, Unite disaffiliated from Labour more than a year ago saying it objected to so-called austerity polities.

Siptu president Jack O’Connor, a Labour Party member, yesterday said he would not endorse a leadership candidate.

“I’m not supporting anybody. I’m a member of the party I have a vote, I haven’t actually made up my mind,” he told Newstalk.

Additional hustings for the election of the leader and deputy leader are scheduled to place in north Dublin on Monda and in Galway on June 16th.

Cork will be the location on June 19th and hustings will take place in Portlaoise to coincide with Labour Youth’s ‘Tom Johnson Summer School’ on June 21st.

A final hustings will take place in south Dublin on June 26th.

The meetings will be open to members of the Labour Party and there will be media access to the events.