Local NDP MPs choose volunteers, money over principle (en francais)

Edit: Welcome to Small Dead Animals readers. Thanks Kate, for the link. While you're here, check out the preceding post - NDP has a 'principle' problem.


Looks like local NDP MPs Joe Comartin and Brian Masse know who butters their bread.

MPs fight Hargrove ouster
Comartin, Masse want NDP to reconsider decision to kick out CAW chief

Don Lajoie, Windsor Star, with files from Star news services
Published: Monday, February 13, 2006

"I hope there will be little effect on the federal party," said Parent, whose local representing DaimlerChrysler and Casino Windsor workers is one of the most influential in the union. "But it would be up for debate in our union and that's not a good situation."

A dispute with the CAW will hurt fundraising and volunteer support for NDP candidates, Comartin said.

"The money is a secondary consideration when compared to the number of volunteers we could lose," he said. "If the union urges them not to volunteer there's no question we'll be hurt."

I don't know about you, but it seems to me that an 85% vote to violate the NDP constitution is a pretty clear message.

The latest NDP constitution(pdf) was adopted in 2004. In light of recent events, maybe it's due for some emergency amendments or quite possibly just a "wider interpretation".

Sometimes the shoe's a little tight when it's on the other foot. It might get even tighter once they get around to dealing with the fact that the CAW not only supported the Liberals but campaigned for the Bloc as well. I guess that one will have to be Jack Layton's call as an issue of national scope.

Amazing what you can find when you pull back those bedcovers.

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