|
CAW Delegates Vote in Favour of Federal Election Strategy |
|
|
|
Written by CAW
|
|
Sunday, 04 December 2005 |
Hundreds of delegates from CAW workplaces from coast to coast have voted overwhelmingly December 3rd in favour of a recommendation to elect as many New Democrats as possible and to vote to defeat Conservatives wherever possible in the coming election.
Delegates voted at the December 3rd CAW Council meeting, after a lengthy and impassioned debate with speaker after speaker outlining the importance of the upcoming election to working people. Some delegates outlined their support for only the NDP, while others stressed that the recommendation debated at council is a realistic strategy intended to give the NDP the best chance to have an impact in the next Parliament.
CAW president Buzz Hargrove said it is key for the NDP to hold the balance of power.
"I want to say, as strongly as I can, that my recommendation this weekend to the delegates is that we do whatever we can to elect as many New Democrats and to ensure that we have a Liberal minority government and that we do everything in our power to ensure that Stephen Harper forms neither a minority Conservative government, or worse yet, a majority Conservative government," Hargrove said. "We owe that to the members of our union."
The recommendation reads, in part:
"The best possible outcome of this federal election is another Liberal minority government, with the NDP holding a balance of power. The worst outcome is a Conservative victory (minority or majority). I recommend that the CAW work toward ensuring a Liberal minority with an NDP balance of power, and stopping a Conservative victory."
"I recommend that the CAW endorse the sitting NDP Members of Parliament, and individual NDP candidates in potentially winnable ridings (to be determined following consultation with our local leaders and activists). The list of endorsed candidates would be posted on the CAW web site and distributed to all locals."
"I recommend that in other ridings, the CAW not endorse any specific candidates; rather, individual voters will need to decide what best contributes to electing a Liberal minority with NDP balance of power, and stopping the Conservatives."
CAW Council is the parliament of the Canadian Auto Workers union. More than 900 delegates and guests representing CAW workplaces from coast to coast attended the most recent CAW Council meeting in Toronto. The CAW represents 260,000 members.
|
