Oswald nabs first union endorsement ahead of NDP leadership vote
NDP leadership candidate Theresa Oswald picked up the support of The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 2085 Monday. The union can send up to 15 delegates to the NDP leadership convention March 8.
The vote of support bodes well for Oswald, who hadn’t received any official union endorsement prior to the announcement.
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"It is an absolute honour to receive this endorsement," Oswald said, flanked by IBEW union members and 21 electrical students at a pre-employment class at IBEW headquarters.
"The support IBEW has given me throughout this campaign has been incredible," said Theresa Oswald. "I look forward to building a strong working relationship with members of all unions and further strengthening our party's connection to the labour movement in this province."
Local 2085 is the only IBEW affiliated with the NDP and therefore the only IBEW chapter eligible to send delegates to the party's leadership convention. IBEW local 2034 split with the NDP earlier this year and joined forces with the Tories over lost hydro jobs.
Russ Shewchuk, IBEW Local 2085 business manager and financial secretary, wouldn't comment on the other IBEW chapter, but said his chapter is firm in its support for the NDP.
"2085 has a long history of supporting the party and will continue to support the party," Sewchuk said.
Oswald said her party's platform, including the start of BiPole III expected next year, will help build Manitoba Hydro and create thousands of jobs.
"Our vision for hydro to build for Manitobans ... is absolutely critical to ensuring there are even more great jobs for electrical workers," Oswald said.
It's never a guarantee union delegates will follow endorsements, but Sewchuk said he's confident his 15 delegates will vote for Oswald.
"We're all on the same page about who we want to lead this province," he said.
Sewchuk said the pre-employment electrical class where Monday's endorsement announcement took place is a program Oswald helped create as the former jobs and economy minister.
"This class today is fruit of the labour because we sat down and had a conversation about what we'd like to do and how we'd like to take apprenticeship on and train members with our vision and our guidance," Sewchuk said. The trade school launched its first class September 2014.
Steve Ashton has picked up 25 union delegates from the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg and 61 union delegates from the United Steel Workers union.
CUPE Manitoba endorsed Greg Selinger earlier this month. It can send up to 288 delegates to the March convention. UFCW Local 0832 and its 160 union delegates also endorsed Selinger Monday afternoon.
