Controversy over Labour’s plan to ‘recast’ union links

LABOUR leader Eamon Gilmore’s drive to give TDs more power within the party and remodel its relationship with trade unions looked set to spark controversy last night.

Major changes to Labour’s constitution were approved by its National Executive Committee (NEC) at the weekend and are likely to provoke strong debate at a special conference next month.

The unveiling of the delayed 21st Century Labour Commission report saw three NEC members speak against the findings as they expressed concern over a perceived downgrading of the committee’s powers in favour of the party leader and TDs, and changes concerning the role of local branches in the selection of election candidates. Representatives of the party’s youth and women’s wings voted against the reforms.

Mr Gilmore said the report would “recast” Labour’s links with trade unions.

“The principal change in this respect is that in future delegations from affiliated unions at party conference will be based on the number of Labour Party members within each union, rather than the total number of union members.

“The report recommends an overall greater role for elected representatives at national and local level as well for constituencies which do not currently have a Labour Oireachtas member,” he said.

He said a centralised system of selecting candidates had been rejected and instead “local members will continue to select candidates from a panel of qualified applicants”.

“The implementation of the report will be a key part of the process of reform of the Labour Party that will enable it to compete on level organisational terms with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael,” Mr Gilmore added.

The commission was set up in March 2008 and delayed following grassroots opposition, led by SIPTU leader and NEC member, Jack O’Connor, to reform the links to trade unions.

The reforms will be debated at a special conference in Mullingar next month.