16 April 2013

SDA kills its own in WA

Unions gang up to flick Senator - West Australian

Senator Mark Bishop pulled out of last night's ALP preselection ballot that saw the most powerful left-wing and right-wing unions conspire against the resurgent blue- collar section of the party.

It is understood Senator Bishop may not have received a single vote if he had contested because of a deal between his right-wing retail workers union - the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association - and the dominant left-wing union United Voice.

Under the deal, SDA boss Joe Bullock, Senator Bishop's one-time friend and union ally, grabbed the top spot on Labor's WA Senate ticket, 109-61, relegating sitting Senator Louise Pratt to second.

Related articles
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Between national reviews: the ALP tries to move from a union-based to a community-based party
16 Apr 2013 06:21:45 | ALP and unions, ALP reform links

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