Giddyup! SIPTU Vice President election.

national | politics / elections | news report

Tuesday November 25, 2003 17:52

by Des Derwin

It’s a two horse race, Brendan Hayes, Regional Secretary, Dublin Region, and me, Des Derwin, President, Electronics and Engineering Branch.

If it were a cavalry charge I’d be run down. Perhaps electorally I will be anyway: Brendan has about 70 Branches nominating him and I have about two! But that’s usually the way for the official favourite. Nominations are not, as you know, votes.

I want to reiterate (there’s a great trade union word!) the respect I have mentioned for Derek Delaney, and the respect I have not mentioned here for Dermot O’Loughlin, the two candidates that have not come this far into the race. Some day all the people like these will get into a room and determine to really change SIPTU together.

Thanks to all my supporters. I’ll be in touch on those offers of support. Any more offers can be forwarded to the above address.

All I ask now is more of this weather, a good quote from the printer (I've just got it, stop), a level playing field (equal treatment and resources to each candidate), no stuffing of the ballot boxes -one person one vote – and independent assessment of queries.

Voting begins mid January and lasts until mid February.

Leaflets in production.