August 31, 2006
Media Release

Workers seek new Mangere rep

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union is talking to members about looking for a new Labour candidate for Mangere after the union’s ruling national executive today withdrew its support for Taito Philip Field.

The executive, made up of 14 rank-and-file workers from around the country and including representatives from South Auckland, said that the Mangere MP’s actions were not befitting a representative of working people.

Speaking outside the executive meeting in Wellington, national secretary Andrew Little said that there was a great deal of concern among members about the contents of the Ingram report into Mr Field’s actions involving immigrant and under-rate workers.

“The Labour Party was formed, by this union and others, to uphold and protect the rights and values of decent working people,” Mr Little said.

“The Ingram report found that Mr Field had used the labour of vulnerable people for his own benefit, and failed to pay them properly.

“This is more than a case of misjudgement; it shows a lack of regard for the values on which the labour movement is built, and cannot be ignored.”

Mr Little said that the union would now begin consulting with members in Mangere and South Auckland to find a suitable candidate to promote at the next election.

“The union is saddened and deeply disappointed that this situation has arisen,” Mr Little said, “but we are confident that the working people of Mangere will select a worthy representative.”

Mr Little said that the executive supported Prime Minister Helen Clark’s decision to prevent Mr Field’s return to the Cabinet.

ENDS

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