Labour weight disputed in Manitoba NDP leadership race

WINNIPEG — A dispute has erupted in the Manitoba NDP leadership race over how many votes are being given to one union.

CUPE Manitoba has been awarded 288 delegates for the March 8 vote that pits Premier Greg Selinger against challengers Theresa Oswald and Steve Ashton.

The Oswald campaign is appealing the decision, saying CUPE will have 13 per cent of the expected total votes.

The appeal comes one day after CUPE Manitoba formally endorsed Selinger in the race, and Oswald’s team is asking for a hearing.

The Oswald camp says CUPE locals, of which there are dozens, do not qualify as affiliates under the NDP constitution.

Union locals that qualify as NDP affiliates are awarded delegate slots to conventions based on a formula of one delegate for each 100 members.