VIC: Union election goes to court

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-1999
VIC: Union election goes to court

Left-wing factional battling for control of the Victorian branch of the Electrical Trades
Union has spawned a defamation case and another action designed to bring the union elections
to a halt.

The Federal Court will today be asked to delay the elections, on the grounds that
Socialist-Left wing candidate and current state secretary DEAN MIGHELL used union-produced
photographs in his election material.

In turn, Mr MIGHELL has launched defamation proceedings against his hard-left Pledge
faction opponent, GARY MAIN, over pamphlets he's distributed during his election campaign.

The election battle is a re-run of an election four years ago, which resulted in Mr MIGHELL
ousting Mr MAIN from office.

It was the first challenge to the branch's leadership in 26 years and Mr MAIN's loss was a
major blow to the Pledge faction's power base.

AAP RTV ag/ra/kbw/am/rp

KEYWORD: ETU VIC (MELBOURNE)

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