McDowall: Political interference led to withdrawal from leadership race

The President of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), Akanni McDowall, has announced his withdrawal from the union’s upcoming elections, citing political interference in the process.

During a media conference held on Zoom, McDowall, who said he has evidence about the political interference in the elections, which is five days away, declared that while he has been associated with the union for the past 20 years, the last few months have been the most challenging as he has had to deal with threats, scare tactics and bullying.

But McDowall said the straw that broke the camel’s back is that in more recent weeks, it has been brought to his attention that persons significantly placed within the union are involved in an elaborate plan to ensure the outcome of the election. He said the information on the plan came to him in the form of an email sent by an individual who is not a member of any decision-making body within the union.

McDowall explained that the email has been sent to the management of the union, and well-known members of a political party, instructing the National Council on how the Union should constitute the hearing committee against him, as well as instructions and talking points on how to slander his name while campaigning.

Nevertheless, the president said he has taken legal advice and will be taking the necessary steps to protect his rights in the Courts.

Following McDowall’s suspension, which he said was done to prevent him from participating in the election, on July 22 Justice Cecil McCarthy granted an interim injunction for the elections to be postponed to allow the president to participate. However, he said despite the ruling, the NUPW sent him a letter informing him that they would be continuing with the current charges against him.

He said: “I am grateful to the High Court for restoring my right to contest the election, but I am no longer interested in participating in an election that has now represented another new low in the conduct of union elections. I am therefore withdrawing from the Presidential race since I will never be given a fair chance.

“If the challenges were only limited to the extent of the stream of members’ complaints and failure to comply with the constitution, I would gladly stay and fight for the union which has been such a big part of my life for the past two decades. However, this invincible hand seeking to dominate the union cannot be defeated by any one member even in the capacity of President”.

McDowall, who said he will not be part of any move that clearly augurs badly for the future of the union and worker representation, declared that he will not support the construction of any altar which workers will be sacrificed for political gain.

However, McDowall has given his supporters the assurance that he will remain a member of the union, is pleading with members not to remember that their membership should never be about political allegiance but collection bargaining power.

On that note, McDowall said the union cannot go forward without unity, and noted that members cannot be served in an atmosphere of conflict and disrespect, while adding that the cause of labour cannot be uplifted if the leaders are not committed, knowledgeable and put the union first. He said the organization cannot advance if its Constitution is flouted, and the battle against social and economic issues evolving globally cannot be fought if the membership is turned one against the other and good people are tarnished.

“We must reject the partisan political machinations which threaten the unity, strength and future of the NUPW. If we do not, its members will be sacrificed for partisan purposes by the very people who did not think that the membership deserved a single increase in 10 years,” he added.

McDowall said he will now begin focusing on his doctoral studies, in addition to turning his attention to outstanding personal matters he had placed on the back burner.

The appointment of over 1 000 workers in addition to establishing 555 post and a five per cent increase for civil servants after 10 years of none, participating in negotiations for implementing the BOSS programme to ensure no public servant was sent home, renovation of the NUPW building, and improved working conditions in several government departments, are among some of what McDowall said he has received during his tenure as president. (NUPW). (AH)