Australian Electrical Trades Union ends affiliation with Labor

The Victorian branch of the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) on Tuesday ended its long standing affiliation with the Australian Labor Party, more than three years after its secretary was forced to quit the party.

With federal and state elections coming closer, 85 percent of almost 7000 financial members who returned an official ballot voted to disaffiliate with the Australian Labor Party (ALP).

Victorian branch secretary Dean Mighell was booted out of the Labor Party in 2007 after a tape emerged of him swearing and boasting about his negotiations with bosses.

On Tuesday, Mighell said the ballot, conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission, was the end of a process that began more than 18 months ago and would give the union greater independence.

The union has contributed about 80,000 dollars (69,723 U.S. dollars) a year to the Labor Party.

The ETU will now support the Greens' candidate in the marginal seat of Melbourne, Victoria, held by retiring Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Saturday announced the general election date on August 21.

Source: Xinhua