The executive of the TUI weathered a very heavy storm last night to finally defeat the motion of no confidence in their leadership.
While by no means a landslide victory, it appeared that just under two-thirds voted against the motion, leaving the executive relieved and allowing the congress to continue.
Had the vote not gone in their favour the entire executive would have been forced to resign and the congress would have had to be abandoned.
At a session earlier in the day there was an attempt to have the motion of no confidence deferred until tomorrow afternoon to ensure that the business of congress could be completed, but this was defeated.
The motion was tabled by six branches claiming the leadership acted undemocratically in accepting the revised PPF and calling off the special congress on pay in January.
In doing this, they claimed, the leadership undermined the actions of the ASTI and assisted the Government in its industrial dispute against that union.
The mood of the membership before the vote was turbulent after a protracted afternoon of debate, and members spoke strongly for and against the motion.
First to speak was a Limerick delegate, Mr Tim O'Meara, who said that although he took no pleasure in it, he had to call for a vote of no confidence. "The executive has treated the members with contempt. It was a disgrace to call off the special congress on pay. The Government's attitude is that the ASTI must be broken at all costs."
Ms Bernie Ruane of Shannon said the TUI had helped the Government to "hang our ASTI colleagues out to dry" and all TUI members had suffered badly, especially those in schools with both.
Speaking for the executive, the vice-president, Mr Derek Dunne, said the motion was ill-conceived and very damaging. "There are very serious implications if this motion is passed. The executive will resign and congress will end. This will terminate all discussion on pay and undermine our pay strategy," Mr Dunne said. He also reminded members they had given congress the power to make decisions on their behalf in regard to the PPF.
An impassioned TUI president, Mr John MacGabhann, said he wore the chain of office with pride. He added: "I feel proud to have worked with these men and women [the executive] for the past year. Their only agenda is to ensure your interests are served."
The leadership had pursued an agenda that was given to them by the members and had no hidden motives. It was the view of the executive that the progress made in the revised PPF gave the union a strong opportunity to make significant pay gains.
