KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's largest trade union has thrown its support behind its president, Don Pryde, of Dunedin, in an attempt to unseat Dunedin South MP David Benson-Pope.
"This hasn't come just out of the blue or just out of Wellington. The indications from our [union] membership are the levels of confidence in David Benson-Pope have dissipated so much that it's time for a new face," Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union secretary Andrew Little told the Otago Daily Times.
The EPMU released a statement giving its support to Mr Pryde, who confirmed to the Otago Daily Times that he would seek the Labour Party nomination for Dunedin South.
Nominations close on November 9.
Mr Pryde is an electrical technician for Delta Utility Services and a long-standing member of the Labour Party and the Labour Electorate Committee.
Mr Benson-Pope will face a tough job to retain the Labour nomination with the EPMU giving its support to Mr Pryde. It is likely the union will have only one vote on the selection panel, but will probably have enough members to stack the floor vote.
The local electorate gets four votes and the head office delegates get three. If head office is determined to get rid of the MP, then its three votes, along with the union support, should see Mr Benson-Pope out of a job.
The EPMU is a major fundraiser and provider of campaign workers for the Labour Party. Mr Little was credited at the last election for motivating his members in the West Auckland electorates to get out and vote and swing the election result to Labour.
Mr Little said he had attended a meeting of union representatives in Dunedin on October 12, also attended by Mr Benson-Pope and Dunedin North MP Pete Hodgson.
"The feedback was that people had lost faith in Benson-Pope and were looking for a new face."
Asked about whether he had discussed supporting Mr Pryde with party president Mike Williams, Mr Little said he had met to talk about the party rejuvenation in general and spoke on the need for new candidates.
"When you look at Parliament, especially in the Opposition benches, you see corporate lawyers and business interests well represented but not a lot of ordinary working people. If we're going to have a true house of representatives, then we need people like Don Pryde in there too."
The Otago Daily Times emailed Mr Benson-Pope to ask him would he seek the nomination. He replied: "I am sure there will be a large number of candidates who, like me, are keen to work for the residents of Dunedin South. And I don't propose to make any further comment until nominations close."
* DON PRYDE
48, married, three children.
President of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union; EPMU national executive member since 1994; chairman of Electrical Workers Registration Board (2007).
DAVID BENSON-POPE
57, married, twins.
Former teacher. MP since 1999. Minister until forced from Cabinet for misleading the public over the Madeleine Setchell affair.
