A motion of no-confidence against Kathy Jackson, executive president of the Health Services Union East branch, has been passed at the union’s annual conference.
A delegate said the motion, expressing dissatisfaction with Ms Jackson, passed with 1190 votes in favour, 565 opposed and 29 abstentions, including proxy votes.
The vote of no-confidence in Ms Jackson was over her decision to report to police and media, instead of the union executive, concerns of alleged corruption and misuse of credit cards by the former general secretary of the HSU Craig Thomson and the president of the HSU East, Michael Williamson.
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A motion calling for the HSU East branch to split into separate ACT/NSW and Victoria divisions was also passed.
Michael Williamson, who stepped aside as HSU National President in September following allegations of financial impropriety, was among the 705 delegates attending the conference at the Sydney Convention Centre in Darling Harbour today.
Mr Williamson declined to answer when asked by reporters if he had put pressure on sub-branches to move the no-confidence motions and whether he was involved in corrupt activity.
Ms Jackson, who vowed earlier to maintain her efforts to clean up the embattled union, was not immediately available to comment on the vote.
Mr Williamson allegedly threatened Victorian deputy general secretary Marco Bolano at today’s conference, saying: “I will destroy you.”
Mr Bolano said he had been threatened by Mr Williamson.
“Enjoy the rest of your time in the union movement, I will destroy you,” Mr Bolano quoted Mr Williamson as saying.
The Williamson camp has argued that Ms Jackson should have taken the allegations to the union’s council before going to the police, which Mr Bolano described as foolish and irresponsible.
Mr Bolano said the vote succeeded only because NSW had the numbers.
“I pity these poor delegates, they’ve been sold a pup, they’ve been lied to, they’ve been manipulated.”
The vote of no-confidence will not unseat Ms Jackson from the position of executive president of HSU East, but is set to destabilise the union even further.
Mr Bolano said the no-confidence vote against Ms Jackson was part of a move “to get us out of NSW”.
“Also, if charges were to be laid against Mr Williamson, it might prevent any action to be taken by the union to recover the money.”
The debate that lasted for three hours was vitriolic, with some delegates from both NSW and Victoria walking out in disgust before the vote was taken.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/hsu-president-loses-noconfidence-vote-20111115-1ngm…