Call for Premier Selinger to resign is 'political treason' CUPE says

The head of one of Manitoba's largest unions has written an open letter to provincial New Democrats, urging them to reject any motion for Premier GregSelinger to step down.

In the letter, Canadian Union of Public Employees presidentPaul Moistsays Selinger"has aduty" to continue in the role as NDP leader and provincial premier a role many people want him to continue in.

Those calling for his resignation are doing so "out of a brutal and inexcusable act ofinternal political treason," he states in the letter, whichcomes before this weekend's NDP provincial council meeting.

• Manitoba revolt: 5 ministers resign from Premier Greg Selinger's cabinet

"He should not and cannot step down. And the principles many New Democrats hold dear will be preserved and strengthened if we collectively oppose the internal mutiny and reaffirm our premier'sleadership," Moist's letter states.

"Our leader and premier has been attacked by five members that he appointed to cabinet. There was nointegrity, high moral standards or spirit of our party's heritage at play in their public abandonment ofcabinet and caucus solidarity.

"Theirs was a crass and calculated political act, unprecedented in the modernhistory of our party."

CUPE represents some 26,000Manitobans.

On mobile? Read the open letter here