Rob Ashton, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, has announced he’s running for the federal NDP leadership. Ashton, who is billing himself as the “the first working-class labour candidate” in the race, released a short campaign launch video Wednesday morning. “I’m done watching working people pick between Liberals and Conservatives, only to end up with the short end of the stick,” Ashton says in his video. city councillor and former NDP candidate, are also considering leadership runs. In order to vote in the leadership race, individuals must obtain party membership by Jan. 28.