A union representing Burlington city employees endorsed mayoral candidate Carina Driscoll, saying that incumbent Mayor Miro Weinberger isn’t representing workers from city hall.
It’s the first time “in a very long time” that the local chapter of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees has endorsed a candidate for mayor, union president Karl LaBounty said at a press conference Wednesday.
“This year we felt that it was a time to stand up again,” LaBounty said.
The AFSCME Local 1343, Council 93 union includes more than 200 workers from the Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Department; the Department of Public Works; the library; the airport; the city clerk and treasurer’s office; the Community and Economic Development Office; as well as staff from the Burlington school district.
Driscoll announced the endorsement to an audience of one — this reporter. Half a dozen public works employees surrounded her during the event on the steps of city hall.
LaBounty, a maintenance worker for the Burlington school district, criticized the city for what he called its slow response to worker safety violations last June. A Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspector found that city employees working on pipes in the street had not properly shored up the walls of a trench more than five feet deep. The state fined the city $44,000 for the violation.
According to DPW workers, the city’s response has been inadequate. The union said it has been unable to establish a worker safety committee, and claimed that the city posted a job for a safety officer — then removed it without hiring for the position.
“When we find a problem … you can’t expect our workers to be in jeopardy for a long period of time,” said LaBounty. “We need speedier service.”
If elected, Driscoll promised to “make sure that city workers are empowered to make decisions that affect working conditions, including the ability to manage their own safety measures,” she said in prepared remarks Wednesday. She also said that she would work to uphold the city’s livable wage ordinance and support policies that allow lower-wage workers to contribute less to health insurance premiums.
The Progressive Party backed Driscoll, as did progressive advocacy organizations Rights & Democracy and Our Revolution.
Weinberger has earned endorsements from the city firefighter and police unions, as well as the Vermont Building and Construction Trades Council, which includes unions for plumbers and electrical workers.
Infinite Culcleasure is also in the race for the Queen City’s top job. Town Meeting Day is March 6.
*The headline of this story was updated on February 15, 2018.
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Seriously, only one person, the reporter who wrote this story for 7D, showed up for Ms. Sanders, oops, I mean Ms. Driscolls, press conference on the steps of Burlington City Hall? No one from the Burlington Progs? No one from the Free Press? No one from radio or TV? No one from Alleged Rights and Democracy? No one from the North End News? No one from Take The Mural Down? Not even Adam Salem? Cmon!
As long as there are two candidates to the Left of Miro ( it isn’t hard to get to the Left of Miro) Miro and the Chamber of Commerce will win.
So enjoy the view of the lake and the Adirondacks and the sunshine in the afternoon because once Miro and his arrogant high rise development gets done you will not be able to see any of those things.
For whatever reason, SevenDays neglected to mention that this chapter of AFSCME that endorsed Carina Driscoll includes the Burlington Police and Fire Department civilian employees. That would be the emergency communications specialists (dispatchers), records, ID, parking enforcement and others.
This endorsement is telling. The current administration is contemptuous and dismissive of working people, their working conditions, wages, rents, neighborhoods, home owners– the list continues, It’s focus is on over-development (not smart growth at all) and paving over for profit as much of the city as proves possible.
knowyourassumptions: Sadly my political analysis in 7Days doesn’t pay the bills, so i couldn’t make the presser. Oh and my source for the unanimous vote is the candidates Facebook page.
I don’t how this was a unanimous vote when a lot of us didn’t even know that there was a vote.
This is an ALL OUT LIE. The AFSCME union never asked the members about the candidates, they never met other than the executive committee session to decide on a candidate. I am a AFSCME member of the city and no one in our group or office was ever asked about any endorsement of a candidate. Also, The fine was for a dirt pile violation, not an equipment violation. I would encourage Channel 5 and seven days to do a public records request to the to the truth about the violation. If our union president wants to spew lies then maybe he shouldn’t be president.
I am a member of this Union, let me be perfectly clear. I was never consulted, there was NO VOTE on this. Not one of my co-workers (also fellow union members) was even aware that this was the position of the union. So to say that the union UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTS this candidate is a false statement.
Below is the article about the fine. It was not equipment related but mistakes by employees.
https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/arc…
“Oh and my source for the unanimous vote is the candidates Facebook page..”
Well, Mr. Salem, according to three comments after yours (local AFSCME union members), looks like “the candidate’s Facebook page” is wrong.
Sounds like this ginned up, to-down, undemocratic “endorsement” may have been the work of the Sanders machine.
I’m a Carina supporter, but I think this article is a little unclear.
This is a recommendation from the union LEADERSHIP to the MEMBERSHIP, rather than a recommendation from the MEMBERSHIP to the VOTING PUBLIC.
That’s how union endorsements usually (though not always) work, but many people don’t understand that, and it should be made clear.
Union members who don’t like that system totally have my support for changing it.
So was there an actual vote by the union on this or did the president make the choice unilaterally? Also doesn’t the mayor already have the endorsement of Burlington Electric, Police, and Fire dept.?
So in other words, AFSCME leadership didn’t bother with any “public process” like letting their full membership vote on this or even notifying them.
Interesting how people who claim we need more “public process” seem to forget about it when the outcome suits them.
I Challenge the union president, Mr Labounty, to disclose what the vote count was.
Ted miles, your comments are incorrect. The membership voted to endorse her at the monthly membership meeting.
Graham Lebel- What was the vote count? I as a union member of AFSCME, a city employee and a Burlington resident DO NOT endorse Driscoll for Mayor and she will NOT get my vote. The Union Membership was not aware that there was going to be a vote or an endorsement of a mayoral candidate.
Ted miles, I was not able to attend the meeting so I can not say what the vote count was, but the endorsement process was clearly stated on the agenda for the meeting and anyone who read it would know it was taking place.
Graham- So you WERE NOT at the meeting so you don’t know what took place. There was NO agenda sent out to the members, there was no posting on the bulletin board, there was no notification from the union. You are trying really hard to justify the union’s position and their actions when there is no justification. The AFSCME union has not endorsed a candidate in years so why is this years election different, let alone that this year they decided to have a “vote” to endorse a candidate after many years of being silent. The PAYING members deserve batter leadership from their union.
Ted,
I love it when you get angry!
Wow, this is way too creepy and underhanded. I don’t know who pulled these shenanigans but they benefited Driscoll, so it certainly appears that she’s the one behind it. Heaven help Burlington if Carina Driscoll is ever elected to any position that requires integrity and responsible leadership.
I’m spending the next few weeks gathering my friends to come with me to the polls to vote for anyone else but Driscoll, who seems badly in need of another job after the one she had at Burlington College from her mother dried up. I’m sure the half million she got on top of her mother’s take had nothing to do with the Burlington College bankruptcy.
Julie- I am sure Driscoll was not behind this so there is no way I can blame her for what the union did.
Sounds like the Union is pulling a fast one on the Members, Is the president a Sanders/Driscoll friend or supporter? Union rule is before supporting a candidate, the members must be informed and vote on it. By the sounds of it, this never happened..
As for Driscoll’s statement “promised to “make sure that city workers are empowered to make decisions that affect working conditions, including the ability to manage their own safety measures,” she said in prepared remarks Wednesday. She also said that she would work to uphold the city’s livable wage ordinance and support policies that allow lower-wage workers to contribute less to health insurance premiums.” Sounds like her step-daddy lies. Makes promises but never follow through.
I wonder how much money she’ll take from Burlington taxpayers to support her Vermont Woodworking school in Fairfax, like mommy dearest gave her from Burlington College ..
so more of Miro’s dark secrets come out.. good, he heeds to go!
Mr. Grape, the only dark secret in this story is the endorsement of Carina Sanders (oops, I mean Carina Driscoll) by a union whose members dont even know that they endorsed her.
The AFSCME Union operates in secrecy, they don’t inform or involve their members. A tight cadre of people engineer this endorsement and when we object to the clandestine process we are dismissed out of hand and talked down to- as in “oh you just missed that meeting”.
If Right to Work Legislation ever passes AFSCME will have seen it’s last dollar from me.
https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/arc…