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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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.
Ted,
I love it when you get angry!
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 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 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, your comments are incorrect. The membership voted to endorse her at the monthly membership meeting.
I Challenge the union president, Mr Labounty, to disclose what the vote count was.
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.
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.?
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.