More Endorsements to be Announced Soon; Council Holds Ground on Mayor’s Veto

Download the February 2008 issue in PDF format

The Labor Council is wrapping up its interviews with candidates running in the June elections so that we can focus on getting the next generation of supportive leaders into office.

In the last month, our Committee on Political Education met with contenders vying for San Diego City Council Districts 1 and 3, San Diego City Attorney, San Diego Unified School Board, the 78th and 80th Assembly District and Congressional candidates to discuss issues important to workers and their families. The recommendations that were made in those COPE meetings will be forwarded to the Executive Board and to our Delegates, who ultimately decide our endorsements. Expect us to announce those endorsements in the next few weeks.

The Labor Council has already endorsed several other San Diego County candidates. We endorsed Marti Emerald, the Trouble Shooter, in the District 7 City Council race in San Diego. Also, Congressman Bob Filner is being supported for his reelection to the House (District 51). The Labor Council is also supporting Assemblywoman Lori Saldana (District 76) and State Senator Christine Kehoe (District 39).

Bill Schwandt’s reelection to the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees (District B) and Pearl Quinones’ reelection to the Sweetwater School Board were also endorsed.

The COPE candidate interviews have been not only a great opportunity for the labor community to learn more about the various candidates, but for us to educate these candidates about why matters affecting jobs, benefits and employee safety are so important to us.

That’s why I’m hoping many more of our members will get involved in the next round of interviews as they are announced.

We still have some races for Congress, Chula Vista City Council and school boards that will take place in June. We need to consider endorsements, so I’m hoping to see you at those interviews.

At City Hall

It’s an exciting time for our legislative fights at the City of San Diego as well.

Our City Council stood tall against the threat of a wellfinanced campaign by developers and the anti-union hotel owners to centralize even more power with the Mayor’s Office by strengthening his veto power.

Council members voted unanimously to keep checks and balances at City Hall strong, allowing workers, neighborhood groups and environmentalists to continue to have a voice in city government.

Also, the San Diego City Council will soon consider some legislation that will help local working families. We’re asking the council to consider rules to level the playing field when the city government is asked by Mayor Jerry Sanders to outsource work to private companies.

We know that every time our brothers and sisters in government work are asked to compete with the private sector, public employees will win every time.

Our municipal workers take great pride in their work. We’re looking forward to forcing an honest discussion about providing health care to workers and about guaranteeing levels of service that the public expects.

The city of San Diego will also consider a “Children’s Right to Lead Free Homes” ordinance that requires lead-safe work practices to protect workers from lead dust, which can harm adults who are exposed to raw construction materials.

The City Council will vote on this ordinance March 11, so stay tuned for more information about a letter-writing campaign and to turn out to this very important council meeting.

Chula Vista Update

In Chula Vista, the anti-union developers are at it again. Even though the Chula Vista City Council shot down their crazy idea to try to ban PLAs from being used on construction projects, this small handful of developers is continuing their assault on workers by trying to get voters to approve this illegal proposal!

They’re trying to gather enough signatures to put it on the ballot, so if you live in Chula Vista or have friends down there, please let people know they shouldn’t sign anything that erodes the guarantees needed for our local workforce.