Another group of people seething over proposals to switch to nonpartisan city elections is beginning to speak out: labor leaders.þþWith details of the Charter Revision Commission's recommendations emerging, union leaders are complaining about a provision that would ban donations to candidates from labor unions. The provision would also end donations from political parties and political action committees.þþUnions are major contributors to political campaigns and often assist candidates, providing everything from volunteers to telephone banking operations. The leaders say the provision by the charter commission, appointed this year by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, would strip the unions of their ability to influence politics in New York.þþÿWe were more than a little surprised to hear about this provision,ÿ said Jennifer Cunningham, the executive director of the S.E.I.U. New York State Council, which represents more than two million workers and retirees.þþMs. Cunningham said she learned of the provision yesterday morning.þþÿI think it's outrageous,ÿ she said. ÿWe believe that political contributions from unions are a vehicle to use the collective strengths on behalf of a candidate that we endorse. This commission is trying to stifle the legitimate voice of working people.ÿþþThe provision, if formally adopted by the Charter Revision Commission, would trigger a vexing problem for Mr. Bloomberg and advocates of nonpartisan elections. Ms. Cunningham and other labor leaders said it would motivate them to join the fight to defeat the proposal for nonpartisan elections when the matter is put before voters in November.þþÿIt certainly will get us involved in this issue,ÿ she said. ÿFrom a tactical point of view, I don't know why they wanted to include this provision in the mix. But we're not going to sit idly by and watch this happen.ÿþþWith the unions now in the battle, the commission's proposals for nonpartisan elections will most likely face fierce opposition. Already, Democratic Party officials have pledged to see the matter defeated when it goes before voters in a citywide referendum on Nov. 4. Democratic leaders oppose such elections because, they say, they undercut the political strength of black, Hispanic and Asian candidates and make it easier for wealthy candidates to win office.þþThe unions are likely to be powerful allies because of the significant financial resources they could bring to what is expected to be a high-profile campaign starting soon after Labor Day.þþAlan Gartner, the executive director of the charter commission, said the decision to cut out labor union contributions was merely an attempt to follow through on recommendations offered this year by the city's Campaign Finance Board.þþÿWe're talking about banning contributions from a wide number of sources, not just unions,ÿ Mr. Gartner said. ÿAnd we share the goals outlined by the recommendations of the Campaign Finance Board.þþÿThe goal that we believe in is to level the playing field and to increase access for candidates and voters.ÿþþThe commission is holding public meetings tonight and Thursday at which it will finalize the language that it will put before voters.þþUnion leaders said they would resist the changes. ÿWe oppose any charter proposal that would in any way diminish the voice of working people in the electoral arena,ÿ said Roger Toussaint, president of Transport Workers Union Local 100. ÿUnion members who cannot make large donations must be allowed a political voice.ÿþþ
Source: NY Times
