St. Paul's unions have not yet agreed on endorsing a candidate for mayor, but have agreed on common principles for sizing up candidates.
Delegates to the Saint Paul Trades and Labor Assembly approved the principles Feb. 9. Assembly president Shar Knutson said candidates could be asked to agree to each principle, point by point; if they can't sign on, they will have to explain why. The principles also could be used later in the campaign, she said, as a starting point to promote labor's vision to the community at large.
The principles push candidates toward three broad goals if they expect to receive a labor endorsement:
? Support economic development that provides long-term benefits.
? Provide reliable public services and keep them under public control.
? Strengthen the livability of our community.
Details aren't ignored
Within each goal are detailed specifics. For example, the economic development goal requires city officials not only to focus on creating good, high-paying jobs, but on retaining those kinds of jobs where they already exist, such as at Ford and Rock-Tenn.
Further, the goals include guidelines that city officials should meet before they invest a single dime of public money or resources. These include expectations that construction and renovation will be done under project-labor agreements. They should follow prevailing wage standards. Any jobs supported by taxpayer money must pay a living wage with affordable, accessible health insurance and other workplace benefits. Companies that benefit from taxpayer support must agree to neutrality and card-check recognition if their workers try to form a union.
Also, as general policy, city officials are expected to partner with unions and consult regularly on issues that directly affect union members, their work and their livelihoods.
Committed to public services, public safety
The principles also promote public services and public education. For example, they commit officials to supporting adequate funding for schools, police, fire, public works, and other city services, including libraries, parks and recreation centers. This includes meeting specific staffing standards, and a willingness to raise the tax levy, if necessary, and to oppose state and federal budget policies that harm the city or its schools.
The union principles oppose privatization, vouchers and other tactics that divert taxpayer money from public services to feed the profits of corporations. They also promote light rail, transportation improvements, and better housing opportunities, including through construction for low- and middle-income workers and their families, and through code enforcement that can help revitalize existing housing stock in neighborhoods.
Adapted from The Union Advocate, the official newspaper of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. E-mail The Advocate at: advocate@mtn.org
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St. Paul’s unions have not yet agreed on endorsing a candidate for mayor, but have agreed on common principles for sizing up candidates.
Delegates to the Saint Paul Trades and Labor Assembly approved the principles Feb. 9. Assembly president Shar Knutson said candidates could be asked to agree to each principle, point by point; if they can’t sign on, they will have to explain why. The principles also could be used later in the campaign, she said, as a starting point to promote labor’s vision to the community at large.
The principles push candidates toward three broad goals if they expect to receive a labor endorsement:
? Support economic development that provides long-term benefits.
? Provide reliable public services and keep them under public control.
? Strengthen the livability of our community.
Details aren’t ignored
Within each goal are detailed specifics. For example, the economic development goal requires city officials not only to focus on creating good, high-paying jobs, but on retaining those kinds of jobs where they already exist, such as at Ford and Rock-Tenn.
Further, the goals include guidelines that city officials should meet before they invest a single dime of public money or resources. These include expectations that construction and renovation will be done under project-labor agreements. They should follow prevailing wage standards. Any jobs supported by taxpayer money must pay a living wage with affordable, accessible health insurance and other workplace benefits. Companies that benefit from taxpayer support must agree to neutrality and card-check recognition if their workers try to form a union.
Also, as general policy, city officials are expected to partner with unions and consult regularly on issues that directly affect union members, their work and their livelihoods.
Committed to public services, public safety
The principles also promote public services and public education. For example, they commit officials to supporting adequate funding for schools, police, fire, public works, and other city services, including libraries, parks and recreation centers. This includes meeting specific staffing standards, and a willingness to raise the tax levy, if necessary, and to oppose state and federal budget policies that harm the city or its schools.
The union principles oppose privatization, vouchers and other tactics that divert taxpayer money from public services to feed the profits of corporations. They also promote light rail, transportation improvements, and better housing opportunities, including through construction for low- and middle-income workers and their families, and through code enforcement that can help revitalize existing housing stock in neighborhoods.
Adapted from The Union Advocate, the official newspaper of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. E-mail The Advocate at: advocate@mtn.org