Wednesday, May 28, 2008
News / Clout City In labor: a discussion with the SEIU's Tom Balanoff
Posted by Mick Dumke on Wed, May 28, 2008 at 3:49 PM
Since local SEIU leaders began mobilizing in 2006 to elect a City Council friendlier to “working families,” they’ve described their political work in Chicago as a potential model for labor across the country. And they came away from last year’s elections with something to show for it: nine new aldermen, most elected with the help of volunteers and cash from the union. (Not to mention a handful of incumbents grateful for SEIU's support.)
One year on, the impact of SEIU's efforts is open to debate [pdf]. The union, though, is getting ready to take the Chicago strategy nationwide: after this fall’s elections, members of Congress who fail to work for extended health care benefits and labor organizing rights may end up as targets of SEIU’s “Justice for All” accountability campaign--and the $150 million union leaders are willing to spend on it. (Of course, all of this is contingent on the plans winning approval at SEIU’s international convention June 2 to 4 in Puerto Rico, which isn’t a given, since dissension and discontent has stirred the ranks.)
I recently spoke to Tom Balanoff, president of the union’s Illinois state council, about the congressional campaign, Chicago’s rookie aldermen, and the union’s relationship with the always looming figure of Richard M. Daley.
MD: So you essentially want to take the 2007 Chicago model and apply it to Congress?
TB: We absolutely do. The alderman’s races were really an effort on SEIU and labor’s part to say "How do we establish an independent political base?" I think a lot of good things have already started happening in terms of creating an independent bloc there in the City Council, and I think a lot of good things came out of that for labor.
But it is really a question of specific issues—we want to establish some political power to get real results for working families on things like health care, the war, and the labor movement. I think the Democrats understand, especially Barack Obama, that we have to work to raise income. My father was a steelworker who managed to put four kids through college and buy a house. Now that’s a lot tougher to do. I think we have real opportunities this fall, not just by electing Barack Obama but I also think we’re going to win [the races] down the ballot. And by "we" I mean primarily Democratic candidates who are backing issues for working families.
To be frank, though, organized labor is basically a special interest for Democrats.
We actually have a lot of Republican support, and we need it. We have to have real health care reform, and to do that we need Republicans on board.
You’re solidly behind Barack Obama, but his health care plan has been criticized for not being universal.
This whole question of mandates verses no mandates is a real issue, and we have to figure it out. We have to get a system together. But if we could get a system [like his] where we could get five million more people health care, I’d be willing to take it and start working out the kinks. To get where we need to get, there’s going to have to be some compromises. But we’ve got to do something. I mean, how long has it been? Sixty years since Harry Truman started talking about this?
Are you focused on any races right now in our area?
Here in Illinois, we’ll be focusing very heavily on three or four congressional seats we think we can turn Democratic--Jerry Weller’s seat, Mark Kirk’s seat, and Ray LaHood’s seat. We also here in Illinois are going to focus a lot on our neighboring states--Indiana especially. We’ll also be in Wisconsin and Iowa, working on voter registration. And we’ll be in Missouri.
You say you need Republican help to do something about health care, but you’re going after Mark Kirk, who’s widely considered a moderate.
I know Mark Kirk--he’s my congressman. And he’s moderate only in the context of how far the whole political spectrum has gone to the right. He gives lip service to a lot of stuff but he’s supported President Bush on a whole range of issues.
What lessons did you learn from the 2007 City Council races?
What we demonstrated is that we can put our members in motion--we can get our members to contribute, and we can get them out there to work. We demonstrated we had money, people, and time, and that’s pretty powerful.
There are shifting politics here in the city and the state. And I think it’s important from SEIU’s standpoint, from labor’s standpoint, that we did establish a bigger voice. Now you know Chicago--I could have elected every one of my cousins as a judge by now if I wanted that. But we’re trying to figure out how we move public policy to our issues.
There is now a group of aldermen in the City Council who are working a little bit more in concert on key issues. I do think it’s made the mayor a little more sensitive to issues that in the past he hasn’t been as sensitive to.
Still, at least some of the aldermen you supported last year have turned out to be regular votes for Mayor Daley.
I think there’s an understanding starting to evolve with labor that we need to build political power for ourselves and not for candidates, and the way we do that is to make sure we’re working on particular issues. The only permanent friends we have are those politicians who stick with our issues.
I’ve heard from several sources that the mayor has sought you out and offered an olive branch so he can have peace while he tries to win the Olympics bid.
The mayor and I have talked since the elections. We talked about broader public policy issues, the Olympics being one of them. And from our standpoint, and I said it even during the elections, that this isn’t about going after Mayor Daley. And there is a way we can have a more progressive impact by working together.
So you’re behind the Olympics bid?
We support the idea of the Olympics. We obviously have very specific concerns that there be labor agreements so that all communities, all workers, benefit from the building. And we hope that if we do get the Olympics, we hope that all of Chicago can benefit from it. I’m hoping that the Olympics will be an engine to help take care of some of our problems, like the CTA.
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Our next new Idea will be coming soon. We are waiting for Coconate to tell us what to do next! It was his Idea to rally Unions to supoport pro union candidates, he called it Opposition 2007. But we squashed his movement, watered it down and took the credit.
Dennis Gannon and Tom Balanoff did nothing but protect there million dollars homes. Just ask Horward Brookins. Cook County, City and State Union Jobs are gone They are replaced with Contractors that hire illegals . Taxpayers get NO savings because the Budget never changes.
Chicago City Workers in DesPlaines May 27th - 10:37 p.m. News Maker your right. Informat Patrick McDonough the Plumber lives in DesPlaines, yet still works for the City of Chicago. Hows that work? Pat McDonough put a wire on and hurt other City workers than they give him a pass. Any worker he burned could go to his house at 1970 Everett-DesPlaines and see for yourself he lives outside Chicago. Thats breaking the law McDonough. How can you bust other workers , when YOU break the law yourself. call 1312-685-4333 or ask the IG why they condone that behavior. Mr. David Hoffman and Loevy and Loevy are supporting someone who breaks the law?
Another derailment !!!! When is Ron Huberman going to hire real workers and not double dippers. Also Ron " Stud" Hubermman go back to your old hair style. You look like little richards granson.
I have never seen such great heroes as the Code Warriors. Droppin the bombs stone cold 4real. Yellow boy left behind again.
You guys just slay me! Really funny stuff and all while you are still on the clock. I really like that you goofs have me as a cokehead. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a Jameson guy. I don't touch drugs. God bless you guys. I hope you get your pensions before you're all indicted.
Unions have sold out the workers especially city workers.
The Olympics will only benefit the politicians. CTA, CPS and other "problems" won't see any of that Olympic money. Will Balanoff and Jimmy Carter build some Habitat homes for the (soon to be) displaced Woodlawn residents?
Why does Frank drive down the 7300 block of Oriole in his BMW all the time? Who is he looking for? Identified by plates. The authorities have been notified.
What, no question about who his favorite baseball team is ? Little Mick must be slipping. But Mick must be a true Chicagoan, in the 16" softball pitching tradition from the easy, milktoast questions he asked.
Why didn't lil Mick ask why a Wal Mart in Chicago is bad, but one just across the street in Evergreen Park is not ?
Daley is being dissed by some punk college brats. It would be a honor to hear my leader speak at my bar,or anywhere. Like I said before Daley can piss on me and I would suck it up and pretend it was a slupee from 7/11. To all the miscreant who keep attacking my leader like McDonough,and Coconate a pox all you all.
The Northwestern Students have more brains than 1.1 million Chicago registered voters, minus coconuts!
Chicago City Workers in DesPlaines May 27th - 10:37 p.m. News Maker your right. Informat Patrick McDonough the Plumber lives in DesPlaines, yet still works for the City of Chicago. Hows that work? Pat McDonough put a wire on and hurt other City workers than they give him a pass. Any worker he burned could go to his house at 1970 Everett-DesPlaines and see for yourself he lives outside Chicago. Thats breaking the law McDonough. How can you bust other workers , when YOU break the law yourself. call 1312-685-4333 or ask the IG why they condone that behavior. Mr. David Hoffman and Loevy and Loevy are supporting someone who breaks the law?
The relentless self-promotion from SEIU is very old and tiresome. They are just one union among many and if they cared about solidarity - or the truth - they would give credit where it's due, to the CFL led by Dennis Gannon. Of course, their me-me-me attitude is reflected in everything else they touch: Representing their members by 800 number. Cutting secret deals with the boss that leave workers out in the cold (http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5708 and http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sun-labor-secret-contracts-may18,0,639669.story). Sending thugs to attack other union members at a recent conference (http://www.labornotes.org/node/1604). I'm sure Jerry Morrison will be back to try to spin this. Though you'd think - hope - that the director of a statewide union has better things to do than troll blogs.
I get all my Ideas from Coconutty!!! I'm just a goof that makes more money than 100 members combined.
Text size: Mayor Richard Daley may be a political powerhouse in Chicago, but just over the city line in Evanston, some seniors at Northwestern University think he's too, well, parochial to be their commencement speaker. Students say they feel let down because the choice, announced this week, doesn't carry the cachet of recent speakers, Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain, or even last year's speaker, Julia Louis-Dreyfus of "Seinfeld." Some were hoping for the Dalai Lama. "If your goal in the speaker selection process was to make graduating seniors happy about leaving this university, then mission accomplished," Matthew Braslow of Vernon Hills wrote on Tuesday to Northwestern President Henry Bienen. Braslow also said he will not attend. Related links Editorial: No diploma confers maturity Right speaker? Is Mayor Daley an appropriate commencement speaker for Northwestern? Yes No View current results Comments: ' Elitist, spoiled, rich brats' "Matthew, grow up," Bienen wrote back Wednesday morning. Bienen's e-mail added: "You also sound like a very unhappy person. I am sorry for that. Hopefully things will improve for you over the years." But other seniors also seem to be taking the choice as a personal slight, calling the decision to honor Daley everything from "lame" to "a letdown" in interviews with the Tribune and in some of nearly 200 messages posted on The Daily Northwestern student newspaper's Web site. "The people who are vocal are disappointed. If it's a majority of people who are happy, it's a silent majority," said senior Abe Rakov, who was editor of The Daily Northwestern until March. "Almost everyone who has spoken out has been against it." While Rakov said he thinks Daley will be a "great speaker," he says students are upset because they had been pumped about the prospects after Bienen told the student newspaper this month that the speaker is an "extremely well-known person" and somebody who "doesn't make a habit" of giving graduation speeches. Bienen's vagueness led students to speculate that the choice could be former British Prime Minister Tony Blair or the exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama, Rakov said. "I thought we'd have someone with a much higher profile, especially after President Bienen hyped it so much," said senior Simon Lu. "I thought it would be someone with a national or international profile . . . I was hoping someone more famous would show up." It's true that Daley rarely delivers college graduation speeches, said Daley spokeswoman Jacquelyn Heard. He has turned down numerous university requests, she said, instead opting to speak at a couple of Chicago high school and elementary school graduations each spring. The students "are right he is not nationally known," Heard said. "He is an internationally known civic leader who is widely recognized for transforming this city into a culturally rich, economically diverse global center that draws business, visitors and residents from all over the world." Northwestern spokesman Alan Cubbage said he had seen "a couple" of e-mails from students upset about the choice of Daley to speak and receive an honorary doctor of laws degree at the commencement ceremony June 20. In a statement, Bienen cited Daley's national reputation as a leader who has addressed "the challenges facing Chicago and other American cities." He also said the honor was appropriate because Northwestern's founders met in Chicago when making plans for the university. Six other people, including Evanston Mayor Lorraine Morton, will receive honorary degrees. NU's other commencement ceremony choices have come under fire this year as well. Some Law School students were upset by the decision to have controversial talk show host Jerry Springer speak this month. And the university rescinded an offer to bestow an honorary degree on Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Jennifer Cota, a junior and president of the Northwestern Class Alliance, the student government branch of the school's alumni association, said the choice of Daley was a hot topic among the 35 students in her Chicago Way literature class Wednesday. "I think it's a great choice compared to Jerry Springer," said Cota, 21. "I think people were hoping it would be a famous Northwestern alum. I think people just really wanted someone huge" Social policy major Alexandra Broin had another take. "I know that there are some different questionable ethical things going on as long as one or both of the Daleys have been in office," said Broin, 22. "He is a questionable source for giving graduating seniors advice on how they go about taking that next important step in life." Senior David Lassiter, 22, said he was satisfied with the choice—sort of. "Obviously he's part of a Chicago legacy," he said. "It's not a disappointment, but I wanted Barack." Jodi S. Cohen is a Tribune reporter. Brian Cox is a freelance reporter. Tribune reporter Steve Schmadeke contributed. jscohen@tribune.com More articles Get Chicago Tribune home delivery and save big.
While Dennis Gannon is a fine leader the $400,000 he spent in the aldermanic elections pales in comparison to the nearly $3 million that SEIU spent. SEIU has more members in the city of Chicago than all the trades combined. Nuff said brother.
SEIU is a terrible union. They are commies. They have devastated economic development.
"Orion May 29th - 8:55 a.m. Why didn't lil Mick ask why a Wal Mart in Chicago is bad, but one just across the street in Evergreen Park is not ?" That actually makes sense.
The City of Chicago Taxpayers paid for a slew of high price lawyers investigating allegations of improprieties by the Chicago Department of Water Management employees in the North District. One employee was Paul Hansen, the son of Bernard Hansen, a retired Chicago Alderman, now a registered lobbyist in Chicago for a up and coming bank. Paul Hansen sure moved up the chain of command mighty quickly prior to the FEDS moving in on Shakman Violations in Chicago. Yesterday, Paul Hansen gave a big huggly snuggly to a high ranking Water official that just experienced an unfortunate loss of a family member yesterday. At least one interview was held in Donald Tomsczak's old office which was quite ironic. I am concerned said one source; Mayor Daley should only have us talking to lawyers employed by the City. This bill should be a whopper, but due to Chicago record high gas prices, Chicago taxpayers will pick up the tab one way or another. Patrick McDonough.
The City Law Department has found City Plumber Patrick McDonough guilty of being retarded . The taxpayers are paying the frieght for this drukin slob who has the nerve to beef on other City Workers when he himself breaks the law everyday he lives in DesPlaines. City Plumber Patrick McDonough wants to pretend he is normal,when in fact, he is a classic case of retardo defacto dowhatisaynotwhatdo split personality. His home address is 1970 Everett , DePlaines IL. (cut and paste)
coppers, firemen and sherriff keep a look out for each other
Evergreen Park didn't want a scuzzy Goldblatt's dollar type store replacing the Drury Lane Theatre.
How come Fat Tim Mitchell is not indicted. The Park District is a cesspool.
At least when Jan Pestka fired Coconate she told the truth. Say what you want about Coconate but he milked the Water Department for almost three decades. Working out at a gym when he should have made sure city workers had shoring. That is a selfish pig. Many city workers died and are injured because Frank looked the other way. Frank does not even have a job anymore! He was fired again today!
slurp,slurp,slurp...Patrick.....slurp,slurp, slurp...Daley....slurp, slurp, slurp!
Balanoff and the SEIU are real leaders. Dennis Gannon is a racist hypocrite and a sell out.
Gee how did she know Patrick Daley is in town. That rat is a slug for Daley. Sneed and Daley are real close since Ms. Daley's breast reduction!!! Frank Coconate for Alderman.
NU students cut Daley a new asshole. Da Mayor press staff worked without breaks putting favorable comments in the Tribune comment section almost 700 comments posted.
You watch , someday that student will be the nexy great US Attorney , better than step stool Fitzgerald. slurp, slurp Sneed!
"I think a lot of good things have already started happening in terms of creating an independent bloc there in the City Council, and I think a lot of good things came out of that for labor." ...like the largest property tax hike in City history
Making reference to Mrs. Daley's battle against breast cancer is a new low, especially for the brother of a sexual deviant who succumbed to his sinful lifestyle.
"I’m hoping that the Olympics will be an engine to help take care of some of our problems, like the CTA." why do we need the Olympics to fix the CTA? aren't the CTA's problems enough of a spur to fixing the CTA's problems? I'm not from out of town, I'm here every day trying to ride the CTA w/o getting kilt
"There is now a group of aldermen in the City Council who are working a little bit more in concert on key issues." this is pure fantasy
Oreo( Darro Mitchell), I would never insult anyone with breast cancer. I respect Maggie Daley, it's her husband who has lost touch with reality. My mother died of breast cancer , so I would never make light of the terrible illness. With that said, I would love to meet you one day when you grow some balls, so I can crush your fuckin face , pussy!
I listen to you denigrate a great man every day on this worthless blog. Daley has more character in his left nut than coco-fool has in his whole body. I love that Man without him life would be pointless. I would even consider it a honor to have his shit stained underwear. Piss on me Daley I will call it a Slurpee.
Oreo is just one of the many sickos with Mayor Daley. I rest my case.
how many fake orions are on this board ?
I'm still waiting for a reply from my union regarding the criteria necessary for a foreman position. My illustrious Business Agent and trusty Union Steward informed me that advancing my education was a waste of time earlier this year. Since education isn't the answer, I can only surmise that the sought after criteria entails the following: clout, nepotism, cronyism, fundraising ability, and engratiating skills. Who is the sick freak talking about his underwear and slurpees? Does he really have a management position in the City?
www.frankcoconate.com Gooooo Frankyyyyyy!
Read and learn: http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/
As we all know, President-Elect Obama was on the US Senate Committee for Health Care and continues to pursue advanced technology for electronic medical records. Take a look at the following new medical record technology that has recently been seen on CNN and ABC. The secure medical record digital card with audio and video that has recently hit the market is the size of a credit card, fits in your wallet and carries our medical records securely and is password protected. CNN and ABC have run this recent technology and thought I would send it your way for review. CNN - http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-164267 ABC - http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-166532 This is very important to the advancement of health care, accuracy of information, and health care for Americans. Best regards, Jeannie McLaughlin jeannie@jumplab.com 972-983-4258
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