By Guy Snyder

Political involvement on the local government level by union members and organized labor supporters often proves difficult to achieve.

Though labor's voice should be heard on school boards, village and city councils, and county commissioners, factors such as the heavy time commitment involved, expense and work necessary to run even a modest election campaign, and often low or non-existent compensation for local office holders discourages many.

Even if they have the interest, working people - such as the skilled construction trades - can find these obstacles insurmountable.

Over the past ten years in Grand Rapids an alliance of political action committees from a number of unions has been working on that problem. The informally organized group, which calls itself the "Friends of Labor" (FOL), has united a number of construction union locals with unions representing school teachers, fire fighters, and police.

Over the years numerous candidates have approached the group, requesting its endorsement. FOL endorsed candidates who have won public office as a result, include the current mayor of Grand Rapids and nearly all of its city commissioners.

Buck Geno of the West Michigan Plumbers, Fitters & Services Trades Local 174, says FOL members are not assessed any dues nor can they offer candidates any financial contributions. Instead it serves as a forum where candidates can address union representatives at one time, with each union then independently deciding which candidate should receive financial or volunteer support.

"Friends of Labor began by running a series of seminars on how to run political campaigns," Geno says. "And while we haven't run the seminars lately, with the new campaign cycle getting underway we'll probably get back to doing them. What we have done is connect labor friendly candidates to things they need, which often is not just money for their campaign, but volunteers to help with distributing flyers, put up signs, and that kind of thing."

In addition to Geno's local, FOL members include the Communication Workers of America Local 4034; Grand Rapids Fire Fighters Local 366; the Grand Rapids Public Officers Labor Council; Local 406 of the General Teamsters Union; Michigan Education Association; Grand Rapids Education Association; Kent-Ionia Labor Council; West Michigan Building Trades Council - Ironworkers Local 340; Midwestern Council of Industrial Workers; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 275; Carpenters Local 100; Grand Rapids Employees Independent Union; Sheet Metal Workers Local 7; United Food & Commercial Workers Local 951; Kalamazoo County Education Association; Amalgamated Transit Union Local 836; Retail, Wholesale & Department Store Union; and the United Auto Workers Region 1-D.

"There's only one purpose for the FOL's existence," says Bruce Hawley of Ironworkers Local 340. "And that's political. It also gives us an opportunity to sit down at the union table with the UAW, SIEU, the teachers, and the cops. Among the skilled trades, because we have no dues, it also gives a way where the Change To Win Federation can continue working with Building & Construction Trade Department members of the AFL-CIO."

As to be expected, various political action committees formed by construction unions and employer associations across Michigan are active in the political arena, though usually independently. Michael Crawford of the Michigan Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association, says the Mid-Michigan Construction Alliance, of which he's a member, has endorsed candidates for school boards as well as county and state government.

During the November 2004 election Crawford himself served as campaign manager for Linda Cornish, co-owner of Ro-Lyn Electrical Inc. of Lansing, in her successful run for a seat on Lansing's Board of Education.

"My association and other construction groups are also quite active in helping school districts with bond issue campaigns," Crawford adds. "There's a lot of work involved in getting the word out to voters about the need for renovating and expanding the school buildings and equipment kids need."

What makes FOL unique is its broad representation of labor unions, which gives it a number of advantages. One is logistical, Geno notes. "That wide network is where we're able to get the manpower together to go out and get the campaigning work done." But there's a philosophical component as well. Local candidates gaining an FOL endorsement means they've passed muster not only as far as the construction industry is concerned, but with a wide swath of organized labor from many diverse professions.

There are of course some divisive social issues, such as a local candidate's stand on the death penalty or abortion, that can generate controversy within the FOL. To alleviate that, Geno says, the group has a standing agreement to rate candidates primarily based on where they stand on issues directly impacting labor, such as the payment of prevailing wages, health care, and pension benefits.

"It really has a positive, grassroot effect on union members," notes Hawley. "Often they feel separated from candidates, very detached, but getting involved with what we're doing as volunteers gets them to realize just how significant they are. We live in a democracy and all votes count. It can even be inspirational, make them feel they're part of the system. It can even get individual members so sparked that they may end up running for offices themselves."