Battle Lines Being Drawn Between Labor and Elorza

Battle Lines Being Drawn Between Labor and Elorza

Providence Mayor-elect Jorge Elorza won with 2014 election with over 52% of the vote -- but as opponent Vincent "Buddy" Cianci had secured the majority of endorsements from public sector unions, battle lines are potentially being drawn between labor and the new Mayor-elect.  

During the campaign, two-time Mayor Cianci was endorsed by the Providence Fraternal Order of Police, the Providence Firefighters Local 799, and the Providence Teachers Union, as well as the Providence Central Federated Council AFL-CIO and other labor groups.  

"I'm not sure that Mayor-elect Elorza has any interest in the Providence Central Labor Council," said Paul MacDonald with the Providence Central Federated Council, which consists of affiliates of the Building Trades, Industrial, Service and Public Employee AFL-CIO Unions, the Teamsters, and Carpenters Unions in the Greater Providence area.  "That's OK since we can only hope that he will be successful and if he can do that without us, hooray for him."

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"I called Mayor-elect Elorza the day after the election to congratulate him and tell him that I looked forward to working with him on his voicemail, as of this date I have not heard back," said Maribeth Calabro with the Providence Teachers Union.  "I am hoping that through his “One Providence” campaign platform that we will be able to work together to continue to move our district forward in the best interest if the students we serve."

Elorza's union support during the campaign included the United Food and Commercial Workers, Service Employees International Unions, and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, as well as building trades unions.

"Mayor-elect Elorza will be reaching out to the City's union leadership soon and is looking forward to working with the unions to move Providence forward in the months and years to come," said Elorza communications director Marisa O'Gara.  

Forward Focus

Elorza, who has been Mayor-elect for just under two weeks, has already announced his transition team of Victor Capellan, Sally Lapides, and Lisa Ranglin, as well as his picks for Chief of Staff (Tony Simon), Chief Operating Officer (Brett Smiley) and Community Relations Advisor (Grace Diaz). 

Paul Doughty with the Providence Firefighters Local 799 -- who had endorsed Cianci -- said that he hadn't been in touch yet with the Elorza camp since the election, but would be keeping watch of a number of components of the upcoming administration.  

"I have not reached out to them yet, I'm letting him get his staff settled first," said Doughty.  "We'll look at the budget first and foremost.  We're anxious to see how his export plan develops.  Overall, the unions have come to understand, in order for us to keep the cost of living down and economy improving, the city's got to grow.  He mentioned that the export doubling was a key component of that."  

Doughty noted that the development of the 195 land was another facet of the upcoming administration he would be following closely.  

"Obviously, overall it's a gem in terms of the location, and the infrastructure's coming along.  Right now we're focused on the TSAs, especially since the city just renewed a number of them," said Doughy of tax stabilization agreements.  "We supported a TSA for the nursing school at South Street -- but in the absence of showing there's dramatic benefits, we're opposed to businesses coming back around again to the city, hats in their hands, looking for handouts. If you can't make your business work ten, fifteen years down the road, maybe you're in the wrong business."  

While the firefighters supported Cianci, Doughty said that looking forward -- and having the news administration grow the economy -- is the goal.  

"I think there's no long term 'friends and enemies," said Doughty.  "It's not the case we didn't like [Elorza].  Our only measurement for endorsement was who we thought could grow the economy faster.  We're pro-business -- we've got to grow the economy -- not just for firefighters and public safety -- but for everyone.  That's how we'll all move forward together." 

Contracts on Table

The Providence Teachers Union is currently has a focus on its new contract -- which Calabro said is one of her "top priorities."  

"Right now one of my top priorities is to get a tentative agreement and subsequently a collective bargaining agreement that respects Providence teachers and the amazing work they do everyday," said Calabro.  

Doughty noted that the firefighters contract is through 2017, and he wouldn't consider going back to the table. "I wouldn't entertain any concessions," said Doughty.  

"I want the new Administration to be the best, if so we all win," said MacDonald.  "This is no time to be wishing the Mayor Elect fail. He has enormous challenges in front of him and I know of no union that wants failure for the Capitol City."  

"Can he get the support of the city council will be a bigger challenge for him than labor.  The big question for the Mayor is he willing to work with the Teachers, firefighters, hotel/bartenders and the big one the Laborers union 1033," continued MacDonald.  "As for Mayor Cianci, we are proud we supported him. He lost to Mayor Elect Elorza and now everyone should help the new Mayor."