Historically the union has shunned mayor-for-life Chavez in favor of shall we say... more liberal candidates like former councilor and mayoral candidate Eric Griego. But something changed this year when the Local 624's parent union AFSCME Council 18 endorsed non-candidate Chavez - who didn't bother attending their mayoral forum - back in May.
It appears the blue collar workers want their voices to be heard on the question of who they think should be mayor.It all came to a head last Thursday when two union leaders apparently came to blows (or blow) and APD was called.
So the blue-collar workers are going to poll the workers and then release the results to see who they truly think should be running the city.
Every time I hear about the AFSCME endorsement of Chavez, I remember back to the mayoral candidates forum where Chavez sent a representative instead [of] appearing himself.
According to Sanchez, the union needed 10 percent of its members to vote last Thursday in order to make the vote a legitimate representation of the membership. Ultimately, 91 members voted out of a total of 850 members.After the vote was completed and the police reports filed, 100 or so members of Local 624 had cast their votes. Wednesday night those votes were to be counted, but union President Steven Griego shut it down.
Things got heated, Sanchez alleged, when the local’s president, Steve Griego, tried to impede the effort by calling members and telling them the voting would be over by 3 p.m.
“It’s gotten out of hand,” Griego said, referring to his fellow union members. Some of those members shouted angrily at Griego as he walked out of a large conference room without acknowledging their taunts.The endorsement furor reminded us of the "fix is in" attitude over at the APOA. Our Eyes tell us that APOA President Joey Sagala has decreed that His Almightiness "will receive" the union's endorsement.- New Mexico IndependentThe vote wouldn’t have amounted to an official endorsement, or lack thereof, by Local 624, but it would have allowed members to express themselves on the mayor’s race.
“I said let’s get the members, let them have a voice,” said local 624 treasurer Lawrence Mora.
“It’s our local. They’re shanghai-ing this thing,” Jake Romero, another member, said referring to Council 18.
Like AFSCME, endorsements at the APOA are generally determined by a political action committee. The sizesof these committees vary, but the general membership has no input on the final say so.
The APOA political action committee has traditionally held interviews with candidates to determine which candidate will receive their endorsement. And this year was no different... except that the interviews were held back in January when there was but one announced candidate - Michael Cadigan.
According to our Eyes the only candidate interviewed that is still in (or not yet in) the race is one Martin Chavez. Apparently, union President Sagala told committee members that he would send out candidate questionnaires, but to date no one has seen the questions or the answers.
More importantly, the endorsement vote was held in the union offices with but a few hours notification. Even committee members don't know who was present, how many voted and for whom even though the vote was supposedly "unanimous." But it seems that having a fair and accurate vote is less important to current President Sagala and Past-President Olivas than making sure that the endorsement goes to Marty.
[Sidebar]Looks like a couple of union votes have been shanghaied so far and our Eyes tell a tale of similar happenings over at the Albuquerque Fire Department where they've endorsed un-candidate Chavez, yet many of the rank and file are reportedly supporting Berry.
We've been hearing allegations for years that the path for a police officer without rank to a comfortable position with the city is through the APOA presidency. Consider Lawrence Torres who used to negotiate contracts for the union, now negotiates on behalf of the city or Ron Olivas receiving a "cush" job over at SID.
It's too bad that term limits have been ruled unconstitutional. The longer an executive sits in office the more power they garner to themselves and the more self-seeking and unscrupulous people try to curry favor.
[End Sidebar]
So... when you see the smiling faces of the APOA's Joey Sagala, Albuquerque Area Fire Fighters' Diego Arencon, or AFSCME's Steven Griego, understand that even in the best of times their union endorsements don't represent the opinions of all of their members. In this case, in this election year, it seems as if the fix is in and the endorsements they present to the public are nothing more than the result of a rigged process designed to favor a mayor that would be king.
----- Correction -----
We originally spelled APOA President Joey Sagala's last name "Segalla." The error has been corrected above.
28 comments:
Fire and police got significant raises in there last round of negotiations. The politicians that support public safety get fire and police endorsements.
When those endorsements are announced, the public will know who fights to keep us safe.
I have been a member of this union for 15 years (APOA.) I can't ever remember the membership endorsing Smarty, but the flunkies that run it have these backroom deals and endorse him. Its unfortunate that the higher up command staff and some 34s have prostituted themselves to Smarty. Seems that people with integrity stay away from this place.
Talk to any of the board members on the political action committee....they willl tell you the same thing. There was a meeting with the Mayor and the members of the APOA were basically told....either the APOA gives the endorsement or the Mayor would make the department pay dearly for their lack of support. The endorsement was simply a self-preservation action...protecting the department from retaliation for the next 1 to 5 (pending re-election) years There was no buyout of the endorsement, but threats and intimidation by the Mayor. You can be sure that similar directives were made to the other unions as well.
Why would you even care about a fire or police endorsment? Those of us thay follow this blog, and I am sure the author of this blog, believe unions and their comrads in Washington are destroying this country.
What have the unions ever done for the people who pay dues? The fire and police unions fall in line when their Democrayic leaders bark an order.
Collective Barganing = Socialism
Joey and RON and their gang run the APOA TO SERVE WHO ? OH THAT WOULD BE THEM. Union paid trips to Las Vagas,Boston,Washington DC and we are only six months into the year. OH BUT LETS not forget the memberships to Calibers.so RON could get his special position. Now the gang is going to the MAYORS BALL at the zoo on Saturday. And what hotel are you all stayng at after the ball ? Here is a clue. It is the same one that marty had his hit and run DWI accident at. YOU know the accident Ray Schults covered up for him. SO boys eat drink and plan your next SCAM ! Maybe we will get lucky and you will run into an honest cop when you leave before you run over a citizen.
The rank and file never has a say, its just as political as the race itself. Payoffs are made behind closed doors, deals are cut for the leadership only leaving the little guys and gals to fend for themselves!!
No, the endorsement was not unanimous at the time, The president of the security local voted no "until he consulted with his board, and members to see who they want to endorse".
He was the only one who even mentioned doing what his membership wanted, or his board, and also raised the question of why anyone would be considering Chavez for endorsement when he hadn't yet declared his candidacy.
Which is what the other presidents SHOULD have done.
Our unions and politicians are walking hand in hand just like they did in California.
But in California it appears they walked right off the cliff because no one would say STOP to their tax and spend agenda.
What will Albuquerque say?
Where they all drinking or what.
Just cuz the union endorsed the troll don't think that everyone in the union votes for him. I don't and I know a lot of other members don't. Segalla is a fu*#&% rookie that doesn't know what the APD has in store for him and the 5th manipulates him. Thats the kind of cop I would want showing up at my house telling me to put my hands behind my back, someone who can't stand on his own two feet and make a decision. He has the opportunity to take a life, don't forget that, and he can't stand up to a little troll. Let the troll threaten APD, who cares, how worse can it get. The troll starts all his 'promises' right before an election. Now the rumor is 4 10's for swing shift, so the troll can buy more votes and then take everything away from us after the election. Voters beware we better not re-elect Chavez the APD can't take another 4 years of this administration.
This is what I heard about the endorsement. Chavez said that if the APOA doesn't endorse him and he is re-elected, then the city budget is in an emergency and those negotiated raises that are supposed to take effect right after the election (Jan 2010 and July 2010)will be frozen due to the tough economic times. If he gets the endorsement and is re-elected, then he has the money to fund the raises and not declare an emergency thereby cutting out the contract.
Isn't the goal of a union to do what is best for the membership? The "membership" as a whole will never agree on ONE candidate!!! Therefor there will always be a group that will be unhappy with the unions endorsement regardless of who they endorse. It is a lose/lose situation. The union board works hard to make the best decisions for their members.
The APOA and Fire Department unions should be professionals and just stay out of it by endorsing NOBODY.
I think those people who are not happy with the union's choice should try and dissolve the union.
Unions take money and members receive nothing. Officers will be better off negotiating on there own.
END THE UNION IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY OR QUIT BIT**ING.
who cares if we don't get a raise we have gone years without a raise before, we always make need on our indiviudal needs. we need to take a stand and do what is best for the city and not always our pocket cuz we can over come and adapt.
Chavez for Mayor
I still remember seeing APD officers on Civic Plaza carrying signs and wearing T-shirts that read, "Anyone But Baca". You all voted for Marty because he said his next Chief would be someone from your ranks. You voted him in and you got Gallegos out of retirement and into disgrace and then Schultz from Scottsdale, AZ. Fools. You got what you voted for the last time. Now what?
Now what? "Anybody but Chavez" that's what. Muck Farty!
For any of you bitching that the union doesn't do anything for its members, you really ought to notice that both AFD and APD are getting raises without having shown any performance improvement during a time in which those of us in the private sector are having to take pay cuts in order to keep our jobs at all.
Don't kid your self, in the real world, the union endorcement has no power! The APOA is a joke, I would not even sweat who got the endorcement! Get out and work for Richard Romero, he will clear the "white is right" 5th floor at the PD. Little NY has to go!!!
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. (Thomas Jefferson)
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. (Thomas Jefferson)
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. (Thomas Jefferson)
I agree Ray Boy has promoted some idiots to the 5h floor. All of them were less than average and ran inside at the first opportunity. Richard Romero will set things straight then the 5th floor can get a job at some range picking up brass. Not the APD range those idiots will be gone also. That will make some room for us at the bottom.
Richard Berry for Mayor!
"For any of you bitching that the union doesn't do anything for its members, you really ought to notice that both AFD and APD are getting raises without having shown any performance improvement...."
Brilliant assessment (insert sarcasm) except you missed the fact that a major reason for the raises was to attract more applicants. If you remember only a couple of years ago they were hiring and keeping people like Levi Chavez. This was all done BEFORE the recession...in hindsight the APOA folks made out but only in lucky timing. If the contract were up for renewal this year....nothing would be on the table.
And just out of curiosity how do you show "performance improvement" out of police department?
Those of you in the "private sector" are more than welcome to apply for APD or AFD if you are unhappy with your current pay situation.
MUCK FARTY IN 2009! Make your vote count! Don't just sit on the sidelines.
Do you really think Ray has much to do with promotions above the rank of Commander????
Ray has little say in promotions to Capt and above -- its politics baby-- and dont you bet that any chief before him had it any better. Captains and DCs are chosen by a cabal of folks across the street and from the community--- don't think for a minute that a chief can promote anyone that has ever come across any political radar in a negative light--- I can show you about a dozen guys who retired as LTs who can attest to that B.S.
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