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News & ArtsFriday, September 18, 2009
Politics Why Is Labor Supporting Joe Mallahan?
Posted by Brendan Kiley on Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Joe Mallahan, a former vice president of "operations strategy" at T-Mobile, has amassed an unusual coalition of support: business and labor.
It's a little weird—not least because during the primary, Big Labor and Big Business attacked Mallahan, paying $50,000 for robo-calls disparaging his lack of political experience and T-Mobile's hostility to unions.
T-Mobile is owned by Deutsche Telekom, a German parent company. Deutsche Telekom's union, TU, recently released a report roundly condemning T-Mobile USA for discouraging union organization:
T-Mobile workers in the US have no union representation and are not allowed to bargain collectively for their working conditions...The unfairness of this treatment of T-Mobile USA workers seems even more unacceptable given that T-Mobile USA made profit and revenue increases of 6-7% in 2008 and the USA business brings in 25% of the company's total revenue. Moreover, T-Mobile USA employees generated 43% more revenue per employee and cost the company 30% less in personnel costs per employee than in Germany.
"There is hostility by T-Mobile management across America to any union activity," said Al Kogler, an organizing coordinator of the Communications Workers of America. "We won an unfair labor practice charge in Portland, where T-Mobile asked for anti-union surveillance from its employees."
I asked Kogler, who lives in Colorado, why a vice-president at T-Mobile headquarters would attract so much political support from Big Labor.
"That is a complete mystery to me," he answered. "This is me playing fortuneteller without a license—but it's my understanding you have a tunnel project out there. The trades are always supportive of big projects."
So does Kogler suspect local unions are willing to sell out the more progressive candidate in exchange for a single megaproject?
He—wisely—deflected the question.
The irony is that McGinn may have brought this on himself. By being a single-issue candidate in the primaries, on the wrong side for the unions, he may have forced them away.
But why have the unions reversed their position and endorsed Mallahan instead of staying agnostic? Why do they now embrace a man who a) they attacked just a few weeks ago and b) worked at the top echelons of a virulently anti-union business?
What does labor like about Joe Mallahan?
I called 'em up and asked. I'll post their answers later today.
3
McGinn blew it big-time by (a) failing to show up for an endorsement interview with the MLK County Labor Council, (b) failing to return phone calls from at least three unions affiliated with the MLKCLC, and (c) showing up for the labor-sponsored forum Wednesday night with non-union printed materials.
The tunnel is a big issue for the construction and maritime unions, but no one likes to be blown off by a political candidate, especially if said candidate repeatedly says in public speeches that he's actively seeking your support.
McGinn lost labor's endorsement because he's a dope - or his campaign manager is...
The tunnel is a big issue for the construction and maritime unions, but no one likes to be blown off by a political candidate, especially if said candidate repeatedly says in public speeches that he's actively seeking your support.
McGinn lost labor's endorsement because he's a dope - or his campaign manager is...
4
It shouldn't be a surprise that labor was happy with Nickels, thought he'd get through the primary (people were predicting as much), and were willing to attack the primary candidate who scared them most. A Nickels-McGinn general election wouldn't have nearly the drama we're getting now or be quite as vicious as a Nickels-Mallahan general might have been.
It's not always about one big project, but also empathy with what your group advocates. It would appear so far that McGinn has done everything possible to make labor groups unhappy. In turn, they went with the candidate who at least promised to listen to them.
Mallahan is a Catholic Democrat who grew up in a labor household. Even if his most recent job was with an anti-union company, there's a good chance he'll be more supportive than McGinn. Yes, on the tunnel, but also on other matters.
It's not always about one big project, but also empathy with what your group advocates. It would appear so far that McGinn has done everything possible to make labor groups unhappy. In turn, they went with the candidate who at least promised to listen to them.
Mallahan is a Catholic Democrat who grew up in a labor household. Even if his most recent job was with an anti-union company, there's a good chance he'll be more supportive than McGinn. Yes, on the tunnel, but also on other matters.
5
did it ever occur to you to ask the unions why the support Mallahan instead of some guy in Colorado who doesn't know anything about Seattle politics? did you actually study journalism?
6
its jobs for the trades' membership. duh. do we need a whole post for this?
blue collar, high paying jobs. nothing to see here.
blue collar, high paying jobs. nothing to see here.
7
When unions sell out to anti union candidates for some temporary gain, it's really harmful to their long term goals. I remember being angry when unions supported Reagan. My thinking was they had sold out to the very person who would do them the most harm. He did. Remember how he fired the air traffic controllers who voted for a strike? It's done long term damage to air safety and didn't do much for the controllers either.
8
Moreover, T-Mobile USA employees generated 43% more revenue per employee and cost the company 30% less in personnel costs per employee than in Germany.
Now why on earth would there be a 30% difference in personnel costs per employee? Perhaps, and I'm just going out on a limb here, it has to do with the fact that unions raise the costs of employment.
Now why on earth would there be a 30% difference in personnel costs per employee? Perhaps, and I'm just going out on a limb here, it has to do with the fact that unions raise the costs of employment.
9
Neither McGinn nor Mallahan know much of anything about labor. Neither of them have experience with social justice issues or talk in any meaningful way about affordability issues facing Seattle residents. So you shouldn't presume either one is "progressive" or "conservative" on the issues that matter to working people. Neither is good, but neither is a known quantity either. Personally, that's why I think labor should not have endorsed anyone in the general election.
However, the tunnel does matter to people in organized labor, not just the building trades unions. You could call and ask people in the labor movement why. Or you could call union leaders in other parts of the country trying to get them to agree with your hunch that labor is selling out. That's a pretty weak stunt.
However, the tunnel does matter to people in organized labor, not just the building trades unions. You could call and ask people in the labor movement why. Or you could call union leaders in other parts of the country trying to get them to agree with your hunch that labor is selling out. That's a pretty weak stunt.
11
Really? You have to ask?
Think about it. What does labor crave? What do they care about? Certainty. Stability. Predictability. The certainty of a job. The reliability of a settled wage. The security of bargaining agreement provisions in black & white.
What to they hate? Uncertainty, the opposite of above. The fear that at any minute they could be out of job, that the rules could change, that they could get screwed without recourse. In other words, things the McGinn and Mallahan have sent distinctly different messages on.
McGinn is the x-factor, he wants to open things up, have more process; he's unpredictable, in short, risky & uncertain.
Precisely because of his T-Mobile baggage, Mallahan has had to talk proactively about labor, the importance of labor, his support for labor, including personal anecdotes about family history in labor. So they go the direction in which they perceive less risk. And really, who could blame them?
Think about it. What does labor crave? What do they care about? Certainty. Stability. Predictability. The certainty of a job. The reliability of a settled wage. The security of bargaining agreement provisions in black & white.
What to they hate? Uncertainty, the opposite of above. The fear that at any minute they could be out of job, that the rules could change, that they could get screwed without recourse. In other words, things the McGinn and Mallahan have sent distinctly different messages on.
McGinn is the x-factor, he wants to open things up, have more process; he's unpredictable, in short, risky & uncertain.
Precisely because of his T-Mobile baggage, Mallahan has had to talk proactively about labor, the importance of labor, his support for labor, including personal anecdotes about family history in labor. So they go the direction in which they perceive less risk. And really, who could blame them?
12
@3
To which I'd add: the Labor folks who got to know McGinn during his Great Cities stint found him to be unciritical of any developer or project that he perceived as promoting density and transit, and flatly unreceptive to working class concerns.
To which I'd add: the Labor folks who got to know McGinn during his Great Cities stint found him to be unciritical of any developer or project that he perceived as promoting density and transit, and flatly unreceptive to working class concerns.
13
serotonein @4:
It's hilarious to hear some of the rationalizations people have for projecting their hopes on to the political cipher that is Joe Mallahan. Like, he must be strongly pro-union because:
1. He's Catholic. And hey, for all we know Mike McGinn (he of the Irish, i.e. Catholic-sounding name) may be a Jew. Lord forbid.
2. He's a Democrat. Y'know, unlike that Mike McGinn guy who for all we know could be a Republican who's been fakin' this Democrat thing all these years.
3. He grew up in a labor household. Which of course explains how he was able to rise through the ranks of a notoriously anti-union company.
That said, I'll be anxious to hear the particular unions' own answers for why they're supporting Mallahan.
Mallahan is a Catholic Democrat who grew up in a labor household. Even if his most recent job was with an anti-union company, there's a good chance he'll be more supportive than McGinn.
It's hilarious to hear some of the rationalizations people have for projecting their hopes on to the political cipher that is Joe Mallahan. Like, he must be strongly pro-union because:
1. He's Catholic. And hey, for all we know Mike McGinn (he of the Irish, i.e. Catholic-sounding name) may be a Jew. Lord forbid.
2. He's a Democrat. Y'know, unlike that Mike McGinn guy who for all we know could be a Republican who's been fakin' this Democrat thing all these years.
3. He grew up in a labor household. Which of course explains how he was able to rise through the ranks of a notoriously anti-union company.
That said, I'll be anxious to hear the particular unions' own answers for why they're supporting Mallahan.
14
So once again.. why do we care about organized labor union thoughts?
Labor unions aren't as powerful in this area as you make them out to be...
*yawn*
Who the fuck cares. Go ask Microsoft employees what they think? How do they poll? Go ask Amazon employees what they think.... hey what about them Starbuck corporate employees? REI anyone?
I'm so tired of hearing the same song and dance about what unions think.
We all know that unions contribute to this fucked up mess of an economy we have. They are paid more than what they are worth, which fails simple capitalist mores... thus skewing the "system" we all live in.
Unions were so 40 years ago...
Moving on...
Labor unions aren't as powerful in this area as you make them out to be...
*yawn*
Who the fuck cares. Go ask Microsoft employees what they think? How do they poll? Go ask Amazon employees what they think.... hey what about them Starbuck corporate employees? REI anyone?
I'm so tired of hearing the same song and dance about what unions think.
We all know that unions contribute to this fucked up mess of an economy we have. They are paid more than what they are worth, which fails simple capitalist mores... thus skewing the "system" we all live in.
Unions were so 40 years ago...
Moving on...
15
Ever notice how management tends to portray lower US labor costs and higher productivity to be a result of and argument for preserving a nonunion or weak-union labor force? They point to stats like those excerpted here and say "lookee how strong unionization would hurt US shareholder value and American competitiveness!" And people like @8 tend to believe it.
Management's argument pretends correlation is causation, conveniently ignoring the bigger picture. (Like yesterday's Slog post blaming labor for Boeing's 787 delays.)
So today you declare the strong German labor unions are right to urge US unionization. And yesterday you declared the strong US unions corrupt and deserving of hulk-smashing, legitimate only if members reformed into shareholder-value-preserving profit-sharers.
Both can't be right. I sincerely hope the unions return those calls of yours and help reconcile that a bit.
Management's argument pretends correlation is causation, conveniently ignoring the bigger picture. (Like yesterday's Slog post blaming labor for Boeing's 787 delays.)
So today you declare the strong German labor unions are right to urge US unionization. And yesterday you declared the strong US unions corrupt and deserving of hulk-smashing, legitimate only if members reformed into shareholder-value-preserving profit-sharers.
Both can't be right. I sincerely hope the unions return those calls of yours and help reconcile that a bit.
16
I highly doubt that Joe Mallahan decided the corporate policy discouraging union organization for the entirety of T-Mobile's US operations.
Just because you work for a business/corporation/government agency, or whatever, doesn't mean you agree with all of its policies.
Just because you work for a business/corporation/government agency, or whatever, doesn't mean you agree with all of its policies.
17
It ain't just the jobs a mega project like the tunnel will create, it's also the jobs that will move out of the city if the tunnel is scratched in favor of the "surface" option. It is an industrial corridor in addition to a route commuters use. It goes, and those jobs do to.
18
"Neither of them have experience with social justice issues "
Yes! No doubt neither one has advised folks on how to open up a brothel for underage Salvadoran girls using federal programs.
Yes! No doubt neither one has advised folks on how to open up a brothel for underage Salvadoran girls using federal programs.
19
Thank you for your comments @14, now get back to work.
And since clearly you haven't paid much attention to this issue, you DO know that the Puget Sound region has one of the highest densities of union membership per capita of any urban area in the nation, right? You are also no doubt aware that union membership has been on the increase during the past several years, even despite the loss of jobs during the current recession, right? And that last year alone saw the largest annual increase of union membership nationwide since the government began compiling such date more than 25 years ago, right?
So clearly, unions are very much "today", despite your ineffectual protestations to the contrary...
Unions are relevant to this story because they represent the single largest collective assemblage of workers in this region, and as a result they have both political and economic clout. Politicians, even neophytes like Mallahan understand this, which is why he's been actively seeking their support, and why his GETTING that support is newsworthy.
As for "being paid more than they are worth" by whose standard? Yours? Capitalism dictates that in the tug-of-war between labor and capital, workers earn whatever the market will bear, and for whatever they can negotiate for with management. If that in your mind translates into "too much", well, maybe YOU are the one being underpaid by market standards - being part of a Collective Bargaining Unit would probably help in that regard, but it sounds like you're waaaaay to "independent" to demean yourself by acting in solidarity with your fellow workers.
And, um, exactly how is that working out for you?
As to the issue-at-hand: I can tell you that Mallahan won the support of KCLC delegates because he's been actively reaching out to unions, soliciting feedback from them, listening to their concerns, and at least making promises to work with them. Now, we all know that sometimes politicians make promises they end up not keeping for various reasons, but given the absence of any actual track record on the part of either candidate in this race, it would appear many unions are willing to go out on a limb and take him at his word - for now. If he takes office, they'll be expecting him to make good on his promises; if he does he'll have earned their trust, if not, they'll drop their support for him like a radioactive tuber.
More...
And since clearly you haven't paid much attention to this issue, you DO know that the Puget Sound region has one of the highest densities of union membership per capita of any urban area in the nation, right? You are also no doubt aware that union membership has been on the increase during the past several years, even despite the loss of jobs during the current recession, right? And that last year alone saw the largest annual increase of union membership nationwide since the government began compiling such date more than 25 years ago, right?
So clearly, unions are very much "today", despite your ineffectual protestations to the contrary...
Unions are relevant to this story because they represent the single largest collective assemblage of workers in this region, and as a result they have both political and economic clout. Politicians, even neophytes like Mallahan understand this, which is why he's been actively seeking their support, and why his GETTING that support is newsworthy.
As for "being paid more than they are worth" by whose standard? Yours? Capitalism dictates that in the tug-of-war between labor and capital, workers earn whatever the market will bear, and for whatever they can negotiate for with management. If that in your mind translates into "too much", well, maybe YOU are the one being underpaid by market standards - being part of a Collective Bargaining Unit would probably help in that regard, but it sounds like you're waaaaay to "independent" to demean yourself by acting in solidarity with your fellow workers.
And, um, exactly how is that working out for you?
As to the issue-at-hand: I can tell you that Mallahan won the support of KCLC delegates because he's been actively reaching out to unions, soliciting feedback from them, listening to their concerns, and at least making promises to work with them. Now, we all know that sometimes politicians make promises they end up not keeping for various reasons, but given the absence of any actual track record on the part of either candidate in this race, it would appear many unions are willing to go out on a limb and take him at his word - for now. If he takes office, they'll be expecting him to make good on his promises; if he does he'll have earned their trust, if not, they'll drop their support for him like a radioactive tuber.
20
To what union do writers at the Stranger belong? Do the publishers of the Stranger allow unions to come and talk to writers and a allow a vote to organize? What was the last union to be allowed to try to organize Stranger writers?
21
@15 To be fair to me, I didn't comment on the boeing situation yesterday.
My only statement, and it is factual as the day is long, is "unions raise the cost of employment."
My only statement, and it is factual as the day is long, is "unions raise the cost of employment."
24
"And is there anything wrong with that"
None at all, that's why we have China....or South Carolina.
None at all, that's why we have China....or South Carolina.
25
JF, I was mostly griping at Brendan, not you. And FWIW your statement is true on its face, but it's clear the overarching national economic benefits of sound labor policies like Germany's make businesses able to absorb the additional nominal costs you describe with an ease our domestic industries can only envy.
26
McGinn did not fail to show up at the endorsement interview.
McGinn's campaign strategist ALWAYS uses union printers, and in fact, that was confirmed the night of the forum in person (when asked) and is stated in the questionnaire.
Phone calls were returned. Questionnaires filled out.
Labor made their decision, but it doesn't have much to do with McGinn and more to do with the tunnel that they THINK will be built.
McGinn's campaign strategist ALWAYS uses union printers, and in fact, that was confirmed the night of the forum in person (when asked) and is stated in the questionnaire.
Phone calls were returned. Questionnaires filled out.
Labor made their decision, but it doesn't have much to do with McGinn and more to do with the tunnel that they THINK will be built.
27
The tunnel is dead - the state announced a new $384 million budget shortfall yesterday.
Face it, something has to get killed - and the tunnel is something the voters don't want, so it's DEAD.
Face it, something has to get killed - and the tunnel is something the voters don't want, so it's DEAD.
28
Mallahan is not original and will be too stupid to stand up to developers who see the opening up of the waterfront because of the tunnel.
McGinn has the guts too stand up, place developers in uneasy situations by not letting them pave and bulldoze anywhere they want.
In short, Mallahan can be bought and bullied. McGinn cannot.
McGinn has the guts too stand up, place developers in uneasy situations by not letting them pave and bulldoze anywhere they want.
In short, Mallahan can be bought and bullied. McGinn cannot.
29
In my talks with my union organizers, it was about the tunnel, and the access of the Interbay portage area to the SODO.
(This was before any additional problems arising from an all-volunteer campaign, which naturally creates difficulties with long-established endorsement groups which expect you to come to them, rather than vice versa.)
Last I checked, there were two big problems with the Interbay access theory: (1) The bored tunnel exits onto Aurora, at the Mercer mess; so going down the waterfront street will be as fast as just getting to the tunnel entrance from 15th Ave NW; and (2) Freight carrying certain flammables will be forbidden from the tunnel (for obvious safety reasons).
So, it appears that Labor has bought the foolish WSDOT calculations predicting that the tunnel will relieve surface traffic, and make the beautified waterfront boulevard a less-congested truck route. I can tell right now, its a fantasy. I don't know any city that has ever built itself out of a traffic jam. Many cities still have mobility, but only by embracing transit and giving it special access.
So, if the unions want politicians who talk with them rather than at them, I hope unions will talk with their rank and file (many of us who ride transit), rather than at us.
If ATU is serious about getting buses out of traffic jams, I hope they will be there with me to ask that private cars be banned from 3rd and 4th Ave in downtown.
I had no delusions about the old-school thinking of unions when I helped unionize my workplace. My union brothers and sisters are a very politically diverse bunch, and few make their voting decisions based on who the union endorses. I'd like to see that change, but it will only happen if the union's political committees talk with the rank and file, rather than at us.
I was embarrassed at how unfairly Mallahan was targetted by attack robo-calls in the primary. Nevertheless, I am voting based on who I personally think better understands the needs and aspirations of working-class folks, and I am convinced that that person is Mike McGinn.
More...
(This was before any additional problems arising from an all-volunteer campaign, which naturally creates difficulties with long-established endorsement groups which expect you to come to them, rather than vice versa.)
Last I checked, there were two big problems with the Interbay access theory: (1) The bored tunnel exits onto Aurora, at the Mercer mess; so going down the waterfront street will be as fast as just getting to the tunnel entrance from 15th Ave NW; and (2) Freight carrying certain flammables will be forbidden from the tunnel (for obvious safety reasons).
So, it appears that Labor has bought the foolish WSDOT calculations predicting that the tunnel will relieve surface traffic, and make the beautified waterfront boulevard a less-congested truck route. I can tell right now, its a fantasy. I don't know any city that has ever built itself out of a traffic jam. Many cities still have mobility, but only by embracing transit and giving it special access.
So, if the unions want politicians who talk with them rather than at them, I hope unions will talk with their rank and file (many of us who ride transit), rather than at us.
If ATU is serious about getting buses out of traffic jams, I hope they will be there with me to ask that private cars be banned from 3rd and 4th Ave in downtown.
I had no delusions about the old-school thinking of unions when I helped unionize my workplace. My union brothers and sisters are a very politically diverse bunch, and few make their voting decisions based on who the union endorses. I'd like to see that change, but it will only happen if the union's political committees talk with the rank and file, rather than at us.
I was embarrassed at how unfairly Mallahan was targetted by attack robo-calls in the primary. Nevertheless, I am voting based on who I personally think better understands the needs and aspirations of working-class folks, and I am convinced that that person is Mike McGinn.
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