AFSCME backs O'Malley; FOP for Ehrlich
* Updated Monday with comments from AFSCME and FOP presidents.
The largest union of state workers rallied Saturday in Baltimore to announce its endorsement of Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley for a second term. Meanwhile, word of the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police endorsement of Republican former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. is quietly spreading.
Better known as AFSCME, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees includes 30,000 state and higher education workers in Maryland. In 2006, AFSCME also chose O'Malley over Ehrlich. Both times the union cited O'Malley's willingness to engage in dialogue -- a characteristic it says Ehrlich lacked.
"We had two options, and we went with someone that has honored the collective bargaining process," AFSCME Maryland Director Patrick Moran said Sunday evening. "When the economic crisis hit, Governor O'Malley was willing to sit down with state employees as opposed to Governor Ehrlich, who doesn't believe in the process."
The Maryland Fraternal Order of Police, having been lobbied by both candidates at a recent meeting in Ocean City, voted to endorse Ehrlich. The state lodge doesn't appear to have made an official announcement yet, but Baltimore police union president Robert F. Cherry wrote about it Friday on the city lodge's web site. The police union includes thousands of officers across the state. It backed Ehrlich in 2006.
Reached Monday, State FOP President Rodney Bartlett, said the Ehrlich endorsement was "all about the economic times."
"Officers do a great job, as evidence by the lower crime rate, but it's hard for them when they take home less pay than they did four years ago," said Bartlett, a retired Prince George's County police officer.
Moran said his union chose O'Malley because the governor had worked with them in tough economic times and was able to avoid "wholesale layoffs." Instead, Moran said in a statement, "the pain was spread out, through tiered furloughs, and services were saved."
State employees have been through several rounds of unpaid days off -- furloughs -- during the O'Malley administration. Most have been subjected to at least eight furlough days each year.
Ehrlich has said he does not approve of furloughs. That's one reason he collected the endorsement of a smaller state workers union, the Maryland Classified Employees Association, earlier this month. MCEA has about 10,000 members, including many correctional officers.
MCEA also favored Ehrlich because O'Malley signed into law a requirement that state employees pay dues to the union in charge of collective bargaining, whether the employee is a member of that union or not. MCEA is not designated to do collective bargaining; AFCME is.
As the Nov. 2 election draws near, expect the pace of endorsement announcements to quicken.
O'Malley has the backing of a number of other unions -- no surprise, since unions traditionally favor Democratic candidates. In early September, the Maryland Service Employees International Union, which has about 8,000 members, said it would work for O'Malley. The Maryland firefighters union (IAFF) also is among O'Malley's supporters.
O'Malley also has deployed the somewhat unusual tactic of announcing the endorsements of individual business leaders. Sun business columnist Jay Hancock has more on that over at his blog.
Comments
MOM has Patrick Moran's (blank) in his pocket. The Union never stood up to the Governor over the furloughs.
If your wondering what the blank is, LBJ once said he had VP Humphrey's blank in his pocket...
Posted by: john | September 26, 2010 8:02 PM
I laughed when I read Mr Ehrlich "Doesn't believe in Furloughs."
How would mass lay-offs do for you, folks?
Posted by: RE Goldberg | September 27, 2010 6:01 AM
AFSCME backs O'Malley because he will engage in dailog with them. O'Malley will talk to you, but won't give you a raise. Ehrlich, on the other hand, won't talk to you, but will give you a raise.
I'm voting for Ehrlich.
Posted by: MyXxcellency | September 27, 2010 8:18 AM
So this would be the FOP who said that SWAT teams should not have to submit monthly reports, that cops who fly past red light cameras with their middle fingers in the air should not have to pay their tickets, and that when a drunk cop who shoots an unarmed man 14 times its just a misunderstanding. Forgive me if I am not moved by their endorsement.
Posted by: Josh | September 27, 2010 9:26 AM
The AFSCME endorsement party was interesting along with the faith-based "get out the vote" meeting afterward. Apparently, Mr. O'Malley doesn't want to be questioned about his $104 Million Dollar Youth Jail. Raising it just might get you kicked out of his function. I should know!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4imYAfBqPUY
Posted by: Heber Brown, III | September 27, 2010 1:43 PM
I’m a big union supporter. I’m also a state employee. Not to mention a Democrat. I’m disgusted by AFSCME endorsement! I voted for O’Malley, but I won’t do it again. I’m leaning third party this time around. O’Malley telling everyone that it’s furloughs or layoffs sounded like a little kid throwing a temper tamtrum. “Do what I say or I’ll get my big brother to beat you up!” In the case of the furloughs and sales tax hike. No union should endorse a candidate who furloughs workers. The union should be fighting to get merit and COLA increases! The Union shouldn’t be as concerned about how the state gets the money! That’s not what they’re around for. Tax rates, service fees, whatever other methods that the state gets it’s income, are NONE of AFSCME ‘s concern!!! AFSCME had nothing to say when the sales tax rate went from 5% to 6% as it was none of their concerns. They should sooner endorse a 7% sales tax than furloughs or layoffs. They are a puppet organization of the Democratic party. It’s the way the Democrats make themselves appear to be in touch with the union style labor forces. AFSCME blindly endorse Democrats and should carry no more weight in their endorsement that Brian Murphy’s endorsement of Ehrlich! I’m not having my pay reduced further to join AFSCME when they have stood shaking in their boots as O’Malley screamed and furloughed like a spoiled child, upset he’s responsible for something no living Marylander, or American, is qualified to navigate through (that being the budget crisis).
Posted by: Ted | September 27, 2010 2:51 PM
Yeah, right Ted.
I'm a conservative Republican and I'll never vote for Ehrlich again. He raised taxes by $8 billion in 4 years.
He also cut the number of sweetheart deals with cronies in half (to eight) from what we had agreed on when we were funding him the first time. Also, we had agreed that he would allow BGE a 150% increase in rates, but he limited it to 72% and didn't fight hard enough to get the usurious "phase-in" program implemented.
Posted by: IPFrehley | September 27, 2010 5:08 PM
AFSCME DOES NOT REPRESENT 30,000 workers voluntarily. It is a play on words. They actually only have about 12,000 voluntary members the other 18,000 will be p'd off fee payers (by virtue of the Bill signed by MOM). They stand to make millions of dollars from the sweat of state workers thanks to MOM. Moron is speaking for himself, not the 18,000 people who can't wait to see Ehrlich kick AFSCME out!
Posted by: WiseGal | September 27, 2010 7:38 PM
MARTY MAR IS for Martin O'Malley...spending my money on immigrants who are hear legally and illegally, does not do anything to revamp our failing welfare system that rewards promiscuous behavior. Become a junky or alcoholic and be rewarded with my social security money in the form of SSI. FOLKS NEED TO WAKE UP, ALL POLITICIANS GOT GAME, BUT MARTY IS PLAYING BLACK FOLKS LIKE A HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH.
Posted by: deltasweetiepi | September 28, 2010 7:36 AM
You're right WiseGal AFSCME DOES NOT REPRESENT the number of State Employees voluntariliy, what are they to do when they have a Furlough, Layoff, Salary Reduction letter hanging over their heads, I should know I was one of them.
Posted by: cm | September 28, 2010 10:48 AM
I agree with WiseGal's comment, the figure they've posted is totally mushroomed to suit their report, but when you look at the situation with the state employees where they have a Furlough, Salary Reducton, Layoff Slip hanging over their heads, I should know I was one of them; what are they supposed to do.
Posted by: cm | September 28, 2010 10:56 AM
I seriously would like to know what "playing some someone like a ham and cheese sandwich" involves...i was not aware that sandwiches were musical instruments or games that you played...hmmm...interesting...
Posted by: unrest | September 28, 2010 11:44 AM
The crooked greedy AFSCME backs O'Malley and the people trying to reduce crime in the state back Ehrlich. That says a lot.
Posted by: leon | September 28, 2010 11:49 AM