Sanmen, COs Back Bloomberg

Builds His Labor Support
Sanmen, COs Back Bloomberg

By GINGER ADAMS OTIS and RICHARD STEIER

Mayor Bloomberg, who four years ago won the endorsement of just two municipal unions, saw his labor bandwagon grow a bit more crowded last week as he won the endorsements of the unions representing Sanitation Workers and Correction Officers.

The Chief-Leader/Adrienne Haywood-James THE AUTHORITY VESTED: Mayor Bloomberg tries on a black-and-yellow Uniformed Sanitationmen's Association vest that union President Harry Nespoli said he could use 'when he's on his Harley [or] during those snowstorms.' Both unions settled wage contracts during the preceding month, and while the head of the Correction Officers' Benevolent Association denied there was any connection, his counterpart at the Uniformed Sanitationmen's Association acknowledged, "It was a big factor that we came to a settlement."

'Members Initiated This'

In fact, USA President Harry Nespoli said, satisfaction among his rank and file with a still-to-be-ratified agreement that would provide raises worth 17 percent over 51 months to incumbent SanWorkers is running so high, "The members were the ones who came to me and said, 'What are we doing for the election?'''

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow STANDING BEHIND HIS MAN: Correction Officers' Benevolent Association President Norman Seabrook, who was one of only two union leaders to back Michael Bloomberg for Mayor four years ago, is sticking with him now that he's heavily favored for re-election. He was speaking inside his union's lower Manhattan headquarters Oct. 26, a few minutes after several hundred of his members gave Mr. Bloomberg a rousing welcome amid chants of "Four more years!"

"I'm very pleased with the contract," said John Peska, a SanWorker with eight years on the job who's assigned to the Brooklyn South 17 garage.

Mr. Nespoli, who two months earlier told this newspaper that he was "beyond the point of being impatient" with the Mayor's bargaining tactics, said there were several other reasons for backing Mr. Bloomberg, not least of them his praise for the union's 6,100 members since even before he took office.

He reminded his members that during the 2001 campaign Mr. Bloomberg "went on the line" for Sanitation Workers by talking about their job being the "most dangerous" among city workers. The remark, made a few months before Sept. 11, was a reference to the injury rate, rather than the death rate, among uniformed jobs, but as the USA leader noted, Mr. Bloomberg "got beat up immensely for that report.

"But you know what?" he continued. "He was right. And throughout his four years, he never ever said anything but good about this work force."

Mr. Bloomberg seemed to be glowing from the praise and the accompanying cheers. "I don't want to take anything away from our postal workers, but you do complete your appointed rounds in rain and snow and gloom of night," he said.

Noting that city streets are cleaner than they've been in 30 years as measured by the Mayor's Office of Operations, Mr. Bloomberg said this has helped contribute to the city's flourishing tourism industry, remarking, "It is so unusual to drive down the street and see some trash on the street - it's just jarring."

He said he was glad to have settled the contract because "I want you guys and you gals to be focused on your jobs and not worrying about how you're going to pay the bills."

Referring to his own job security, the Mayor said that despite two polls last week showing him with a 31-point lead over Democratic challenger Fernando Ferrer, "It's gonna be a tough race."

"I don't think so," someone in the crowd called out.

The Mayor's Oct. 25 endorsement by COBA was a rare encore performance: that union and the Correction Captains' Association were Mr. Bloomberg's only municipal labor backers in 2001.

'Still the Right Man'

"He was the right man then," said COBA President Norman Seabrook, with placard-bearing members flanking him at the union's lower Manhattan headquarters. "And he is the best man now."

Mr. Bloomberg said that the union leader "had always been his own man, something I appreciate."

He added that the 2001 endorsement meant a lot because the union took a chance on him, but "this one is even better, because it means you're happy with me."

The Mayor credited COBA members for a 30-percent reduction in jail violence last year, and praised them for helping make New York "the safest big city in the country."

Mr. Seabrook told reporters there was no link between the timing of the contract settlement COBA reached with the city Sept. 26 and the mayoral endorsement. "The topic was never part of the contract discussions," he said firmly.

'A Vision of Growth'

He went on to say that he and the Mayor have not always seen eye to eye, but that he and his executive board, after discussing the issues most important to the union members, felt Mr. Bloomberg's vision of the future offered the most growth.

"This isn't a popularity contest - we shouldn't be voting for a candidate because he comes from a community you like," said Mr. Seabrook, whose membership is largely minority. "The Mayor doesn't have to be here - he's doing this because he has it in his heart."

After the press conference ended, Mr. Seabrook reiterated that Mr. Bloomberg's policies had carried the day, although there was still room for improvement on many issues.

"We can disagree and have good relations, and that's important. You don't judge an individual on whether they are a Democrat, independent or Republican, but on how they treat you," said Mr. Seabrook, the vice-chair of the Bronx Democratic Party. "It's getting a little ridiculous, all this self-destructive party affiliation business."

Bipartisan Support

Mr. Seabrook has a history of supporting candidates in both major parties, having endorsed Republican Gov. George Pataki and President Bush, as well as Democratic state and city leaders, during his decade as union president.

The Bloomberg campaign said that about 80 unions representing more than 600,000 workers have endorsed the Mayor's re-election bid. Twelve of those are public-safety unions, including the Detectives' Endowment Association, the Lieutenants' Benevolent Association and the Court Officers' Association.