Weingarten May Exit
MLC Seeks Chief Operating Officer

By MEREDITH KOLODNER

The Municipal Labor Committee approved by-law changes Feb. 7 which include hiring an executive director, a move widely seen as a way to give stability to the 97-member union body amid speculation about the possible departure of its chair, United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten.

RANDI WEINGARTEN: Bound for Washington?

Ms. Weingarten may leave both her posts to become the national president of the UFT's parent union the American Federation of Teachers, by this summer. It is unclear who would succeed her as MLC chair.

Exec Director 'Overdue'

The MLC, which includes unions representing more than 300,000 city employees, has operated without any dedicated staff up until now, mostly relying on the resources provided by its largest members, District Council 37 and the UFT, and the energies of its steering committee members, all of whom are elected union officials.

"It's long overdue," said MLC co-chair Harry Nespoli, who is also president of the Uniformed Sanitationmen's Association. "The MLC has to play a bigger role in the changes of the city. We need an executive director that can focus totally on the responsibilities of the MLC and not worry about also being a union leader."

HARRY NESPOLI: 'Need full-time focus.'

Mr. Nespoli stressed that the executive director would carry out the decisions of the MLC leadership. "The chair and the co-chair and the steering committee will continue to control the MLC," he said. "It will allow us to get more accomplished."

The post is conceived of initially as a part-time position that could become full-time in the future.

Several sources, who spoke conditioned on anonymity, said that the impetus for the changes was Ms. Weingarten's widely-expected departure.

Asked if he would seek to replace Ms. Weingarten as chair if she were to step down, Mr. Nespoli replied, "I would go with what the steering committee votes on."

MLC Turnover

In a statement, the UFT president stressed the need for continuity in the face of personnel turnover. "The heads of our member unions serve on various committees and hold different leadership roles," she said, "and if a number of them were to retire or leave to take positions elsewhere, we'd want to know the organization is running smoothly on a daily basis and is ready for whatever issues might arise."

LILLIAN ROBERTS: 'Ensures continuity.'

There has been significant turnover among MLC steering committee members over the past few years. Long-time Teamsters Local 237 President Carl Haynes, who was executive vice chair, retired last year. Former Uniformed Fire Officers Association Peter Gorman was MLC treasurer until he moved on to a top post at his union's national organization eight months ago. Lieutenants Benevolent Association President Tony Garvey left that post in September to head the Police Pension Fund.

"Randi is trying to improve the institutional strengths of the MLC by making it a more permanent operation," said Bob Croghan, MLC steering committee member and president of the Organization of Staff Analysts. "The extent to which Randi realizes she may not be there indefinitely has motivated some of this."

Made Difference At CLC

Several MLC leaders said that recent structural changes at the city's AFL-CIO Central Labor Council had been instructive. There, Ed Ott was brought in as executive director after questions arose about the CLC's operation under then-President Brian M. McLaughlin, who was subsequently indicted on racketeering charges that include misuse of the organization's resources.

"We saw a model in what happened at the CLC," said MLC steering committee member and Communications Workers of America Local 1180 President Arthur Cheliotes, "and we realized we needed someone whose focus would be the issues facing the MLC and its constituent members."

"The role of the steering committee would be one of setting policy rather than executing policy," he added.

Mr. Cheliotes, who is the senior member of the CLC's leadership, said he wouldn't rule out running for MLC chair if Ms. Weingarten left, but that it was a matter that needed further discussion within the steering committee.

District Council 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, who is also MLC Secretary, said of the changes in a statement, "I view this as a good thing since it ensures continuity."

A search for an executive director is currently under way, although no timetable has been set. If Ms. Weingarten left to become the president of the AFT, it would likely happen at the union's July convention.

The executive director's salary, which has not yet been decided, would be paid with MLC member unions' dues.