[From article]
The 6,000-member-strong Carmen’s Union Local 589’s influence and reform-blocking tactics include:
Its political action committee, which poured thousands into the campaign coffers for sitting members of the Transportation Committee and has doled out more than $58,000 in campaign donations to more than 100 politicians and committees since 2014 alone. That’s more than twice the political cash handed out by the powerful Boston Teachers Union during that time.
The union spent nearly $360,000 lobbying Beacon Hill in the past five years and doubled its lobbying budget, bringing on the firm Travaglini, Eisenberg & Kiley for two years as lawmakers debated 2009 transportation reform.
The union has skirted reforms through binding arbitration settlements, which are not subject to approval from any board — an advantage held by no other public unions, outside of the MBTA, in the state.
“In some respects, the MBTA is run by unions rather than management,” said Gregory Sullivan, a former state inspector general and Pioneer Institute’s research director. “The unions have been able to exert tremendous political pressure. It’s almost as though state government has lost control over the MBTA.”
Its political action committee, which poured thousands into the campaign coffers for sitting members of the Transportation Committee and has doled out more than $58,000 in campaign donations to more than 100 politicians and committees since 2014 alone. That’s more than twice the political cash handed out by the powerful Boston Teachers Union during that time.
The union spent nearly $360,000 lobbying Beacon Hill in the past five years and doubled its lobbying budget, bringing on the firm Travaglini, Eisenberg & Kiley for two years as lawmakers debated 2009 transportation reform.
The union has skirted reforms through binding arbitration settlements, which are not subject to approval from any board — an advantage held by no other public unions, outside of the MBTA, in the state.
“In some respects, the MBTA is run by unions rather than management,” said Gregory Sullivan, a former state inspector general and Pioneer Institute’s research director. “The unions have been able to exert tremendous political pressure. It’s almost as though state government has lost control over the MBTA.”
http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2015/04/derailing_reform_how_all_powerful_union_fights_efforts_to_fix_t
Derailing reform: How all-powerful union fights efforts to fix T
Thursday, April 23, 2015
By: Erin Smith, Matt Stout
Boston Herald
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[From article]
Derailing reform: How all-powerful union fights efforts to fix T
Thursday, April 23, 2015
By: Erin Smith, Matt Stout
Boston Herald
* * *
[From article]
The union has displayed its clout through its endorsements, too, an advantage coveted in local state races. Of the 16 Democrats currently on the committee, seven were blessed by Carmen’s Union backing in each of the last two elections, including Boston representatives Daniel Ryan and Evandro Carvalho last year.
McGee, the only committee member contacted by the Herald to return a call yesterday, said his political ties to the union don’t have an outsized influence on his decision-making.
“I’ve been in the Legislature a long time, and when I look at an issue, I do what I believe is right based on the facts that are in front of me,” said McGee, who also chairs the state Democratic party. “I make decisions based on all the information. And I will continue to do that.”
South Boston state Rep. Nick Collins filed a budget amendment backed by the Carmen’s Union that would keep the MBTA under the requirements of the so-called Pacheco Law, which stymies the T’s ability to hire outside contractors for much-needed repairs. Collins, who’s taken donations and endorsements from the Carmen’s Union, says the union doesn’t “outweigh support from anyone else.”
McGee, the only committee member contacted by the Herald to return a call yesterday, said his political ties to the union don’t have an outsized influence on his decision-making.
“I’ve been in the Legislature a long time, and when I look at an issue, I do what I believe is right based on the facts that are in front of me,” said McGee, who also chairs the state Democratic party. “I make decisions based on all the information. And I will continue to do that.”
South Boston state Rep. Nick Collins filed a budget amendment backed by the Carmen’s Union that would keep the MBTA under the requirements of the so-called Pacheco Law, which stymies the T’s ability to hire outside contractors for much-needed repairs. Collins, who’s taken donations and endorsements from the Carmen’s Union, says the union doesn’t “outweigh support from anyone else.”
http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2015/04/politicians_ride_on_carmen_s_gravy_train
Politicians ride on Carmen’s gravy train
Thursday, April 23, 2015
By: Matt Stout, Erin Smith
Boston Herald
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[From article]
Politicians ride on Carmen’s gravy train
Thursday, April 23, 2015
By: Matt Stout, Erin Smith
Boston Herald
* * *
[From article]
“The unions regularly trot our their members to campaign for legislators who treat the unions well,” said David Tuerck of the conservative watchdog Beacon Hill Institute.
“They show up at the polling places under order from the unions. It’s all a cozy little family where everyone is scratching everyone else’s back.”
Pam Wilmot of Common Cause said it’s not surprising that the Carmen’s Union Local 589 is donating regularly to Transportation Committee members, who are set to take up Gov. Charlie Baker’s MBTA reform bill — nor is it uncommon for any interest group to target those who regulate their industry.
“But just because that’s the way it is doesn’t make it right,” Wilmot said. “What we want to see is very low contribution limits so these kinds of questions aren’t always raised when legislation is concerned.”
Denise Roth Barber, managing director of the National Institute on Money in State Politics, said when donors give — especially “very strategic” donations to committees and other pols — “they want a seat at the table.”
“They show up at the polling places under order from the unions. It’s all a cozy little family where everyone is scratching everyone else’s back.”
Pam Wilmot of Common Cause said it’s not surprising that the Carmen’s Union Local 589 is donating regularly to Transportation Committee members, who are set to take up Gov. Charlie Baker’s MBTA reform bill — nor is it uncommon for any interest group to target those who regulate their industry.
“But just because that’s the way it is doesn’t make it right,” Wilmot said. “What we want to see is very low contribution limits so these kinds of questions aren’t always raised when legislation is concerned.”
Denise Roth Barber, managing director of the National Institute on Money in State Politics, said when donors give — especially “very strategic” donations to committees and other pols — “they want a seat at the table.”
http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2015/04/donations_to_lawmakers_raise_ethical_red_flags_with_watchdogs
Donations to lawmakers raise ethical red flags with watchdogs
Thursday, April 23, 2015
By: Matt Stout
Donations to lawmakers raise ethical red flags with watchdogs
Thursday, April 23, 2015
By: Matt Stout
Boston Herald
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